18th Mar 2006, 19:05
Congratulations, I live in Argentina and a F20 TAFT 1980 soft top is my 4X4. It is in original conditions with 70.000 kms. I think that it's the last light JEEP that we can really use in all kind of surfaces without excessive cares.
Bye, Alfonso.
7th Aug 2007, 18:53
My F20 was acquired as a wreck, it ran (just) and had a broken exhaust valve; the rear floor was shot, as was the drivers and passenger footwell.
Replacing the valve was easy as the Toyota 12R engine was used in many Toyota commercial vehicles, and available off the shelf.
Replacing the rear floor and wheel arches proved more time consuming as this required extensive fabrication work, this is now done, new flared wheel arches have been made, and all this from steel which was discarded from a local factory. All the underside has been rustproofed, and is considerably thicker than the original
Wiring is easy, I took the largest wire cutters to the loom, and cut the entire wiring loom out, new rear lights were fitted, and the entire wiring replaced.
Mechanically, the vehicle is perfect, despite spending more time off road, than on it, the only work required is new leaf springs, if I cannot buy them, I will make them myself.
Great usable classic vehicle in which you can have fun off road, and without the huge running costs of a Land Rover.
8th Aug 2007, 07:09
I have a Daihatsu Scatt or F20, and was wondering what are the largest tyres are that will go under the guards with flares fitted?
Thanks.
7th Oct 2007, 16:58
I have an F20 but with a GRP body so no rust problems. It is really cute and has obviously had a lot of money spent on it. It pulled the local farmer's landrover out of the mud the other day (sideways). My son used it to chain harrow our field and being 17 he did it at pretty high speed! He managed to rip out most of the wiring by getting it tangled around the prop shaft, but she still works fine. A remarkable little 4X4 but I have now bought a vintage Tractor so she wil no longer be used around the farm. Anyone interested in a rot free F20? Graham 07711 929013.
3rd Jul 2008, 19:24
Hi all.
Does anybody know where I can get a soft top for my Daihatsu Feroza?
I got it as a present and since I've had it I've had to change the alternator but nothing else - well the front pipe and manifold went recently but I sealed them with exhaust putty and now the car just has added growl :) I was up a mountain in West Cork in it today. Love this car!!!
If anybody has any clue where to buy a soft top please email me :
conorslattery@hotmail.com.
Thanks a million in advance for any information :)
Conor.
19th Jan 2009, 19:44
I have a Scat Deluxe with 5 speed gear box. Does anyone have a workshop manual that I could buy or somehow copy?
Also can someone tell me where I find the compliance plate?
The only numbers I can find that identify it in any way are on the chassis rail near front wheel.
Regards
Bart Irwin.
19th Jul 2009, 04:28
I have had my little F20 for 12 yrs now. It spent 2 years on the road and the rest of the time being trialed off road.
I now go tagging in it and regularly finish in the top 3, beating lots of big exotica with every mod you can think of such as diff locks, jack ups, and monster tyres and big V8s.
The only thing changed on my little jeep is the tyres. The body is falling apart, but it still goes every time. I love my little jeep.
25th Sep 2009, 00:28
We're doing up a 1978 Daihatsu Scat and its fantastic except it has no door locks or ignition lock. Wondering if anyone has any advice on finding parts, or if newer model Daihatsu locks will fit ours?? Email: suncatwave@hotmail.com
12th Oct 2009, 09:44
Hello, I am from Brunei Darussalam. I owned the Daihatsu F20, bought it last April from an old man that had lived in the rural areas for life. First time I bought her, she had stayed in the garage for ages and now I just started to do major repair/maintenance on her. All parts are still genuine and the engine is 12R, just did general overhaul. The body is just newly paint.
Now I can't wait to bring her to roar the bush.
17th Apr 2011, 20:34
I love my F20 which I have owned for several years now. Mine too was rebuilt after suffering from the dreaded tinworm and losing, but now it's fine.
It's a great fun vehicle, cheap to run, reliable, and very nimble off road when compared too many other "allegedly superior" off road vehicles.
It owes me nothing, classic vehicle now so no tax or MOT here in the UK.
7th Nov 2012, 20:24
Hi, I am also from Brunei Darussalam, I am currently own a yellow F20. The previous owner passed away, but now the car is fully painted.
By the way, I want to upgrade the gearbox and the engine. What is the compatible 5 speed gearbox and compatible engine, other than the Corona 12r engine, that fits the engine bay. Also, power steering, and has anyone converted to an automatic transmission?
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
29th Dec 2013, 16:59
Sound like great little cars. Anyone know of one for sale in the UK? How easy are they to get parts for?
5th Aug 2015, 08:17
Hi, I'm from Kenya. I own a Daihatsu Taft. It's a fine car, but it's kind of hard finding spare parts and specifications for the car... It's a magnificent Jeep. I love this classic car.
Peter.
10th Mar 2016, 10:43
I have a F20 for the beach and I run my old 31 x 10.5 x 15 Landcruiser, and it handles on the back Daihatsu 15 inch rims, and it handles good. For the front I run the bigger 16 inch rims from an F25 with skinny bar tread tyres. The whole combination is great for the soft stuff, but no good on the hard due to the wind up of the gearing.
Cheers and hope this helps. Ron.
4th Oct 2016, 15:10
I have an F20 since 1984. It's an unstoppable car, compared with other bigger 4X4s. It has never asked for any repair except oil and brakes. I won 2nd place in a 4X4 rally in the 1984 Camel Trophy in Greece. I use it as vacation and weekend car, as it goes everywhere you can imagine. I keep it open, front window down, no doors, and feel all the freedom sensation you can get. No mud, no sand, no rocks can stop it.
Adorable car.
13th Oct 2016, 08:23
I don't have one of these little Troopers, but would like to going on the comments here, enjoyed the comment re: little tonka becoming the teacher, I owned a mini Moke, however not 4x4, she went places 4 cars couldn't, and when we got her stuck we just picked her up by all fours to unstick her and off we went again, was way too cool and fun. One day I hope a little one of these will be around when I get one :-)
17th Sep 2005, 06:20
I have had my F20LK (soft top) since 1978 and use it regularly for hang gliding. Only 120,000km on it, no rust and the engine is still perfect. I treated it with fisholene and Tectyl 506 (?) all over when new.
Had some trouble with the carburettor coming apart, but re-tapped screws out to 6mm fixed that. (It would cut out going round left turns)
I need a steering box as there is nearly half a turn of play in the steering when driving straight.