Hey I'm looking to get an eighth generation (S100P/S110P) Daihatsu Hijet truck, and had a few questions. Without having one on hand, I wanted to clarify a few things. I'm ADHD so it'll be a while to collect my thoughts so please bear with me here as they come out scattered. 1: I was looking through threads and someone mentioned using an adapter to change the hub to something more prevalent, but after googling what the hub looks like, it appears to be bolted directly to the brake rotor with a bearing pressed into the center and I assume, the CV just bolts as they do through the center. Assuming that you got a hub with a similar ID, pressed a properly splined bearing in, and same bolt pattern as the rotor, you could in theory have whatever wheel bolt pattern on the outside. Are there similarities in other minitrucks or even ATVs that share these same features? Would it be terribly hard to have something machined? I feel like if I had a simple 3 axis mill I could make hubs that are direct bolt on, use the existing bearing size/spline and be whatever bolt pattern you want. 2: What generation's parts fit this generation? I've noticed some pieces from newer/older trucks fit across generations. I'm specifically wondering about the side skirt pieces, fender flares, and chin spoiler bumper from what I can only assume is a newer model? (I'm unashamedly trying to rice it out.) 3: How much difference in speed does a 2wd vs a 4wd make? I would assume not having the front end bits and bobs and the transfer case would make it lighter and thusly easier to accelerate having the same engine and transmission options. 4: How exactly does the stock engine mate into the transmission? Are there newer engines that could be mated up? I did a little searching on engine swaps, and only managed to find a pretty involved RX7 swap, and mentions of similar engine code replacements. 5: Do these little engines have any aftermarket support in the form of performance added? CAI, High flow exhausts, etc. 6: Is it recommended or even plausible to run 14" rims and low profile Toyo Proxes on these trucks or is that asking too much? Online I found that some of these came with 14x4.5 wheels. Best I can find is 14x7s for sale, so I'd assume I'd need some crazy spacer or a lot of wheel offset to fit... 7: I saw there was a lot of issues finding shocks for these, and I was curious if anyone has tried just welding up the existing shock bolt holes, and re-drilling to a different pattern to accommodate something more available. I'd say just make an adapter but then you'd end up with a block lift. Although if you want to pay some money, FV makes a set for $1150. I'm just curious if you could adapt a small sedan Macpherson strut to work. Maybe swap top hats? Or would anything out there be too long? If I come up with anything else, I'll add it here. Feel free to answer any or all of these, or throw rocks, tomatoes or flowers depending on your impression of my post. Hopefully the latter not the former. Thanks!
I know the (Hijet) Atrai van had (optional?) 13" wheels, so you can at least find those from Japan. It might be a good compromise, or you could look for other contemporary models' wheel sizes. The vans (possibly only the Atrai) also came with a different rear suspension that used coil springs, so that might help you. I don't know if the frames are different. You might have more difficulty with information about some of these mods just because this is a four-year-only model series, compared to the near-decade of the ones before and after. I just watched a YouTube video from 'Aging Wheels' where he ordered custom hubs made, so that might not be a bad idea at all to get where you want to go. Worst case for an engine swap, you could get a used twin-cam EF-RS engine from an Atrai with EFI and a turbocharger that would probably bolt right up. That would get you 47 kW vs. 32 for the carbureted twin-cam engine, and you would blow the doors off any other kei truck...
Thanks for the info! Interesting on the engine swap. I've seen the twin cam models, but I had thought they all only came on the Automatic transmissions. I hadn't even thought that they might bolt right up to the 5MT. Once I test drive a few on the 31st I'll know for sure what I'm gonna do. I may wait till after I go to Japan next year to pull the trigger, that way I can see them in their element or possibly inspect a few listings before diving into importing. But we may not have time either. Gonna be over there at least a week, hopefully longer. Depends on how much we have socked away for it by next fall. We plan to also check out some car meets over there so maybe we'll stumble upon a kei meet and get inspired!
