1997 Hilux LN107 3L RHD (1 Viewer)

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risbo

risbo

Joined
Aug 30, 2024
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Location
Serbia
Hi everyone, I would like to introduce myself with my build I started exactly a year ago :).

There I was, buying a Hilux with 0 knowledge on 4x4 trucks from a neighbor who decided it is time to move on with a new one. Little I know in what condition this one was :/. All I needed was a 4x4 vehicle to drive to our old house and farm up in the hills. RHD oh man, a challenge :cool:, let's try it.

I won't lie, the first time I sit in it, started that engine, a unexpected reflex smile was on my face. Let's take this one for a spin, short trip to a mountain close by, ~30km (~20 miles) away. Of course, I did acquire some knowledge about part time 4x4 systems (thanks YouTube and some Australian guy posting a video on how to drive 4x4 ~4hrs in total, what a marathon video), so I can utilize the broad range of gears and capabilities of the truck.

Wife was getting jealous is what I can say, 😅. Hilux was getting a lot of attention. Then reality kicked in ...

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As with everything, Google, YouTube, searching and learning about the truck ... Tinkering around with things that didn't work, getting a list and preparing to do a small service oils, filters, etc ... As you may expect, list grow quite a bit, just in few days I had clear picture why this truck was on sale 😞.

Ok, two paths I had, sell it, or go full on with restoration.

In the meantime, overlanding videos started to pop up on the YT results, huge number of channels with full on rigs for camping, tents, racks, bars ... For some reason I felt like a kid in candy shop. Being an outdoor person, hiking, biking, some camping here and there, this was a perfect way of traveling and enjoying with this truck.

You can bet what option I went with, but hey, what a better way to learn the truck from inside out, then get dirty hands on with the build 🤓, again, little I know what I was into 🤣.

Looong story short, I believe everyone felt the pains, joy, disappointment, excitment of getting through restoration path, especially when you are doing all this under the open sky, affected by weather. For the first time, not knowing much about the truck, but with some mechanic background as I was helping my father in his motorcycle workshop.

I will spare you all from very details of what I did, and how, thus I am posting pictures to tell the story. But if interested in details, I would be more than happy to share the experience.

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There I was again, goal was set to build a budget overland vehicle. First things first, I need a good foundation. So here I am, getting ready to complete the foundation of this overland/weekend warrior/camper vehicle.

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"0 knowledge about 4x4 trucks"
Proceeds to do a frame off.
Fantastic. Love this body style.
What a beautiful part of the world.
 
D21FJ60 said:
"0 knowledge about 4x4 trucks"
Proceeds to do a frame off.
Fantastic. Love this body style.
What a beautiful part of the world.
Click to expand...
Thank you, for body style I must admit that I was highly influenced by this guy Micah Weber (@overlandunderbudget) • Instagram photos and videos - https://www.instagram.com/overlandunderbudget/, so credit to him. I wanted also to go with sand/dune color but really didn't had a chance to see it in person.

I watched almost all of his videos and was amazed with color combo, black color goes really well with earth colors, sand, gold etc...

Most recent work was done week ago when I did full wiring of the truck bed for the tail, fog lights. This one was a pure mess I had to deal with, but they are done. Following is an image of wiring that I keep coming across whenever, but still retained patience to strip all and redo, cut redundant wiring, soldered and replaced when needed.

I also have few questions for all 4x4 guys out there driving a Hilux:

1. What do you do to get good weight ratio between front and rear? I am planning to try and load it up with overland gear, boxes, tent to get at least 200kg of additional weight, I had a chance to go sideways few times riding downhill on asphalt, not fast at all but was using 4-high.

2. Being a 3L engine model, I will have to consider getting new tires soon (prob next year). BFG AT 31x10.5x15 (current tire size) or to go with pizza cutter type (a bit narrower)? Uphill this truck is slow, 2nd or 3rd sometimes and that is it. Planning to use the track on both asphalt and off-road 50% - 50%, no preference to rock climbing or extreme off-road.

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Autumn kicked in real hard these days with colors 😀, had a bed top from ARB mounted on the bed, also had fun with manual voltage regulator (Bent regulator tensioner just for a bit to get 13.8+ V).

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Last edited:
Nice work, must have been a good experience to go straight into such a detailed rebuild.

I'm not sure though what car you have, but that is not an LN107. The 107 was the model before that. The body and chassis looks like a (2002 onwards) KDN165. But this was only sold in Europe in RHD (UK spec) with the 2KD-FTV. The D4D badge supports this. the 3L engine does not use D4D technology.

I'm not familiar with how to tell the difference between the LN107 and KDN165 chassis, but my guess would be it is an LN107 chassis and engine with a KDN165 body.
 
Last edited:
Eurasiaoverland said:
I'm not sure though what car you have, but that is not an LN107.
Click to expand...

This is correct. The later body style began in 1998. I think this is also when the 5L engine was available instead of the 3L?

Here is a picture of a 1997 LN107 which I bought last year.

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The truck looks great! I am more partial to the older body style double cabs (LN65/LN106 & 107s) because we never got them in the US. We had the same body style, but it was only available in single cab, extra cab, and 4runners prior to 1995.

The first gen tacomas look very similar to the post-98 hilux especially double can tacomas from 2001-2004.
 
GreenPump said:
This is correct. The later body style began in 1998. I think this is also when the 5L engine was available instead of the 3L?

Here is a picture of a 1997 LN107 which I bought last year.

View attachment 3799569
View attachment 3799570
View attachment 3799571

The truck looks great! I am more partial to the older body style double cabs (LN65/LN106 & 107s) because we never got them in the US. We had the same body style, but it was only available in single cab, extra cab, and 4runners prior to 1995.

The first gen tacomas look very similar to the post-98 hilux especially double can tacomas from 2001-2004.
Click to expand...
Can you recognise the pictured chassis as being an LN107? My LN105 has a solid front axle so I'm not familiar with the torsion bar IFS front, though the rest of the chassis looks similar.
 
Eurasiaoverland said:
Nice work, must have been a good experience to go straight into such a detailed rebuild.

I'm not sure though what car you have, but that is not an LN107. The 107 was the model before that. The body and chassis looks like a (2002 onwards) KDN165. But this was only sold in Europe in RHD (UK spec) with the 2KD-FTV. The D4D badge supports this. the 3L engine does not use D4D technology.

I'm not familiar with how to tell the difference between the LN107 and KDN165 chassis, but my guess would be it is an LN107 chassis and engine with a KDN165 body.
Click to expand...

Thanks, experience gained during the process was huge, which was one of my main goals actually. If something goes flat on the road I need to be able to fix it if possible.

The chassis is LN107 with 3L engine (naturally aspirated), while body is from newer model. I bought the car as such.

Your truck looks amazing as well, very clean. Mine was a mess to work with, very poorly maintained car.

I would be more happy if I got older body with original fitting.
 
risbo said:
Thanks, these are 31x10.5x15 Yokohama Geolandar AT-S.

Very old tires came with the car, need to replace them in few months.
Click to expand...
do you know what wheels you had those tires mounted on?
 
risbo said:
I have them winter stored, not sure about model and type from top of my head. But I'll look into it after holidays.
Click to expand...
@Miloslavich finally got some time to dig them out in the garage, hope this helps. Not in my dreams I would guess my Hilux got some Aussie shoes on it 😉
Feel free to ping me if more pics are needed, I have them much more reachable now 😅

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