Actually, he's not overgeared. 4.88s and 30" tires are a factory item on many overseas Toyotas.

Check out this Aussie brochure spec page for the 1989 models: http://www.brian894x4.com/images/Hilux4x4P4.jpg

You'll see that with 22R trucks in Australia (didn't come with 22REs over there) they had factory 4.88s gears with basicly 29" tires. And his motor probably makes less power and certainly less torque than the 22R.

5.29s with 32" would be almost mandetory with that Y motor.
I don't think they had 22REs in Japan.

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