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Post by jonathan050975 on Feb 9, 2016 9:41:19 GMT
This is my 1979 Toyota Hiace RH12 Hilton bodied motorhome. the first picture is as purchased 6 months ago and the other photo is as it was stripped down last week for welding. It needs a lot of work but should be back on the road for the summer. I am progressing well with it and I love the vehicle. I took it to a festival in the Isle of Wight and its so practical with 2 double beds (just upgraded to memory foam) hot shower and a loo were also a welcome bonus. Its pretty bad to drive, the bodywork was disintegrating (I noticed at night when I turned the headlights on I could see light through the floor and front panel (that doesn't half make you grip steering wheel a bit tighter!!) The brakes are useless (drums all round) and have caused many heart stopping moments coming down a motorway slip road to a roundabout! It certainly isn't powerful at 1600cc and the column change 4 speed box has the most strange gear ratios (I swear you could fit 2 gears between 3rd and 4th!) but to be fair it is reliable and keeps pace with traffic well enough. Main issue seems to0 be a complete lack of support and knowledge of these vehicles. When I bought it I could recall old Hiaces when I was a kid and expected to be tripping over them in breakers yards but parts are few and far between it seems. I am hoping that this group can help me somehow. In return I will try and do the same. As you can see it is having a comprehensive bodywork restoration and rustproofing. I want to change the wheels. I believe that the PCD is 5 x 114.3, anyone have any info on viable sizes or offsets? Or what second hand alloys may be suitable for refurbishment and fitting? I don't want anything ridiculous - just period 15 inch I reckon but would listen o all suggestions. I also need a windscreen as mine has unrepairable stone chips. I also want disc brakes. What can I get them off? Someone told me early Hilux or mid 1980's Hiace (the square shaped one?) - anyone got better information? I have had no help and guidance off anyone so far so any information (or even just encouragement!) would be much appreciated! Jobnathan
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Post by jonathan050975 on Feb 9, 2016 13:28:46 GMT
I should probably say a little about myself too (and thanks for allowing me to join your forum/club)
I am 40 years of age and live in North Wales. I also own a 1960 Daimler Dart and a 1968 Scimitar GTE. I recently restored a 1972 Bond Bug and used the profits from that to buy the Toyota campervan above. The Bond especially had superb back up from a club and also facebook enthusiast pages but I am really struggling to get parts or to contact other enthusiasts of these old Hiaces (am I the only one?!!).
I really hope someone on here shares my enthusiasm and can make contact to share knowledge.
The Hiace has caused some hilarious moments and I absolutely love the thing. It was rusted out as can be seen above. The cab floor is new, both front wings and front panel are currently being made for me. I managed to find good second hand doors (albeit with a 250 mile round trip). Inside its in quite good (albeit well used) condition. The engine seems okay despite being on unleaded for years.
I hope to hear from someone soon.
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Post by Uncle Bob on Feb 9, 2016 13:35:29 GMT
Welcome to the club :)I have seen Toyota Crown wheels on a HiAce motorhome so that is an option and they a 5 x 114.3mm.pcd....that opens up more choices with the 3.0 supra although need to check the centre bore side ...as I found out 3.0 supra won't fit one 1982 Crown
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Post by jonathan050975 on Feb 9, 2016 15:12:51 GMT
Thanks Bob. I have seen some Hiaces on ebay with alloys on that look quite nice but don't like buying (expensive) alloys unless I know that they will fit. I suppose I could always have the centre bore machined out but that increases the costs even further.
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Post by Uncle Bob on Feb 9, 2016 16:34:13 GMT
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Post by Uncle Bob on Feb 9, 2016 16:38:37 GMT
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Post by johnbluerio on Feb 9, 2016 19:53:03 GMT
Hi Johnathon, think these are the wheels you want 1970s Crown, don't forget to get the wheel centre, the wheel studs you can get new in chrome. I bought a set of five wheels through a TEC member about 10yrs ago. They perfect for fit and also being of the same era. I think it cost me about £30/wheel for the full refurbish and powder coating. Your HI-Ace is a hilton by the same company as the Rio and Rio Grande Motorhomes International originally from the Ilse of Man can't help much with spares or panels they are like the proverbial gallopers droppings, for disc brakes try 1982 model onwards I think Billy Wells did a brake conversion on a 1970s Hi-Ace van a few years ago almost a straight swop. There are only a few dozen pre1970 Hi-Aces still around on Sorn or on the road hope you like a challange.
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Post by johnbluerio on Feb 9, 2016 20:00:28 GMT
th whtttttttttt These are the wheels ( although the Supra ones are very nice they look better on the Supra)
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Post by jonathan050975 on Feb 10, 2016 9:24:18 GMT
Bob - thanks for the photos and links to camper information. That Dormobile one looks lovely!
Jon - Those Crown alloys do look nice and I am very pleased to see your nicely restored(?) camper John. In answer to your question Yes I do love a challenge. Sourcing items of original trim will be tricky and certainly some compromises will have to be made with the fitting of similar style items when required due to scarcity of original parts. Crown Alloys wont look quite right with my colour scheme, I need a much simpler design that can be colour coded to the body.
The body will be done in the next 6 weeks or so. Surprisingly the vehicle has a current MOT so will be driven back from the workshop prior to trimming work. Any idea where I can get a windscreen?
I did a 300 mile round trip to collect a spare door from a scrapper. The front panel is being made from sheet steel (my panel beaters are enthusiastic and talented luckily!) I think we are modifying VW T25 arches to fit the Hiace (they assure me that I wont be able to tell the difference). The new floor has been fitted and much strengthening around the front end.
The thing that I am now struggling with is maintaining a consistent quality throughout without blowing a huge sum of money. The bodywork will be fantastic - cab tawny gold (think Mk1 Granada browny gold off the Sweeney) with a cream/beige back - should be quite period and stylish. A friend runs a vinyl transfers company and he will replicate the Hilton stripes and logos in a complimentary colour(s) of my choice. My Headlining needs replacing which is huge (thus expensive I suspect!). The interior originally looked in quite reasonable condition however next to all the new stuff it may look a bit poor now so difficult to know which way to go. Most is made of melamine faced marine plywood. This has some scratches and wear and tear. It will be impossible to match the style and grain so the only options I have is to find second hand replacements that are the same (rather unlikely at best!) or remake the interior wooden panels in modern materials which I feel would ruin the character. Apparently Hilton made the same camper body to fit to a VW LT but that gem of information hasn't helped me find any second hand parts lol!
You are correct she is indeed a Hilton. Naturally she's nicknamed Paris! Brilliant interior design and so well equipped. Obviously when purchased she looked rough and sort of brush painted and a few friends did laugh and started cracking sooty jokes, the first time my friends saw it was as I was bouncing across the camping field at Shell Island in North Wales having just picked her up. Luckily it started raining heavily and there disposable bbq kettle for pot noodles lost its appeal (especially when I put salmon steaks in the oven and fresh summer veg on the hob with some chilled white wine from the fridge (felt very smug). Her next trip was the music festival 'Bestival' in the Isle of Wight which was roughly a 650 mile round trip. Only opened the bonnet once just for a quick checkover.
My van appears to have an overdrive attached to the back of the gearbox and an unlabelled switch on the dashboard, if I can get this working then that could close the horrendous gap between 3rd and 4th gear - uphill motorways are a pain - fourth too high and 3rd too low.
Anyway thanks for your interest. If you know of a windscreen or windscreen rubber then please let me know. Do your Crown alloys have any markings for PCD, offset etc?
Jonathan
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Post by jonathan050975 on Feb 15, 2016 12:16:01 GMT
I have just bought a very rusty Toyota Hiace RH12 Hilton to use for spares, collecting it on Wednesday. Anyone need any seventies Hiace parts?
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Post by johnbluerio on Feb 15, 2016 21:09:09 GMT
Was that the one on ebay for about £700 ? didn't look too bad for a selection of bits and pieces and was a runner. They don't come up for sale very often, hope you don't find its too good for spares and end up doing another one. It does happen.
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Post by jonathan050975 on Feb 16, 2016 16:19:46 GMT
That's the one John, went for just over £900 in the end but compared to the cost of having a windscreen made that is very small(!) I also get a complete spare interior so I can pick the best bits of each one and I will have a full set of all those broken plastic clips and hinges which are inevitable in any rebuild I suppose. I also need to replace a skylight and 2 glazing units. In effect I am making one superb one out of 2 rough ones. Unless I had got them it would be realistic to expect that both would have been scrap in a year so I wont feel too guilty about one registered vehicle leaving the roads.
I will also happily supply spares at low cost to anyone who needs them on this forum (hopefully this will help more people restore these lovely vehicles) which will help me recoup some of my (mounting!) costs!
Target was to be completed by Easter but that might be a bit ambitious.......
Jonathan
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