History
My parents bought this one when we first got our house when we moved here from NZ and left it with us. So over the last 15 years it's gone from a rusty white 4 on the tree bench seat model with tray back to this.
Modifications
When I got struck down with depression a few years ago I decided to start rebuilding the bunky old ute as a bit of a therapy thing. As you can all see that worked out quite well but not finished yet... Well will she ever be "finished". Initially as over the years I'd collected quite a few bits and bobs for her I was going to use a spare cab that I had only to find that it was worse than anticipated. So as you do I had a moan on Toymods Fb group about that. Next day I get a call at work "You're gunna love what I've just dumped in your driveway! Oh your wife isn't happy either". Get home to find a rust free cab and matching well body the latter needing a new floor and some other rot repairs. Thoughts turned to drivetrain and initially I wanted to keep her "Period" and fit an 18R-G. Then I got offered a low KM repairable write off 91 Celsior for a price not to be refused so 1UZ it was as the ute isn't original given that it's made out of 3 different ones. And the build began, took a lot of time as you'd expect but was reasonably straight forward. for mounting the engine I got a set of 1UZ into RA Celica mount brackets out of Xcessive engineering in the USA then converted the engine from front sump to rear sump using the sump and oil filter housing from a V8 Soarer also converting the auto to slip yoke and dropped it in. There are no mods to the chassis nor engine to make this all work or fit. From there it was a shortened TGN16 Hilux tailshaft to give me the larger Landcruiser type UJs and a 3.56 Torsen LSD from a KUN26 Hilux 4wd. Wiring was the really time consuming part. I picked all the required wiring out of the Celsior loom and integrated that into the original 1980 Hilux loom in such a way that no extra holes had to be cut into the cab then using a donor later model fuel tank put the swirlpot and top section of the donor into the original tank allowing me to run the stock Celsior in tank pump. Exhaust I had to use Early UZJ100 Landcruiser log type exhaust manifolds and change the bog 3 bolt flanges to smaller 2 bolt ones then built a full tuned length 2.5 inch dual exhaust incorporating the cats from the Celsior. She's nice and quiet but no mistaking what is in it when you stand on the loud pedal. Brakes were relatively easy given that she had factory discs. I changed the booster to a dual diaphragm Toyota Surf one and drove around with that for a while while she still had the original 18R in her finding that a really good upgrade. As for colour I chose Holdens Regal Peacock Green from the VF Commodore range as I just love that colour. This is over Toyota Steel Blue/Grey in a 1980s two tone. Interior is Toyota Surf seats (another direct bolt in), console and Auto shifter. Along the way I was lucky enough to pick up a full original SR5 dash and steering wheel so in they went along with an original AM radio. Now everything works and she talks to a scan tool as well right down to live data which via vehicle speed sensor and GPS proved that I'd managed to fluke putting the right speedo drive in first time.. She breezed through engineering despite the DOT refusing to believe that everything was a direct bolt in until she was presented for pit inspection
