What year are these Hiluxes? Im ready to build my own!

[scrounge]

Spotted these Hiluxes in Belize. Since I couldnt figure out how to smuggle them home, I began to dream of "making" my own from a US Tacoma, and a JDM half-cut. Both of these had the 2.8 litre diesel (3L, as did my Prado rental). Through a little digging on the net, I deduced that there was a JDM "JN130" with a 2L-TE engine, and a KZ130 with a 1KZ-TE engine (3.0 litre TD, I believe). The 1KZ-TE is supposed to be a real honey of an engine (but with all the high-tech controls not on a 3B).

Question(s):
1. Can anyone identify the approximate year model of these two vehicles (pics hopefully attached)?
2. Does anyone know the appropriate year model of a US spec Tacoma that will most easily accomodate the 1KZ-TE? Somewhere, I thought I read that a 4cylinder US Taco of the same year as the donor JDM version (say KZ130) has the same motor mounts and transmission.
3. Why in the h*ll did the US market decide we didnt need the bed tie-down hooks on the outside? Not fashionable?

Thanks,

Bruce

 

[scrounge]

Let me briefly hijack my own post ---

Here is my Prado rental car. Would have liked to smuggle it home as well; RHD 3L, 5speed, 60/40 front bench, rear bench, and 2 rear fold-down jump seat in the luggage area, for a theoretical seating capacity of eight. Seats were all heavy vinyl, and floor was a thick vinyl/pvc material ready to hose out. Overall mileage over 600 miles (no babying) was around 25 mpg.

Any idea what year this is?? I looked in door jam, but couldnt find any data plate. Sorry for the crappy pictures; still screwing with my photo editor to get down to a mud-legal size.

 

[KZJ77]

Hi Bruce!

I assume you mean the following models introduced in 1997.
LN166, 3L-engine, with the 1KZ-TE-engine it´s the
KZN165.

A few pics, most from Europe (Switzerland)

Regards

Michael

 

[cruiser_guy]

I have heard from mechanics in Central America that the 4 cylinder is an easy swap to a diesel and common down there. The V6 is much more difficult since tranny and engine mounts are different.
This is all hearsay so take it for what it's worth.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Any idea what year this is?? I looked in door jam, but couldnt find any data plate. Sorry for the crappy pictures; still screwing with my photo editor to get down to a mud-legal size.

Those are KZJ95 ,the KZJ90 is a 2 dr.
I think they are from 96-01 but try the 90 series forum on MUD.
They are the best model,the next 2 updated versions 120/125 series got longer and lower with more plastic trim .

The model numbers for all toyotas is on an alumiium plate on the firewall,can be either side

 

[Tapage]

I'm pretty sure here in Panamá the last year that those Hi Lux model come with front solix axle was in 98 from mid 98 to 2005 ( mid ) this model that you are showing with the 3L ( 2.8 ) engine ..

I thought ( never done ) the 3L is a posible swap .. but sure that the 1KZ-T is pretty much complicated coz use a alum tranny with integrated bell housing and the front drive shaft are on the drivers side.

 

[scrounge]

Thanks to all for the help.

Thanks to the moderator for moving to the appropriate section; I accidently posted in the JDM/classifieds, but couldnt figure out how to move it myself.

scrounge...

 

[scrounge]

Those are KZJ95 ,the KZJ90 is a 2 dr.
I think they are from 96-01 but try the 90 series forum on MUD.
They are the best model,the next 2 updated versions 120/125 series got longer and lower with more plastic trim .

The model numbers for all toyotas is on an alumiium plate on the firewall,can be either side

Yeah, but the plate on the firewall didnt have the date. I forgot to check on the model number, but I assume that the Prado with the 3L engine would be a model Lxxxx90, right?

 

[BJ-44]

You can find out the year by looking at the seat belt tag. The year of manufacture is on there if it is readable.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Yeah, but the plate on the firewall didnt have the date. I forgot to check on the model number, but I assume that the Prado with the 3L engine would be a model Lxxxx90, right?

Sorry Im unaware that they used the L engine in a 90,I thought they were done with them after the LJ78 in 92-93 and they became KZJ 70-73 ect until about 96 when the KZJ90 came along.
In Australia the Prados got the KZ engines before the Hilux I think.

Anythings possible as the engine models and years varied greatly in different markets

 

[scrounge]

Sorry Im unaware that they used the L engine in a 90,I thought they were done with them after the LJ78 in 92-93 and they became KZJ 70-73 ect until about 96 when the KZJ90 came along.
In Australia the Prados got the KZ engines before the Hilux I think.

Im unsure of the model designation or year of this Prado that I had, but I definitely read "3L" on the data plate on the firewall. It was a 4 cyl, naturally aspirated diesel. I didnt get the opportunity to look under the hoods of the Hiluxes, just read the "2.8" on the fender and know that they were diesels; I assumed 3L also. The 3L in the Prado didnt exactly lay rubber from a stoplight, but with wife, 2 teenagers, and luggage, I was content and definitely trying to figure out how I could avoid a Belizean/Mexican prison while smuggling back to the US!

 

[roscoFJ73]

Im unsure of the model designation or year of this Prado that I had, but I definitely read "3L" on the data plate on the firewall. It was a 4 cyl, naturally aspirated diesel. I didnt get the opportunity to look under the hoods of the Hiluxes, just read the "2.8" on the fender and know that they were diesels; I assumed 3L also. The 3L in the Prado didnt exactly lay rubber from a stoplight, but with wife, 2 teenagers, and luggage, I was content and definitely trying to figure out how I could avoid a Belizean/Mexican prison while smuggling back to the US!

I had a look around the net and there were a few references to a LJ90 which is what it be.There is also a VZJ90 V6 petrol ,a RZJ90 4 cyl petrol which makes 4 differnt engine choices
Im pretty sure thats a 95- onwards body shape.
The previous model was a 70 with a Surf front

 

[scrounge]

Thanks Roscoe; any idea what year range the Hiluxes were??

Bruce

 

[Tapage]

The Non turbo prados here in Panamá come with the new version 5L ( 3.0 Lts ) also for long ones ( 4 doors ) and Hi Ace pannels ..