Post by radioflyer90 on Jul 12, 2008 11:42:49 GMT -8
Hi folks! I'm sure glad to find a new source of info for old Toyotas! I am working on my dad's 1971 Hilux, with plans to get it on the road. This truck has been through a lot over the years, and it is a miracle that it has survived this long. Back when it was relatively new, it was stolen and wrecked while the police were chasing it. In about 1975, my dad bought it from the junkyard and patched it up. He needed a small truck to do work in the woods where a full-size truck would have difficulty going. While he put the truck together, he added axles and a transfer case from a Willys Jeep, making it 4X4. The super low gears in the axles meant that the 8R-C could pull or haul just about anything, and it did. The engine has been rebuilt several times, and had hardened valves added at one point, but the cylinders have never been bored. The truck was completely rebuilt in the early '90's, and what was left of the box was replaced with a flatbed. It was used daily until 2003, when my dad bought a new pickup. The Toyota has been tucked away in the corner of the garage ever since. From time to time, I do a little maintenance on it or let the engine run for a while. This summer, I plan to replace the troublesome carburetor (never could get it to work right) and put it back on the road for another 37 years!