Hey everyone,

I'm new to these forums, been doing research from this site since I bought my 91 Surf this past summer. I would like to say that these forums have been the biggest help with any issues I've faced so far. This is my first Toyota, and really the first car that I've done any work on. This is what it looked like when I picked it up.


From the research I did before picking the truck up I learned that the 2lte has a bad reputation of overheating and head cracking. The first thing I did was install some gauges to monitor the temps (EGT, water temp, boost gauge), change the coolant and ad a little waterwetter, and also remove the EGR system.

Picked up a roof rack off an old van, sized it up and painted it, then bolted it on.

Next I had a 3" exhaust built from the dump pipe back.

And finally this is how it is sitting right now. I have recently added rock defence front and back bumpers and small wheel spacers. I also managed to wire in a battery isolator, I am running one starter battery and one deep cycle for my lights and stereo. (no pics of this yet)


This girl is definitely a work in progress, some of the wiring needs to be cleaned up and there's an intercooler being planned. This work has been done in the last six months or so and I have had no previous experience. Any pointers, ideas, or feedback from you guys would be fantastic.

Cheers!

 

Love it!!! just a suggestion on your fogs those things are gonna be gonners if you keep them where they are at, they make some pretty sweet tube light mounts that look like they would work under the signals

But its looking good man, sweet justice

 

Looks cool dude! I'm in Alberta also own a 91 surf. Throw in an intercooler and crank the boost. I've never had any overheating issues whatsoever after the exhaust and intercooler were installed. More pics! Do you wheel it?

 

Sweet rig!!!! I have allways wanted a 2lte.

X2 on more pics!!!

 

http://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-tech-...ving-2lte.html



http://dahn.webcity.com.au/~toy49040...ic.php?t=31663

 

Thanks for the feedback guys! Looks like I'll have to take a few more pics. Did you want to see anything in particular? I will be moving the fog lights at some point, also getting rid of the turn signals and putting the bulbs into the corner lights when I have some time.
Yeah I'd believe it, I haven't had any overheating issues since the exhaust has been put on... I'll still be putting the intercooler in to make it bomber. Where a bouts in AB are you located? I'm in Golden so right on the border. I'll be wheeling it a bit this summer for sure!
Thanks for the links mate, I've looked over the Ih8mud one quiet a bit. TONS of useful info!

 

Also this is a pic of the battery isolator I installed. There is a deep cycle battery on the other side. The wiring looks a little sketchy in this photo, I just got everything wired up so I could test it... It'll get cleaned up eventually. I do have a question for anyone with a similar battery set-up though. Just wondering what you guys have hooked up to the second battery and what you have hooked onto the main? I wired in a small fusebox for the deep cycle and have my lights and stereo off it for now. Like I said before, I am completely new to this so any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

I just wired two batteries in series. No isolator or anything. I can do 3 or 4 glow plug cycles when it's 40 below out and the truck starts no problem. I'm in calgary, I get out to golden usually at least once or twice a season to ski kicking horse.

You should try and make a weekend trip to Calgary so you can wheel with us.

 

Alright, haven't updated on progress in quite a while, I've been driving a work truck so this thing has been sitting around most of the summer. It's coming back on the road and figured I would rebuild the suspension/steering before I insure it.

Here are some pictures of how it looks after everything has been torn off. Sorry for the quality of the pictures, I'll get some good ones tomorrow when I start putting the new parts in.


The upper and lower ball joints popped out surprisingly easily with a pickle fork, same with the inner and outer tie rod ends. So far I've been really surprised at how easily everything is coming apart - knock on wood... I will be replacing the inner and outer tie rod ends on both sides, upper and lower ball joints on both sides, shocks on both sides, sway bar end links, pitman arm and idler arm, new boots for the cv's, and finally putting in a block heater to prepare for the winter.

I've never done any work like this to a truck so if anyone has any tips, or if I should replace anything else while I'm in there. Any input is awesome! I'll have a better update on progress tomorrow!

 

Glad everything is going smooth!

 

my 2lte has been awesome... in the 4 years ive had it i have put 2 new batteries and had the injection pump re-sealed... the starter rebuilt ....changed the pitman and idler and brakes.... filters.... this truck has been awesome and everything has come apart easy.. it was literally a brand new vehicle when i got it.. except the smoke smell..

the head was replaced before i got it.. about time to order some more oil and fuel filters...

my trucks has only not started once due to cold... but did start with a boost....

if i glow it 2 times or 3 if its really cold she usually starts with little more than a few chugs , no block heater or anything... wish i would of had one done when the starter was out...