Straight axle with IFS being an option in some markets on the highest end models. Most, if not all of the Hiluxes in the Japanese market that I've seen were SA. 4Runners/Surfs seem to have all been IFS since '86 worldwide.

I would definatley do the gear thing, except... Thing is, you probably already have low gears. I've heard that factory 4.88s were common on gas engine trucks. At least in Australia. I wouldn't be surprised if your truck already had 4.88s in it. If you don't have 4.88s in it, then it shouldn't be all that expensive or hard to find a set of used 4.88 diffs in a local wrecking yard and just bolt them in. If you don't have 4.88s, you probably have 4.30s. I would be extremely surprised if you had the 4.10s that are so common over here.

Generally speaking, the gas engine trucks got the lower gears while the diesel trucks got the higher gears, but high gears on the foreign trucks were 4.30s, not so much 4.10s.

Best of luck. Show us some pics! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />