Newbie in the North West of England

[SRI_GAZ]

Meant to do one of these weeks ago when i first signed up.

Anyways am Gaz (Gareth) 24 and based near Preston work as a mechanic for myself.

Have had 4x4's since i could drive mainly all Land Rovers (think am on my 15th landy) but the surf is my first Toyota.

Anyways more important part the trucks:

Spec as I bought it:

96 3rd Gen Surf
2 inch lift kit,
1.5 body lift,
33" Maxxis Bighorn Tyres x5,
Wheel spacers,
Tunit box
Stainless turbo back Exhaust (think it a powerflow)

Work I've Done So Far:
Cambelt, brake pads, diffs and transfer box fluid change, silicon induction hose, new wipers.

Current Plans:
full service, tracking, rear brake shoes, new fuel filler pipe, coolant change, boost gauge, additional water gauge, rust protection, steering rack rebuild, poly bush, possibly change body lift to 2 inch, rock sliders.


Must amit am really lg the Surf and have already clocked up few thousand miles. Been to London and Silverstone and various other places, but haven't given it any proper abuse off road yet. But for few times it has got dirty have found it very capable.


Now dunno if am being very brave or stupid posting my other truck on here with it being a landy

Anyways its a

100 inch Range Rover Hybrid with defender body and tray back desgin

35 inch BF MT Tyres
15x10j Rims
Terrafirma Steering Damper
Terrafirma plus 2 inch shocks
2 inch lift Range Rover springs
2 inch rear spring lifting blocks
2 inch rear shock lowering bracekts
Extend Bump Stops
Extended Brake lines, plus rears re routed to allow more drop
Fully Poly Bushed
3 inch Cranked Rear Arms
Rear diff rebuilt
Brake overhaul
Jaguar SU Carbs
Electronic Ignition
Uprated Fuel Pump
Partial Rewire
Exhaust system


To Do:
Fit lpg kit, repaint the damaged areas, wire up roof lights, rust protection

Future Plans:
Body lift, rock sliders, dislocation cones, uprated prop shafts, caster correction radius arms, spare wheel, custom exhaust

[Albannach]

Surf looks nice. Landy looks shite, sorry.

What's a 'Tunit Box'?

[Albannach]

And the 'North West' of where?

[Sancho]

Hi, welcome

As Andy said, nice surf, shame about the other. I'm under no illusions about the relative abilities of a surf and landy offroad, but I think you will grow to love the surf's ability to actually start and work more than the hypothetical abilities of the LR to do stuff if it wasn't constantly broken

I like that you painted the zebra stripes then parked it in the snow. You obviously have the appropriate level of shame and were trying to hide it...

[Sancho]

And the 'North West' of where?

England, I assume. Grumpy guts.

[Albannach]

England, I assume.

Never assume

[Sancho]

Never assume

If you say 'it makes an ass out of u and me' I will get in my car, drive up there right now and burn your house down.

[SRI_GAZ]

tunit box plugs into ecu and is said to increase power, torque, fuel economy.

Has settings from 1 - 9, think one on my truck is currently set to 4

Its basically remap but with advantage of you can adjust, switch it off and go back to factory.

I haven't actually touched it or turned it off, to see if it makes any different, but the truck does go very well.

and the north west of England

[Sancho]

Has settings from 1 - 9, think one on my truck is currently set to 4

Turn it up to 11.

[Albannach]

If you say 'it makes an ass out of u and me' I will get in my car, drive up there right now and burn your house down.

I wouldn't dare...

[SRI_GAZ]

Turn it up to 11.

Don't tempt me, but i'd dread to think what mpg would drop down too.

[Albannach]

Has settings from 1 - 9, think one on my truck is currently set to 4

4 is probably normal. I imagine 1-3 would be normal too, 5-9 are probably essentially normal as well.

[SRI_GAZ]

Hi, welcome

As Andy said, nice surf, shame about the other. I'm under no illusions about the relative abilities of a surf and landy offroad, but I think you will grow to love the surf's ability to actually start and work more than the hypothetical abilities of the LR to do stuff if it wasn't constantly broken

I like that you painted the zebra stripes then parked it in the snow. You obviously have the appropriate level of shame and were trying to hide it...

Cheers for the welcome

I'll be honest the surf is much nicer drive on the road, esp long distance, but an off roading weekend i'd always pick the landy am afraid. Touch wood never broke it badly or broken down bar simple little things like getting engine too wet, cv joint and my battery going pop in cold weather last winter but that was my own fault for not building battery box. Plus parts are cheap for them and ready available.
However if i was going camping with mates in lakes I'd happily take the surf
As for mpg there both as bad as each other.

As for paint job, that was previous owner, i've just never seen point in changing it, and am not arsed about damaging it as 5 mins with tin of white hammerite and black hammerrite and its fixed. Plus exhaust note makes it very hard to hide seeing as it can be heard about half mile away lol

[SRI_GAZ]

4 is probably normal. I imagine 1-3 would be normal too, 5-9 are probably essentially normal as well.

http://www.tunit.com/ that's the company and probably explains better how it works and what its meant to do.

[schrodingers-cat]

Hi