New Surf new member

[Andy Archer]

Hi, I have finaly got the surf I have been wanting for 2 years....I have always considered these machines to be the ultimate 4x4 family vehicle....great for hauling all your crap to and from the beach, field or work site....including the dog.

My surf is the SSR X 1997, 3lt TD Auto, twin stainless exhaust, land cruiser wheels....everything else is pretty much standard.

Question or two:-
1. is it worth installing the winter pack from another vehicle if I am putting spotlights and audio visual equipment in the vehicle?

2. He has done about 192,000 Kilometres and I am changing the cam belt....should I attempt it myself and do I need specialist tools? (I have mechanical experience and am fitting an auxiliary temp gauge)

3. What is the best option for using veg oil?

4. what's the best roof rack to use, I was thinking Land Rover adaptation?

5. If I am adding a temp gauge what other gauges would you recommend, I want to install three ish so it looks pleasing to the eye?

I used the insurance numbers you have on the forum and managed to get Tonka insured for just over 300 fully comp with A Plan, thanks for that.

Cheers Andy.

[MWS]

Hello Andy. Welcome to the forum. When you say "winter pack", do you just mean twin batteries ? Would it not be easier to do some research and upgrade the existing single battery to a larger more poweful one ? If you feel competent and confident enough to do a cambelt change, its always a good idea on a vehicle that you don't know the service history on. I'd do the tensioners too. Also all the fluids. I use veggie, changing the derv / WVO ratio as the seasons change. I'm currently running about 65% well filtered WVO. Do you mean roof Rack, Thule etc, or modified roof rails ? Finally, if youre concerned about your electrics, how about an ammeter or volt meter ? As for the other one, just consider what information would be of most use to you, oil pressure, boost gauge or whatever. Hope this helps. Why not post some pics of your new truck ? Good luck ..

[swampy]

welcome.

Welcome to the forum, loads of good advice on here, cam belt, if you've done one before, this should be easy. They even provide some handy marks for you. Allow a couple of hours and take it steady. ( I just removed the cover of the engine and the skin of my fore arms.) Good advice to change the tensioner and pully as stated. Got my roof rack made at S.D.V Roof Racks (Clitheroe) Ltd, about £250 ish if I remember rightly.
Happy Surfing.

[Nige. coll]

welcome

hello and welcome.

i was thinking about the winter conversion on mine. heated fuel filter would help a lot with veg oil i guess.

twin batteries would be good also. just be careful my friend ran a surf winter pack as a breakdown vehicle ran a charging lead from the batteries to jump start cars , he cooked 3 batteries on other cars and had to wire it up to just 1 battery too many amps for non surfs lol they couldn't handle the power haha

[shokenore]

hello and welcome.

i was thinking about the winter conversion on mine. heated fuel filter would help a lot with veg oil i guess.

twin batteries would be good also. just be careful my friend ran a surf winter pack as a breakdown vehicle ran a charging lead from the batteries to jump start cars , he cooked 3 batteries on other cars and had to wire it up to just 1 battery too many amps for non surfs lol they couldn't handle the power haha

How?

[Andy Archer]

Thank you

cheers for the input guys, I'll try to upload a couple of pictures of TONKA....the previous owner named him and decided the he/she designation...lol
I am also after a winch bumper...any ideas?

[MWS]

cheers for the input guys, I'll try to upload a couple of pictures of TONKA....the previous owner named him and decided the he/she designation...lol
I am also after a winch bumper...any ideas?

Hey Andy. Nice truck. Vince (Bushwhacker) had a really nice 3rd gen winch bumper for sale. He may still have it. Give him a shout.

[legendgamesmaster]

now THAT is a hairderessers truck - don't forget the curling tong adapter...

[Andy Archer]

Hairdresser...?

Give a man a chance, l only just got it.
Needs some lights, lift, shooting rest, roof rack with roof tent and loads of other bits and bobs.
Thought about a matt black paint job and some fire or skulls...lol

[Diezel Weazel]

hello and welcome.

i was thinking about the winter conversion on mine. heated fuel filter would help a lot with veg oil i guess.

No need to have a heated Fuel Filter ....... some useful help ...
see here
http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/showthread.php?t=55767

11+ Years of Surfs ..... n Faultless to a "T" is my Yota !!