When I worked down in S America we had the Toyota Hilux crewcabs with the little diesel engine. Drive train was extremely durable but the body wasn't. They rode so rough alot of the tin started to crack. We ended up putting a bunch of sandbags or a drum of oil in the back so they wouldn't skate around on the washboard. I think there was more suspension in the seat than the spring pack.

 

Oh yes......Acme adapters in Oregon makes a nice complete kit for most any generation VW diesel into just about any suzuki tracker or toyota. me thinks when I can find a nice 4 door newer tracker for cheap I'll junk my jetta and rob the engine for the swap.

 

If you want pros and cons on the smaller toyota 2LT or 2LTE, there are only cons I've owned them and rebuilt them, the head is the weak link in both one the head drops valve seats, chewing up pistons and head. the other will crack and is NOT repairable. they do get better mileage in town vs hiway, they are more powerful than the gass 22re version, but not near as reliable.

the rest of the powertrain is bullet proof, I'VE mated v-6 and V-8 chevs to the rest of the truck and NEVER broke a diff/or axel.

I'm a toyota fan and have owned them for 20yrs, but the 4cyl diesel is not something that can take abuse

pm me and I can fill ya in on the diesel engine if your interested

 

why don't you fill in here.....don't hide info in PMs. maybe the rest of us are interested too.

I've been debating a 12-13 year old hilux too. if i don't swap the VW 1.6. for a daily driver.

 

There is also in the edmonton kijijji a hilux that has been for sale for awhile that I have been looking at for 11,500. Still wondering if it is the real solution for me.....

 

I've seen 1 only one true 4 door crewcab style pickup hilux. it was sweet. but that was 6 or 7 years ago and I had no real interest in them.

 

I can fill in here but typing sucks, easier to get a PM with phone number and talk to someone. not trying to hide info, infact I usually shoot off my mouth passing off anything I do know

here is a good site for toyota diesels

http://www.toyotadiesel.com/forums/

I dont have a toyota diesel any more but I have spent a few hours over on this site when it first started up (user name over there is Nick), lots of 2L, 2LT, 2LTII and 2LTE info over there as well as conversions which are popular in the US. basically they buy a 1/2 cut diesel truck and swap all the parts into a North Americal spec truck or 4 runner

dont get me wrong I love the toyota diesel but my experience has been don't stray too far from home, too hard to stop at a local parts store and get things, If I was to do it again a VW powered toyota would be the way I'd go or izisu(spelling) heck a VW TD is cheap to rebuild (170$ for headgasket/valvecover gasket/ rings/rod and main bearings/ head bolts) heads are always cracked but rarely every result in burning coolant or compression issues. last VW I did was 5yrs or so ago, me and a friend had it tore down and re-ringed in frame in 3 hrs from start to finish.

 

my next swap would be an isuzu into a chev, check out this!! chick on the photo tab it looks like a factory job.

http://www.isuzudieselswapper.com/index.html

 

toyota VW TD would be nice. but can't find a good solid older toyota for a **** around here. all rusted out, frames rusted out,