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In this instalment of essential owner’s guide, we’re taking a look at the legendary LN106 HiLux and why it might just be the best used buy out there!

WORDS BY ALLEN HODGES AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT CAmERiERE AND 4WD ACTiON

THE BEST HILUX EVER MADE

USEDBUYING

LN106 HILUX

+_

•Legendaryreliabilityandstrength

•Excellentpartsavailability

•Holdsvaluewell

•Highpurchasepricefortheirage

•Standardengineoptionswon’t

winanyraces

•Roughridefromleafsprings

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Oneofthecommonfailuresonthe2.8Listhefuelpump.Ifyouhavetoreplacethepumpyouwouldbelookingat$300forasecondhandonethatmayhavethesameproblemorupto$1500forareconditionedone,sojusttakeasecondtohaveagoodlook.Whatyou’relookingforissignsofdieselleakingthroughthebodyofthepumpwhichindicatesano’ringorsealperishedandisallowingfueltoleak.

WHAT TO LOOK FORCheckforfuelleakingoutfromaroundthepumpbodywhilstrunning,andonyourroadtest,checkforroughrunningorhesita-tionsasyouaccelerate-it’satell-talesignthatthepumpisabouttofail.

RUNNING ROUGHBangforbuck–it’swhatwe’realllookingforina4WD.Weallwantperformanceandaboveallstrength

andreliabilityplustheabilitytobeascreativeaspossiblewhenmodifyingour4WDs.Theused4WDmarkethaspresentedsomeprettysensationaloptionsforbudgetsavvy4WDers,notleastofwhicharetheprovenexamplesfromtheToyotacamp.Inthisessentialbuyersguidewe’retalkingabouttheLN106HiLuxandeverythingyouneedtoknowtobuyandbuildoneofyourown,plus,howtosavealittlecashalongtheway.

ThedesignbrieffortheHiLux

must’vebeenprettysimplebackatToyotaHQ;buildabloodytoughworkute–andmakeitreliable.Overtheensuingdecades,theHiLuxforgeditselfamongstthetoughest4WDstoevergracethetracks,notonlyinAustraliabutaroundtheworld.ThearrivaloftheLN106HiLuxin1988onlyservedtofurtherreinforcethetoughlineageoftheHiLuxinanocompromisepackagethatstill,tothisday,holdsvalueamongstprospectivebuyers.

Ifyou’reinthemarketfora4WDthatcanbebuiltintoanythingyouwant,fromcomp-trucktoCapetourer,thentakealookattheLN106SeriesHiLux.

ThereareafewfactorstoconsiderwiththeLN106thatmightmakeitthemostperfect,ortheworstchoiceforyou.Ifyou’relookingforafamilyvehiclewithperfecton-roadmannersandinteriorspace,thenstopreadingnow–thisoneisn’tforyou.Ifhowever,you’reafteratough,utilitarian4WD,perfectforasingleblokeoryoungcouplethenreadon.TheLN106isnevergoingtowinanyawardsforoutstandinginteriorcomfort,norwilliteverwinanyraces.But,whattheLN106willgiveyouisreliability,strengthandablankcanvasforanytypeofcustombuildyoucanimaginewithoutblowingthebudget.Whiletheyholdvalueinsofarasinitialpurchaseprice,turningoneintoacapable4WDcanbedoneonashoestringbudgetandalump-hammer.

IS THIS 4WD FOR YOU?

TheHiLuxwasnevergracedwithtoomanyhorsesbeneaththebonnet,consequentlymostHiLuxeshavebeendrivenfairlyhardwhichcaninsomecasesleadtoheadgasketfailure.Theriskhereforaprospectivebuyeristhatiftheenginewasoverheatedwhenthegasketwent,theenginecouldbebadlydamagedandbebeyondsensiblerepair.

WHAT TO LOOK FORTakethevehicleforasolidtestdriveandkeepacloseeyeonthetemperaturegaugeunderload.Whentheengineiscool,openthecoolantcapandstarttheengine;asteadystreamofbubblesfromtheradiatorfillerneckisaclearindicatorofaleakingheadgasket.Finally,keepaneyeontheexhaust;ifyouseewhitesmokeordripsofwatercomingout,particularlyatoperatingtemp,thenwalkaway.

DIESEL ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE

Unfortunately,the106SeriesHiLuxsarepronetorustingunderneaththetraytub,andinsidethedoors.Basiccosmeticrustisnottoohardtorepair,butbeachdrivenvehiclescanalsorustinsidethechassis,whichisofcourse,moreofaconcernandnotworthfightingwith.

WHAT TO LOOK FORCheckallaroundthedoordrainholesandaroundthewindowrubbers.Thesearethemostlikelyplacestoholdrustandifyoufindithere,you’llmostlikelyfinditelsewheretoo.Checkunderthetraytubandaroundwheelarchesandrainguttersaswellasthebottomsofthepillarsandinnerguardsunderthebonnet.Andfinally,peelbackthecarpetsandlookinthecornersofthefloorpan.

RUST

DEAL-BREAKERS! WHeN to WaLk aWay ThebeautthingabouttheHilux’spopularity,meansthattherearehundredsofgreatexamplesaroundthecountry.Whatdoesthismeanforyou?Itmeansyoudon’thavetojumponthefirstvehicleyousee.Takeyourtimetofindtheright4WDandwalkawayfromdodgyvehicles.

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Now,aleakingheatercorecanbeanissueforacoupleofreasons,leastofwhichisthelackofaheater.Firstofall,you’relosingcoolant,anditwon’ttakelongfortheenginetooverheat.Secondly,allthatcoolantisusuallyleakingunderthedashandsoakingintothecarpets,whichcreatesamoisturelayerunderthecarpetwhichcanleadtorustingissuesinthefloor.

WHAT TO LOOK FORThefirstwarningsignisalowcoolantlevel.Then,whenyou’relookingoverthe4WD,takeafewminutesandpullupthepassengersidecarpetandfeelaroundunderneath.Iftheundersideofthecarpet,thefloororunderlaymaterialisdamporwetthenthisisatell-talesignofaleakingheatercore(oraspilleddrink).Eitherway,checkbehindtheradioandyou’llseetheheatercore.Thisisanimportantonetofixassoonaspossible,asitwon’ttakelongforadroptoturnintoadownpour.$250shouldgetyouanewheatercoreandaSaturday’sworkwillgetthedashapartandthecorereplaced.

LEAKING HEATER CORE

Likeallenginesyouneedtokeepcleanoilinthe2.8Lsotherwiseyouwillhaveproblems,mostcommonly,bigendbearingfailures.Checkforanexcessiverattleonstartupandunderloadonyourroadtestasthiswillbeagoodsignthatit’sheadingtowardsabigendbearingfailure.Ifthishappensyouwillbeupforbigbuckstorebuildit.

WHAT TO LOOK FORChecktheoilforblacknessandhowrunnyitis,ifithasn’tbeenchangedregularlyitwillbelikewaterandhaveaburntsmell.Theenginemayrattleforalongerperiodoftimeonstartupduetothethinneroiltakinglongertobuildtothecorrectpressure.Alsocheckforotherobviousthingslikeservicereceipts.Theseenginesneedregular5000kmoilchanges.Iftheexampleyou’relookingathasn’tbeenlookedafter-it’sprobablynotworththerisk.

BIG END BEARING FAILURE

ISSUES AND FIXES!

TheLN1062.8Ldieselcanhaveafewissueswithheatwhendrivenhardorpullingaheavyload.Thiscanbecausedbyoverfuelingandpoorcoolingsystemcapacity.

THE FIX: Thereareacoupleofwaystofixthis,onesimplewaytogetyourHiLuxrunningcooleristouseathermostatoutofaSurfasitopensatalowertemperature.Otheroptionsaretofitablowthroughthermofantopushairintotheradiator.Youcanalsolookintoabiggercoreradiator.Thesearenotafixforaseriouscoolingproblemlikeabungwaterpumporcrackedheadthough.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Instandardformthereisn’tenoughspacebeneaththebonnettofitasecondauxiliarybattery.

THE FIX:There’sasneakymodthatmakesfixingthisoneabreeze.ByfittingtheairboxfromaSurf,you’reabletosqueezeasecondbatteryandanaftermarketbatterytrayunderthebonnet.YoushouldbeabletopickaSurfairboxupfromany4WDwreckerforbetween$50to$100andanaftermarketbatterytrayforbetween$100to$250dependingonbrand.

UNDER BONNET SPACE

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Thefactoryseatsareprettyfarfromperfect.AgoodupgradeistheseatsfromaSURForanSR54RUNNERastheyboltstraightinwithoutmodification.Thiswillmakelongdrivesalittleeasierontherear-endanddrivingalotmoreenjoyable.

FACTORY SEAT UPGRADE

1991 LN106 C/CHAS DIESEL, FIvE-SpEED mANuAL, AvERAgE 350,000Km

RRP:$24,076 USeD:$5000-$7000

1995 LN106 DuAL CAB p/up DIESEL FIvE-SpEED mANuAL, AvERAgE 280,000Km

RRP:$38,200 USeD:$7000–$10,000

WHAT YOU SHOULD PAY

AcommonconversionfortheLN106istheV6Commodoreenginewhichoffersplentyofpowerandyearsofreliableservice.YoucanpickupaVNorVPCommodorehalfcutfrom$300andthereareseveralcompanieslikeMarksAdaptersthatmakeadapterkitstosuitallbudgets.Ifyou’rehandyandconfidentonthetoolsyoucandomostofitathomewithacoupleofmates,anenginecraneandminimaltools.Youwillneedtogetitwiredbyaprofessionalandofcoursesignedoffbyanengineerforregistration.

FACTORY SEAT UPGRADE

ESSENTIAL MODS AND UPGRADESHoW to Get yoUR LN106 HILUX WoRkING FoR yoU

Withbigsuspensionlifts,thestandardpinionpositioncancauseissuesduetotheincreasedangleofthefrontdriveshaft.Thiscanleadtoprematurefailureofdriveshaftunisanddiffpinionbearings.

THE FIX:Ifyou’reconsideringrunningalargesuspensionliftthenyou’llbepleasedtoknowthatthereisacheapfix.Castorwedgesareavailablefrommostsuspensionsupplierswhichallowthefrontdifftorollforwardandreducedriveshaftangles.AnotheroptionisthecentrefromaToyotaBunderaasitisadirectfitandisahighpinioncentretohelplessentheangles.

DIFF PINION ANGLES

WhenyouliftaHiLuxofthiserayouhavetheissueofcentrebearingfailureinthetailshaft.Thisiscausedbyexcessloadbeingputonthebearingfromthetwosectionsofshaftpullingdowntothediff.Mudandwaterbuilduparoundthebearingcanalsospeedupanyfailures.Youcanusuallyhearthebearingstartingtogoasitwillstartgrowlingandwhinning.

THE FIX:Thereplacementcentrebearingisreadilyavailableandeasyenoughtoinstallwithbasictools,howeveryou’llwanttoallowabitoftimetogetitalldone.Youcanfitspacersbetweenthecentrebearingandthebrackettoadjusttheanglesoftheshaftandrelieveexcessiveloadonthebearing.Makesureyoupurchaseareplacementbearingthat’sgreasable.Youcanalsofitaonepiecetailshaftfromlatermodelwhichelimi-natestheriskoffailurealltogether.

REAR CENTRE TAILSHAFT BEARING

With big tyres and a lift causing additional strain on your driveline it’s always smart to carry spare CVs

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eNGINe:3L,2779cc4cylSOHCdieselPoWeR:60kW@4000rpmtoRQUe:183Nm@2400rpmtRaNSMISSIoN:5speedmanualFUeL CaPaCIty:65Ltankdualcabor71LtanksinglecabSUSPeNSIoN:Front–liveaxle,leafsprings,gasdampersRear–liveaxle,leafsprings,gasdampers

SPECIFICATIONS

Keepyour4WDinvestmentintophealthwithstrictmaintenanceandqualityparts!SWIVeL HoUSING oVeRHaUL kIt INCLUDING PIVot BeaRINGS:$130HeaVy DUty CLUtCH kIt:$390ReaR WHeeL BeaRINGS:$55eachsideSeRVICe FILteR kIt (oIL, aIR aND FUeL FILteRS):$67WateR PUMP:$125taILSHaFt CeNtRe BeaRING:$135

PARTS &SERVICING WITH

INSIDER INFO tHe ULtIMate tIPS aND tRICkS StRaIGHt FRoM tHe oWNeRS!

WHAT THE OWNERS HAVE TO SAY

DRIvETECH 4X4PH:1800463646www.drivetech4x4.com.au

CONTACT

DENNY DANIS “Forme,I’vealwayshadathingfortheoldLuxxies.I’veownedan’81,’84and’87modelandfinallymycurrentLN106inmytimeandI’vereallygonetotownwiththecurrentrig.Iwaslookingforatough4WDwithplentyofpotentialtomodifyandcouldn’tgopasttheLN106withthelastofthesolidaxlefrontends.Theoldgirlhadbeenupforsalewiththepreviousownerat$6500forawhilewithoutbudging,soIofferedthebloke$4000,hetookitandthedealwasdone.Therearen’ttoomanypeoplechasingtheoldmodelsnow,whichdoesmeanthatthoseinflatedHiLuxpricesarestartingtocomedown.Ireckonthey’reaperfecttruckforsomeonetocuttheirteethon,withheapsoffroomtobuildfromthere.TheLN106isthebestallroundfirsttruckforanyyoung4WDertogettheirhandsonandhaveaplay.”

ANDREW STEWART“MyloveforHiLuxesstartedafterIwent4WDingwithmyuncleanddrovehisHiLux.Althoughitwasaboutasagriculturalastheycome,themomentIgothomeIstartedsearchingforanLN106.Ieventuallyfoundmytruck,Clifford,andpickeditupfor$6000.Itwasaprojectthatthepreviousownerhadlostinterestinandalthoughitwasn’tashowstopper,itwaswhatIwanted–acleanslate.IlovetheHiLuxbecauseofalltheoptionsavailableforthemandbecauseI’myoungIneededsomethingthatwasn’ttoohardtofixmyself.OverallIreckontheseareaperfect4WDforsomeoneyoungandkeentogetoutinthebush.Theywon’tcostyouanarmandalegtomaintainandtheycangetjustaboutanywherewiththerightmods.”

TAIL SHAFT upgRADEThecentrebearinginthereartailshaftisaweakpoint.Aone-pieceunitfromthemodelafter(upto2005)boltsstraightinandfixesmanyofthevibrationproblems.

REAR SpRINg upgRADELatermodelIFSrearspringsfromanLN167intherearofanLN106givesbetterarticulationandamorecomfortableride.Thisisafairlysimpletransplant,butyouwillhavetogetatail-shaftspacerandextendedshacklesastherearhalfofthespringislongerandwillpushthediffbackslightly.YouwillgetslightlymoreflexfromthestandardheightspringswithaspacerblockandlongerU-bolts.Theotheroptionisliftedspringsinsteadofthespacerblocks,butyouwillstillhavetouselongerU-bolts.

mAKE IT WIDERIfyouwanttogiveyourLN106awidertrack,getasetoflatemodelIFShubsandthrowthemoninsteadofusingwheelsspacers.Thefronthubsjustboltontotheoriginalfronthousingandthenjustusethefrontcalipersoffthedonorvehicletocompletetheswap,most4WDwreckersshouldhavehubsforabout$50-$100eachside.

gIvE SOmE gET-up AND gOSwappingthe2.8L(3L)foralatermodel3.0L(5L)motorisaneasytransplantandwithaturbogivesoodlesmoretorqueandpower.Theconversionisfairlystraightforwardandyourgearboxwillboltupusingthe5Lbell-housing.Acheaperoptionisgettinganonturbo5Landboltingonextractorsandadecentexhaust.

STOppINg pOWERFittingan80SeriesbrakeboosterisoneofthemostcommonquickfixbrakeupgradesontheLN106.Youneedtogetanon-ABSboosteroffaGXLmodel80andturnit180°tofititthroughthefirewall.Youhavetoextendthevacuumhosebutitallboltsstraightinwithouttoomuchhassle.Youcanfindaboosterfromawreckeroronlinebetween$75and$500.Ifyou’renotsurewhatyou’redoing,takeittoamechanic,anddon’tforgettogetitsignedoffbyanengineerwhenyou’redone.

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