Custom 2003 Toyota Hilux - Fraternal Toys

When you live in what's called Down Under, there is only one way that your vehicle could go. For the slow ones out there, this would be down - down low that is. This dual feature shows some of the advantages to living halfway around the world. It seems as some of the mini's overseas know no bounds. The crew cab HiLux makes the American mini-truckers jealous, as we throw in an extra cab for the ultimate in contrast. We Americans could never hope to own something like this without extreme hook-ups and an empty shipping container.

We're lucky to run into two prime examples of craftsmanship as these two Toyotas. Although the owners don't hang out on the weekends, that doesn't mean that their goals and hardships weren't similar, if not the exact same. They both had their goal at building mini's that were extreme but reliable and done right. For example, Dean's truck was finished a mere two days before the show where we were to meet them and made it with flying colors. Brad's build swung out of control when they installed a cantilever four-link and it hit a total snowball effect.

Brad went to a couple of shows and dug the mini's on display. Six years later he's a mini-trucker through and through. Dean read some American magazines and couldn't believe the finished look of an on-the-floor mini. Needless to say, we Americans did our job on that conversion to our cult.

THE LOWDOWN

Rolling Attire
Wheels: 19x7.5-inch Bazo B52s
Backspace: +45mm
Tires: Falken 245/35ZR19

Chassis Modifications
Suspension type: Air
Rear suspension: Parallel four-link
Airbag type and size: Front: 6-inch Slam Specialties Rear: 7-inch Slam specialties
Spindles/springs: 2-inch drop spindles
Shocks: Touring shocks
Valves: 1/2-inch GC valves
Compressors: Two Air Zeniths
Air line: 1/2-inch DOT
Air/hydro accessories: Dual-needle air gauge and switchbox
Frame mods: Monster notch and custom tube work
Frame material: 1-1/8-inch tube
Gas tank: 15-gallon RCI fuel cell
Detail work: Detailed chassis, painted shocks, brake calipers, four-link, and crossmember
Performed by: Owner and the Chop Shop
Location: NSW, Australia

Body Modifications
Shaved: Guards, door handles, gas door, mirrors, and tailgate
Frenched: License plate
Front end: Lund front end
Back end: Tailgate skin with swedge line put in
Exterior bolt-ons: Billet grilles
Misc: Custom bed work, diamond-plate covers with hinges
Performed by: Owner and his dad, Peter

Paint
Brand and colors: Fury Red flowcoated
Style: Single-color
Performed by: Idris (L&M Smash)
Location: NSW, Australia

Interior
Dash: Painted insert
Door panels: Modified to fit tweeter
Gauges: Dual-needle air gauges

Stereo
Head unit: Clarion touch screen
Mids & highs: Clarion 6-inch three-way separates and 6-inch mids
Amplifier for mids & highs: Clarion four-channel
Subwoofers: Two Clarion 10-inch dual voice coil subwoofers
Amplifier for subwoofers: Clarion four-channel
Wiring/accessories: Stinger wiring
Custom fabrication: 10-inch subs mounted under the rear seat
Misc: Dynamat from floor to roof
Performed by: Incor Audio City/state: NSW, Australia

Engine/Performance
Intake: K&N pod filter.
Header/exhaust: 2-1/4-inch to Triflow muffler with 3-inch dump
Driveshaft: Modified front and rear shafts
Battery: Two Centuary
Location: Rear of the bed
Inner fenders: Tubbed firewall and relocated parts
Misc: Diamond-plate cover for pod filter
Performed by: Owner and Peter
Location: NSW, Australia

Special Thanks
Brad would like to thank his dad for his time and patience, the Chop Shop, and L&M Smash