Builds Box Rocket 1985 Hilux (2 Viewers)

[newtomelx]

Great project, you are ahead of me on my swap, just got the 3.0 drive train pulled from my wife's '88 4Runner, will be keeping an eye on your progress and really interested in the final rpms at highway cruising spped. Hope to not have to re-gear my diffs, rubber overdrive might come into play....

 

[Box Rocket]

After waiting through Covid delays on parts and a few hiccups with the new engine harness we're making progress again. Now that we've got the harness, we can get the injectors and starter plugged in and the intake reinstalled. We've got a 1KZ radiator going in and will need to do a bit of creative hose work for the coolant hoses. We're getting really close to firing this thing up finally!
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

 

[aztoyman]

Just read through both your builds. Looking forward to this beast coming to life.

 

[Box Rocket]

Bit of a thread resurrection. I'm sad to say that this project turned into a bit of a nightmare. The shop I had helping me with the 1UZ swap...let's just say didn't go as planned and I have brought the truck back home with essentially no progress from the last time I posted. Needless to say it was one of those shop horror stories you hear about and I won't be having the shop involved moving forward.

With that said, the remaining things to get this truck back on the road are going to stretch my skillset. So I'll be asking for lots of help along the way and hoping the collective knowledge of the forum can help me accomplish what I didn't think I'd be able to. The motor is in the truck and wired up and it's actually fired up once on a spritz of ether but that's it.

Priority 1 is the cooling system. There is VERY LITTLE room in front of the motor and using a factory radiator is just not possible with a puller fan. Actually we could, but if I ever wanted to change the serpentine belt I'd need to pull the radiator. We've gone back and forth between doing a rear mounted radiator in the flatbad and modifying the front clip to allow for a normal front mounted radiator. I think we've settled on modifying the front clip so we can get a good size radiator up front to cool the V8 and still have a good shrouded fan and not have to pull it to change belts. It will require losing the hood latch and going with some hood pins but I think it's a reasonable concession for keeping the radiator up front.

Priority 2 will be the fuel system. The original tank was rusted badly and not worth fixing. I have a replacement factory tank but it's a couple gallons bigger so fitting it is going to take some minor fab work. The flatbed has been removed and the rear frame is open and ready to for mocking up some new tank mounts. Working with the fuel system is one of the areas I just don't have much experience at all. I'm hoping to find a good in-tank pump and sending unit setup as well as bend up all new fuel lines that are bigger than the tiny ones that were part of the original 22R. I've looking through other threads that I can find that have useful info and I'm trying to learn what I can but I'm sure I'll have loads of questions.

This has been a project with my son who has been gone for the past couple years on a church mission. He came back last summer and now he's engaged to be married in April so I'm not sure how much help I'll get from him since he's already into his college education in a different state. But I'll use him as often as I can get him around.

 

[gnob]

the easiest way to do the fuel system is just with stock stuff. efi tank, pump and hard line. pretty sure the hard line is still available new. or at least something compatible.
afaik the bigger tank should just bolt up. at least it did for me in my 85 4runner.
there are parts available if you need to adapt anything to AN as well.


and do you not have any fuel pump wiring either ?

 

[Box Rocket]

I believe all the wiring is still there for the pump. I'll take a look at just getting my hands on stock stuff for the pump and lines etc if you think it's adequate for the 1UZ? It would definitely make it easier.

 

[gnob]

i believe so. worst case, you have to go to a different pump.
edit:

ok so a couple seconds of research. the lexus pump didn't want to cross but the v8 tundra crosses to others.
so you should be gtg.

 

[Box Rocket]

The flatbed has been removed while we rework some of the rear chassis stuff. Replaced the rear tube crossmember to fit the larger fuel tank and will be relocating the shock mounting. I'll be making some minor changes to the flatbed over the next little bit.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr


Earlier this week I took the truck to a local guy that more experience with the 1UZ swap to help me get it finished up and running. Still some things to do but it's not far away now.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

 

[The Toad]

Looking good. Love that it's getting towed by a Yukon XL. Got a soft spot for those early 90s to mid 2000s Yukons and Suburbans, especially the 2500 variants

 

[Box Rocket]

Looking good. Love that it's getting towed by a Yukon XL. Got a soft spot for those early 90s to mid 2000s Yukons and Suburbans, especially the 2500 variants

haha. I'm shocked the Yukon is still working. It hasn't had an easy life, but it keeps on ticking.

 

[Atlcr]

Are you keeping a/c in your truck? I am working on a 1986 4runner 1uz swap and have been working on brackets to put A/C compressor on the right side where the power steering pump was. This is my first stab at it I'm going to try and reposition compressor closer to the block.

 

[Box Rocket]

Are you keeping a/c in your truck? I am working on a 1986 4runner 1uz swap and have been working on brackets to put A/C compressor on the right side where the power steering pump was. This is my first stab at it I'm going to try and reposition compressor closer to the block. View attachment 3737929

Cool. That bracket is looking good.
The goal is to keep the AC. The compressor is still in the original location on the other side. I plan to leave it there if possible so that a factory drive belt will work and be easy to find if I have a belt fail somewhere. Trying to avoid having to source an odd belt. Might be over-thinking that but I don't see a reason to move the compressor on my truck. I will have to have custom AC lines made that will have to be longer that what you will be able to do though.