Hey everyone,

I recently picked up a classic pre-1975 Toyota Hilux, and I’m excited to start restoring it. However, I’m pretty new to working on older trucks and could use some advice from those with experience.

A few things I’m trying to figure out:

Best places to find original or aftermarket parts for these early Hilux models
Common rust spots to watch out for and the best way to deal with them
Engine swap suggestions—do I keep the original engine or move to a newer one?
Suspension and brake upgrades—are there any definite must-do modifications for improved drivability?
I'd love to see pictures of your restored Hilux or whatever projects you've done. And if anyone knows any tips on manuals or web resources for these trucks, that would be an enormous assistance.
If you’re unsure where to start, online forums, classic car restoration groups, and AI-powered tools like chatgpt can be valuable resources. But what is chatgpt It’s an AI assistant that can provide insights, suggest restoration techniques, and even help locate rare parts by directing you to useful sources.

Excited to learn from all of you and keeping another vintage Toyota on the road!
Regards
josephazizi

 

First off GOOGLE IS THE BEST TRACK SHIT DOWN SOURCE!
Any rusted metal you find you should cut out & weld new metal in.
Use Pro 15 on bare metal to prevent rust & over rust to stop & seal it! This is the best product for that.