Toyota Hilux Restoration 58028

[Forni 43]

I just finished a restoration project. The color is a orange-red. The decals are from MCI. The original Semi-ESC is working nicely. 

It is a nice runner.

[KEV THE REV 2381]

Super sweet . Any topless shots ? - of the truck that is !!

I restored one of these some years back , along with a Bruiser , they sure take some time don't they !

[Forni 43]

Here are some more pictures. I added a full set of ball bearings in the axels and the transmission. Cleaned the case of the transmission, polished the rims and repainted the body. The truck is in good original condition. The only thing I probably will replace are the leaf springs. Unfortunately at the front there are minor adaptions necessary because the springs are a bit longer (second hole in the frame).

 

[Torhaantje 76]

Beautiful car,  well done!!!

[njmlondon 572]

Beautiful car and lovely sensitive restoration.

I did one of these myself but over-restored it and never ran it.

I think it is awesome that you are going to run yours. Enjoy!

[zappto 192]

Hello, looking really sweet, i like you cleaned it so nicely. Paint work looks great and shiny. Did you leave original motor?  I am currently restoring one like this my self.

[Forni 43]

Thanks! Yes the motor is original and it runs quite good. Also the old transistor ESC is actually nice to drive, vintage but cool. I don’t now how well a stronger motor is taken by the transmission. Even if it is now equipped with ball bearings, it seams to be fragile and sensitive to torque.

Also a weak point are the knuckles, it is certainly good to have one spare. The knuckles from the old Bruiser / Mountaineer fit also and are improved in stability.

The only bad thing is suspension, for a runner it is worth to replace the leaf springs with softer ones, and add the damper with the most hard oil.

[Re-Bugged 11299]

Lovely job and very nice to see one standing the test of time so well 👍🏻

[simensays 325]

That looks amazing!
Great work on the iconic piece of Tamiya history. Very cool to see you run it. As others have mentioned, after restoring mine it has seen no run time - which is kind of sad. Now go out and hook it up to a skateboard and let it tow you around, as in the vintage Tamiya catalog  

[KEV THE REV 2381]

Super clean , very nice work 

[casethejoint 311]

Lovely!

If you can paint/re-paint the Good-Year tire lettering that will really make it pop. 

[Forni 43]

On 1/18/2022 at 9:37 PM, casethejoint said:

Lovely!

If you can paint/re-paint the Good-Year tire lettering that will really make it pop. 

Do you have a recommendation for that? Do you use acrylic color for that?

[simensays 325]

I love the look of white lettering on tires on selected model, including the Hilux 4x4 - but I hate the process of doing it. The Hiilx tires are fiddly (well, for me it was)
I used a very fine tip permanent marker in white on mine.

 

 

[SuperChamp82 745]

+1 @simensays 

In fact, I probably read / copied you here 😂

The colour in permanent markers is designed to bite quickly - initially fluid / permeable + rapidly aerated / sticky 

Done well on tyres it leaves a reducing white veneer as the paint dries - making the tyres look truly 1:1  👍

[Forni 43]

I startet a new project, now in blue metallic and the custom MCI decals. They are great.

 

 

[kotaman 22]

Very nice work on both of them, I like the top of the bed painted black on your red truck. That color blue is sharp, especially with those decal colors. What brand of paint and/or combination of coats did you use to get such a hue? 

[Forni 43]

Thanks! Its a Toyota Color „Toyota SPECTRA BLUE PEARL 8M6“. I used a grey primer as a base coat, than a light blue as a color primer, then three coats of the Spectra Pearl paint.

[njmlondon 572]

Another lovely Hilux.

I am regretting selling mine now!

Do you ever video them running?

[Forni 43]

Good idea, I will plan a video for a next ride and post it. With the Bruiser springs and softer tires they run smooth. BTW on that one I mounted 1.9” custom aluminium rims for standard tires.

[njmlondon 572]

13 hours ago, Forni said:

Good idea, I will plan a video for a next ride and post it. With the Bruiser springs and softer tires they run smooth. BTW on that one I mounted 1.9” custom aluminium rims for standard tires.

Please do! I remember the original Hilux videos playing in my LHS back in the day and still love a Hilux video!

I did a similar mod to my Hilux… I used hi-lift tires and kept the original wheels but stretched RC4WD tires over the rims. Why did I sell that truck!?

 

Following your thread I am now seriously considering finding another one and restoring it as a runner. Maybe in blue too!

 

[Forni 43]

I finally found a video of a test run. It is a very nice car to drive.