INSIDE JOB
LIKE most 4x4s, this N80, owned by Max, rides on a solid foundation that ties the entire build together. “I’ve always been an advocate for keeping IFS vehicles low,” Max tells us. “Improvement in approach and departure angles will give you more benefit than lift, in order to run larger tyres.”
In keeping with that theme the front of the Hilux sits 50mm above standard thanks to a combination of high-end gear. The big player is the Monster Rides/ksp Matrix struts. Despite just two inches in ride height, they’re wrapped in progressive coils and fully adjustable dampening to get the ride quality dialled in. Monster Rides/ksp upper control arms help keep things in alignment, while the Phat Bars diff drop gets the CV angle back near stock for maximum strength. At the rear Max had the load leafs in the stock spring pack reset to handle a little more weight; while 75mm extended shackles bump ride height up 25mm over stock. They’re paired with a set of three-inch-longer Rekon rear shocks, which give the Hilux an OEM ride with extra flex and load-carrying ability.
Max then yanked the factory diff gears out of both ends and replaced them with 4.8-ratio gears from Nitro gear, a serious upgrade from the 3.9 the ’Lux rolled off the production line with. The front gear set has also been wrapped around a Harrop e-locker, giving Max twin-locked capability at the push of a button. The new driveline components allow the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel to effortlessly spin the 305/70R17 Maxxis RAZRS which are wrapped around gun-metal grey 17x8.5 0-offset alloy wheels.
With Max trying to stuff as big a tyre in the guards as possible while keeping the Hilux low, things would eventually start fowling. To make the ’Lux live up to its full potential he reached for the grinder and set to work. Starting from the front, Max sculpted back the Hilux’s front guards with the 1mm grinding disc. The front edge was pushed 20mm farther out, 25mm of clearance was added on the upper edge, with a huge 35mm cut off the guard’s rear edge. Max then made a new inner liner to keep debris out of the door jam and installed a set of 55mm Ambassador Industrial flares.
Moving underneath and it becomes obvious this