Offroad-Express

hi, i have a hilux double cab with a supercharged 1uzfe v8 and also just purchased a rusty but savable 1980 hj45 for $450.00 nzd. it is a very original truck with original (tired) "H" engine. the rest of the truck is in well maintained condition. i think i will put a chev in it. the id tag has nothing re trans and axle, what sort of gearbox would this be?/is a chev bellhousing available? are these gearboxes capable behind a small block? are the wellsides (that the US trucks have) available in nz? did the nz new h/fj45 come with wellsides or were they flatdecks? how do you load photos? i can try and help anyone doing a 1uz into hilux conversion as i have learnt a few things doing my one. Thanks regards, Doon

Hi Doon, the standard cruiser gearboxes are strong enough and run well with the chev's. You can either buy a bell housing/engine mount kit like a Dellow or Marks Adaptors and the conversion is easy or you can make up an adaptor plate to fit the cruiser box onto a chev bell housing. Petrol gearboxes have a shorter input shaft (about 60mm less I think) than the diesel gearboxes and fit easier.