{"id":19544,"date":"2017-11-23T14:10:37","date_gmt":"2017-11-23T20:10:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=19544"},"modified":"2017-11-22T13:31:59","modified_gmt":"2017-11-22T19:31:59","slug":"1972-toyota-hilux-with-a-miata-powertrain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=19544","title":{"rendered":"1972 Toyota Hilux with a Miata Powertrain"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-10.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"19565\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?attachment_id=19565\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-10.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1280,720\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"1972 Hilux truck with a MX-5 Powertrain 10\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;1972 Hilux truck with a MX-5 Powertrain&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-10.jpg?fit=600%2C338&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-10.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-10.jpg?resize=620%2C349&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"1972 Hilux truck with a MX-5 Powertrain\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-19565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-10.jpg?resize=620%2C349&amp;ssl=1 620w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-10.jpg?resize=600%2C338&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-10.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-10.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-10.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>James Robinson and the team at Driftworks finished the 1972 Toyota Hilux project. The truck was purchased from South Africa with the goal of making a dependable daily driver that could also drift. They replaced the truck&#8217;s factory engine, drivetrain, suspension, and brakes with parts from a Mazda MX-5 NB. They increased the 1.8 L BP-series inline-four power output thanks to a G19 Engineering turbo kit, Subaru TD04 turbocharger, and Motorsport Electronics ME221 ECU. Watching the videos below it seems the project was a success. You can view the project&#8217;s progress in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.driftworks.com\/forum\/threads\/1972-hilux-pickup-turbo-project.254678\/\">build thread<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IpB4s3JpjSs\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FbvA8vJUNK0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCYJl2ZTwqjRQrvsydPwYt1Q\">Driftworks<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>James Robinson and the team at Driftworks finished the 1972 Toyota Hilux project. The truck was purchased from South Africa with the goal of making a dependable daily driver that could also drift. They replaced the truck&#8217;s factory engine, drivetrain, suspension, and brakes with parts from a Mazda MX-5 NB. They increased the 1.8 L&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=19544\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">1972 Toyota Hilux with a Miata Powertrain<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":19565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[682],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hilux"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-10.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19082,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=19082","url_meta":{"origin":19544,"position":0},"title":"Building a 1972 Hilux with a MX-5 Powertrain &#8211; Part 3","author":"swaptastic","date":"October 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"James Robinson and the team at Driftworks finished their work on the 1972 Toyota Hilux project. The project's build was showcased in three videos with the last embedded below. Watch as the team finishes the project and shows off the turbocharged Miata powertrain. You can also see the progress in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hilux&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hilux","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=682"},"img":{"alt_text":"1972 Hilux truck with a MX-5 Powertrain","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-06.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-06.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-06.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-06.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-06.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18351,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=18351","url_meta":{"origin":19544,"position":1},"title":"Building a 1972 Hilux with a MX-5 Powertrain &#8211; Part 1","author":"swaptastic","date":"September 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"James Robinson from Driftworks is building a 1972 Toyota Hilux he imported from South Africa. The truck originally came with a 1.6 L inline-four and manual transmission with a column shifter. James decided to swap out the aging engine, drivetrain, suspension, and brakes with components from a Mazda MX-5 NB.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hilux&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hilux","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=682"},"img":{"alt_text":"1972 Hilux truck with a turbo 1.8 L inline-four and MX-5 drivetrain","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19050,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=19050","url_meta":{"origin":19544,"position":2},"title":"Building a 1972 Hilux with a MX-5 Powertrain &#8211; Part 2","author":"swaptastic","date":"October 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"James Robinson and the team at Driftworks continue work on the 1972 Toyota Hilux project. The team explained in the previous video the truck is receiving a Mazda MX-5 NB powertrain and suspension. Listen as the team explains the project or you can follow the build thread. Source: Driftworks and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hilux&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hilux","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=682"},"img":{"alt_text":"1972 Hilux truck with a MX-5 Powertrain","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-05.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-05.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-05.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-05.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/1972-Hilux-truck-with-a-MX-5-Powertrain-05.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":133547,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=133547","url_meta":{"origin":19544,"position":3},"title":"1979 Toyota Hilux with a Turbo 1JZ","author":"swaptastic","date":"June 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Tenn Automotive interviewed Trent about his 1979 Toyota Hilux called Granp4. The truck originally came with a carbureted 18R inline-four and five-speed manual transmission. Trent swapped those for a turbocharged 2.5 L Toyota 1JZ inline-six and Supra R154 five-speed manual transmission. The 1JZ motor features a stock bottom-end, upgraded camshafts,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hilux&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hilux","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=682"},"img":{"alt_text":"1979 Toyota Hilux with a turbo 1JZ inline-six","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1979-Toyota-Hilux-with-a-turbo-1JZ-inline-six-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1979-Toyota-Hilux-with-a-turbo-1JZ-inline-six-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1979-Toyota-Hilux-with-a-turbo-1JZ-inline-six-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1979-Toyota-Hilux-with-a-turbo-1JZ-inline-six-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1979-Toyota-Hilux-with-a-turbo-1JZ-inline-six-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":89780,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=89780","url_meta":{"origin":19544,"position":4},"title":"Toyota Hilux Revo with a 3UZ V8","author":"swaptastic","date":"August 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This Toyota Hilux Revo truck originally came with a 2.4 L 2GD-FTV inline-four produced 148 hp (110 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). The truck was sent to Buntawee Service in Thailand for a powertrain swap. The company replaced the factory engine and transmission with a 4.3 L 3UZ-FE V8\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hilux&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hilux","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=682"},"img":{"alt_text":"Toyota Hilux Revo with a 3UZ V8","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Toyota-Hilux-Revo-with-a-3UZ-V8-01.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Toyota-Hilux-Revo-with-a-3UZ-V8-01.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Toyota-Hilux-Revo-with-a-3UZ-V8-01.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Toyota-Hilux-Revo-with-a-3UZ-V8-01.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":87174,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=87174","url_meta":{"origin":19544,"position":5},"title":"Toyota Hilux with a 6.2 L AMG V8","author":"swaptastic","date":"June 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Quentin Boylan owns Colt & Toyota Spares in Pretoria, South Africa specializing in Toyota Hilux and Prado and Mitsubishi Colt and Triton parts. When he received a salvaged Toyota Hilux truck he decided to rebuild it with a more powerful engine. In the engine bay he installed a 6.2 L\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hilux&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hilux","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=682"},"img":{"alt_text":"Toyota Hilux with a 6.2 L AMG V8","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Toyota-Hilux-with-a-6.2-L-AMG-V8-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Toyota-Hilux-with-a-6.2-L-AMG-V8-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Toyota-Hilux-with-a-6.2-L-AMG-V8-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Toyota-Hilux-with-a-6.2-L-AMG-V8-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Toyota-Hilux-with-a-6.2-L-AMG-V8-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19544","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19544"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19544\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}