Daihatsu Rocky Questions

[geefish]

Hi everyone.
A few quick qestions about the daihatsu rocky 93 - 99 model 2.8 turbo d sports. I'm looking at buying one and would value ppls opinions and info.
Firstly I've heard that the engine is actually the same one out of the Hilux of the same era. Is this true? Does anyone know what sort of fuel economy they get? In taking one for a test drive what sort of things should I check? I've never owned a diesel before and so I'm wondering if there are diesel specific areas I need to keep my eye out for. And if anyone would like to feed me their opinion on the rocky (problems, reliability, etc) I'd be very grateful

Cheers
Geefish

[jav]

motor is not the same as a hilux, goes better:) 10/11L per hundred, only problem i had with the one i had was it got hot if you tried to push it over a 100kmph:mad: , 100kmph and under it was fine:thumb:

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

The motor design was loosley based upon the hilux design, but fairly significantly improved! Same as a lot of the vehicle, it was a sanctioned 're-design & improve' attempt on the Toyota offerings of the time by Daihatsu, and it produced some pretty good vehicles!! But in every case, the result was an improvement on the Toyo original! Still within the same Form, Fit & Function in most cases, so if you are really desperate, the Toyota offering will fit, and sorta work! You've just gotta find out which is the Toyota bit that this particular bit was based on?!! Sometimes harder'n you think!

Enjoy!

[rocky8]

Gday mate...I own a 1988 Rocky and I love my little beast...10l/100km...goes anywhere...very,very reliable...Ive had mine lifted 4 inches and Today 30/7 Im getting 15x7 villans with 31x10.5 tyres fitted. The only problem I have is that she does warm up when going up a steep hill or going over 100km/h but i have fitted a thermo fan so now i dont have a problem...Also parts aren't easy to get in Adelaide...
Hope this helps....cheers...

[Trojan]

The motor design was loosley based upon the hilux design, but fairly significantly improved!

I wouldn't even say that, the only thing they have in common is they are both 4cyl Diesels. The 2.8L DL was based on the old 2.5L DG found in early F Series Daihatsu's and the Delta commercial range, which was put in production before the L Series Toyota Diesel. Maybe they shared some info with each other, but that's about it. All dimensions are different bores, strokes, capacities etc etc. and you they don't share any common parts.

[OM617isbest]

First car I drove after getting my licence was a sports a field model. It didn't go over 150kph and was a bit cramped but very reliable and hard working, more so than a Hilux.

[Marc 1]

motor is not the same as a hilux, goes better:) 10/11L per hundred, only problem i had with the one i had was it got hot if you tried to push it over a 100kmph:mad: , 100kmph and under it was fine:thumb:

Sorry about the hijack, Jav what's the beast on the trailer - a 6x6 Daihatsu? Are you going to do a build up thread or give a bit of a look at it via some pics?:thumb:

[Widetrack]

They were usually fully imported and the new cost was in the $35,000.00 range I have the original owner reciepts. A couple from MIldura that used to go North every year towing the 17' pop top caravan, they owned it from new and sold it when the hubby passed away. That was at 180,000.k's now I am up to210,00 k's, it suits me I don't have the space for the monster size 4WD, and it's easy to find a park in the burbs. And as far as off road capability, can't complain. It's a popular model in the UK known there as a fourtrack, they have a Fourtrack Forum if your interested. And look on the World Wide Association of Rocky Feroza owners, they have heaps of pics all over the world and workshop manuals as well.You won't be dissapointed, but you will find the later models hard to find. I have only seen a couple for sale since I bought mine a little over a year ago, and they were asking around $11,000.00 -$12,000.00. I have just had mine serviced and the Discs machined and new pads, have just replaced the Tyres Dueller AT's I am happy with them, can't see the point of all mud terrains as they are useless on road, and not rated for highway use as far as I know. Plus they are too noisy to listen to the ten stack CD player, Have added driving lights in the last weeks. Runing Piranah wiring looms makes a heap of difference to headlights and driving lights, the D'lights are 100w but I am running 90\130w headlights. I hate driving at night if I can't see everything, comes with the age bracket unforetunately. But not going to let it stop me from travelling the bush.

[rocky Damo]

I have a 84 rocky nothing to worry about but with any Diesels always check amount of smoke and injector pump for leaks

[feroza fanatic]

hay i have a quick question what price roughly for a rocky probly about 90 model


cheers feroza fanatic

[rocky balboah]

hay i have a quick question what price roughly for a rocky probly about 90 model


cheers feroza fanatic


i got my 94 td widetrack in vg cond with new muddies for 8g's a year ago. BARGAIN

[rocky balboah]

does any one know if calmini do lifts for rocky's. or wich company do bolt on kits?

[rocky8]

4wd systems in adelaide did my lift but now i have to get it engineered as its 50mm too high.

[kemal]

just bought a 2.8 turbo diesel very nice vehicles relable as shit , only prob is gettin after market parts dont think you can get lockers for them and snorkels have to be either custom made or made to suit to fit the rocky from another vehicle , anyone got any ideas bought the snorkel issue i need one on there and i cant figure out which snorkel to get and make fit, tjm or arb cant help , so im lost, other wise great vehicle

[LOW K3Y]

when u are taking the diesel for a test drive make sure that she starts no worries cold and doesnt blow much smoke. if all thats up to scratch u will have urself a pretty healthy little motor. however mine has a slight noise, sounds like piston slap when shes cold, i dont no if this is normal or not for them, anyone know??
anyway good luck with the buy i think ur be extremely happy with it.

cheers

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

Every Rocky that I've seen thru work (all the diesels and about 40 all up) smoked on their first start up every day, belching it out for about 1.5-2 mins, regardless of what we did or how warm the diesel was or anything like that! They all started first pop, easy as; but unless the engine had already been run during the last 8 hours or so, then the thing was gonna smoke on start-up! Didn't seem to be an issue tho, none of them ever used much in the way of oil, they all went pretty well - lurvely little engine, plenty of poke in a vehicle that size! The only one that we ever had problems with was one that got stolen and driven about 15km without ANY oil before the engine stopped, but he wasn't treating it kindly, he was caning it hard!

If you do a compression check and they start up easily, then the only other things that might put your mind further to rest are: 1. a 'bleed down' test - get the engine up to compression and see how long it takes to 'bleed down' below specs - the longer it takes, the better condition the engine is in! and 2. getting the oil analysed to see if there are any odd or unexpected contaminants, like too much metal from the main bearings, or traces of coolant from the radiator in the oil! Those things shouldn't be too hard to organise if you are really serious, but will probly cost about $250 all up to get done - could be $250 well spent if it reveals something bad BEFORE it gets expensive!

Basically, they are great little vehicles!! You don't want it, give me a yell, I was looking for one before I got the latest Feroza, but couldn't find anything that was worthwhile at the time, so settled for the smaller and shorter Petrol jobbie! Still a great car, just not quite so easy on the occupants in the rough stuff - courtesy of the shorter wheel base!

Cheers!

[dakar61]

<Every Rocky that I've seen thru work (all the diesels and about 40 all up) smoked on their first start up every day, belching it out for about 1.5-2 mins, regardless of what we did or how warm the diesel was or anything like that! They all started first pop, easy as; but unless the engine had already been run during the last 8 hours or so, then the thing was gonna smoke on start-up!>

Thats unusual Peter. We have worked on heaps of DG & DL engined Daihatsus and unless they have glow or compression probs they all seem to run fairly cleanly from cold start-up.
LOWK3Y works for me and his Rocky has done over 400,000kms and apart from what sounds like a bit of piston slap from cold, it just blows a puff of start-fuel smoke, black, and settles down quite cleanly.
Having said that we have had a couple of these and MQ`s that have had engine work and had the incorrect thickness head gasket fitted and have developed a cold start smoking problem. Ususally acrid blue white smoke and for about 1-2 minutes as well. We have found retarded injection timing can contribute to this as well.
BTW, enjoy reading your posts. Very informative.

[rocky8]

my rocky blows a slight puff of smoke on start up only if I havn't driven it for a couple of days....

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

That IS interesting dakar61??!

At the time these were all new vehicles, bought over a period of a few years, and every one of them exhibited the same smoke blowing symptoms. We looked at all sorts of things, had some O/S Daihatsu techs sent to look at them as well as the local experts, but no-one could find anything that would have caused or would stop the smoking, so eventually (after a few years!) we put it down to an engine trait! But one point that may hold the key to our experience, despite the fact that we checked every thing that could possibly be impacted and even some that couldn't; our workshops were all at 800 plus metres (most were above 1200m), and most of the working life of these vehicles was spent between 1200m and 2200m and running alpine fuel. Like I said, even tho we looked extensively at everything that may have been causing this, it does makes one wonder just a little, dunnit?!

Mind you, if someone offered me a reasonable mileage RV edition from the mid to late 90's with the Intercooled Turbo diesel and the right sort of price, good compression, and no major issues at the right price, I wouldn't let smoke only on start up deter me from buying it! Sure, I'd probly do the bleed down test and Oil Analysis along with the normal checking it over type stuff, but I saw too much smoke on start-up back then to make me overly concerned about smoke on start-up from those vehicles!

Cheers!

[dakar61]

Agreed! I think every home should have one of those turbo RV`s!

As for the smoke on start-up, could it be a product of the alpine environment and the alpine fuel? The early DG engine in the F50 could be a bugger from cold if the timing and the manual glow system was not perfect, but the DL & DL-T engines have a quick glow system with an after glow timer as well and if they are sound usually dont give any troubles like you have experienced.

My experience could be a product of our environment also, here in Queensland on the Sunshine Coast. Up here I would consider a smokey diesel Rocky to have some issues.

[KNIBBSTA]

Hi everyone.
A few quick qestions about the daihatsu rocky 93 - 99 model 2.8 turbo d sports. I'm looking at buying one and would value ppls opinions and info.
Firstly I've heard that the engine is actually the same one out of the Hilux of the same era. Is this true? Does anyone know what sort of fuel economy they get? In taking one for a test drive what sort of things should I check? I've never owned a diesel before and so I'm wondering if there are diesel specific areas I need to keep my eye out for. And if anyone would like to feed me their opinion on the rocky (problems, reliability, etc) I'd be very grateful

Cheers
Geefish
I think you mean the petrol engine, I have a 88 model rocky with a 2ltr petrol engine thats identical to the engine i had in my old hilux. Except for the heater and radiator hoses, its the same toyota 3y engine.
I get 450km for $50
cheers

[Shane Pitt]

Hi guys good to see there a few rocky's over the ditch, all I see is big 4wd and know daihatsu's. But anyway I'm form new zealand and I follow the 4wdaction group as we do not have such a great group over here. I have a 1990 2.8TD and it goes great. I lifted 3'' and put 10.5 on it. With old man emu shocks and custom front bar with a 8000KG winch. These trucks are great, the country is very rough and wet over here and I have gone into thick bush, rock wall descents of the winch and floated this accross some lakes, these are so nice as you dont need tracks over here. there more like big 4wd motor bikes. and yes it also has alot of touring gear in it aswel. I am very keen in what people over there have done to there rock's......Go The rockys......................OH can you buy parts over there? they are a dime a dozen overe here.

[Endrexil]

Hey guys,
good to read about the Rockys in Oz and NZ...
I just recently bought my 1990 Rocky Sports Affield 2.8L turbo diesel with 214,000km on the clock. Great car and a decent size for me.
Only problem: Just had it in inspection a couple of days ago and they gave me some bad news. All stuff that con be done, thought it will cost some $'s, but I'm not sure about the fuel pump. The mechanic said it's leaking extremly. Plan is to take it out of the car and get it checked properly. I hope for a broken seal, but could be worse...
dunno much about fuel pumps, maybe you guys could offer me some advise.
How expensive is a new fuel pump for a TD normally?
Can I get them used somewhere?
What are your experiences with leaking fuel pumps, are these usually minor or major issues for the Rocky?

Cheers