Little KEI Trucks

[DMG]

eBay -> "Honda acty head gasket" -> get variety of part numbers -> google them all -> figure out from listings there's two engines, the E05A and E07a used from 90-99 -> corroborate most of this on Wikipedia -> go back to eBay listings -> see that one is cheap and readily available from a handful of mini-truck parts suppliers and that the other is 2x the price and available from fewer suppliers.

Is this harder than firing up an auto parts website and punching in a year/make/model or VIN? Yes. But this is far from rocket science and basically the same workflow I use when ordering parts for basically everything with an engine that isn't a car (or plane). That said, I bet hard parts and rarely replaced shit are frequently hard to source with a good degree of confidence and I assume that's when people start buying parts trucks.

Took me as long to type that shit out documenting my progress as it did to do it.

E05A:

Honda Acty Head Gasket E05A Fits HA1 HA2 HH1 HH2 Models | eBay

Our connections in Japan and Taiwan allow us to make availableHonda Acty Parts andSubaru Sambar Parts. If you are looking for quality and friendly service, minitruck.ca is the best place to look, and whether it isMitsubishi Minicab Parts orKei Truck Parts you are looking for, we are here to help.

www.ebay.com

E07A:

Genuine Honda Acty HA3 HA4 HH3 HH4 Beat PP1 Head Gasket E07A 12251-P64-004 JDM | eBay

Model HA3 / HA4 / HH3 /HH4. Engine E07A. Condition: New Genuine.

www.ebay.com

And then you email them to verify that it will fit a 94 Acty Street Fox with efi and they say no. Again and again. Or they say yes and you get it and the holes don’t line up. Ask me how I know?

 

[arse_sidewards]

And then you email them to verify that it will fit a 94 Acty Street with efi and they say no. Again and again. Or they say yes and you get it and the holes don’t line up. Ask me how I know?

And how is that any different than buying a master cylinder for a Buick Reatta with ABS, valves for a 4bbl 351 Cleveland (granted I'm pretty sure you can buy rebuilt masters and the valves are available from race car type sources for $$$), or some 80s car with air ride or the litany of other things that have been relegate to the dust bin of history for which parts are no longer made?

You call and call and call just to find that all the listings are imprecise or in error and that you're SOL because you have an oddball.

Based on the dozens of parts houses that seem to cater to this niche I think that it's basically like gray market equipment. Just don't get unlucky and buy something that was obscure in its home country and you'll be fine.

That said, I still wouldn't buy one. The value for money isn't there regardless of the parts hassle.

 

[larboc]

Anyone got one? Been seeing them driving around town lately, kind of intrigued. Checking online you can get them for around 6-8k. Thinking one would be cool for doing stuff around my property and running around town.

I want this one but it appears they are sold out.

1996 Suzuki Carry Lift Dump 4WD

This 1998 Suzuki Carry Lift Dump is a great work truck with amazing capability and practicality. This mini lift dump truck comes with AC, 4WD, a 5 speed transmission with an extra low crawler gear and axle lock. This combination makes it a great all around vehicle; combining great off-road...

minitrucks.net

That looks like a regular size KEI truck, what do you mean by little?

 

[Projectjunkie]

And how is that any different than buying a master cylinder for a Buick Reatta with ABS, valves for a 4bbl 351 Cleveland (granted I'm pretty sure you can buy rebuilt masters and the valves are available from race car type sources for $$$), or some 80s car with air ride or the litany of other things that have been relegate to the dust bin of history for which parts are no longer made?

You call and call and call just to find that all the listings are imprecise or in error and that you're SOL because you have an oddball.

Based on the dozens of parts houses that seem to cater to this niche I think that it's basically like gray market equipment. Just don't get unlucky and buy something that was obscure in its home country and you'll be fine.

That said, I still wouldn't buy one. The value for money isn't there regardless of the parts hassle.

Don't be a pussy
You should buy one and show us how it's done

 

[Takotruckin]

There’s been a few threads on them.

I use the shit out of mine. Best $500 I ever spent, even if I had to go into the hood of Stockton to pick it up.

You can’t register them in California.

I pull a rough cut mower with mine, keep a spray tank in the bed for weeds. And just mob it around the property doing general sketchy shenanigans while doing yard chores.

Shitty photo my wife took Saturday while I was mowing.

 

[LScout800]

Was looking at it more of a novelty and a project than a dependable work vehicle, but if they have hard to find parts it seems better to find a blown up one for cheap that someone can't get parts for and swap in a commonish drivetrain. Something like some sort of industrial diesel and an old old 3 speed like a T-90.

Honestly doubting I will try to get it street legal to avoid paying insurance/registration fees.

Main reason to get one is to move a lot of dirt around the property, can't get a truck into most places and hauling wheelbarrows up hills sucks. Figured it would be perfect for moving the dirt around and also move bricks and other crap around for retaining walls, and later sell it once its usefulness/novelty has worn off.

 

[LScout800]

There’s been a few threads on them.

I use the shit out of mine. Best $500 I ever spent, even if I had to go into the hood of Stockton to pick it up.

You can’t register them in California.

I pull a rough cut mower with mine, keep a spray tank in the bed for weeds. And just mob it around the property doing general sketchy shenanigans while doing yard chores.

Shitty photo my wife took Saturday while I was mowing.

Pretty much exactly what I want one for.

 

[DMG]

And how is that any different than buying a master cylinder for a Buick Reatta with ABS, valves for a 4bbl 351 Cleveland (granted I'm pretty sure you can buy rebuilt masters and the valves are available from race car type sources for $$$), or some 80s car with air ride or the litany of other things that have been relegate to the dust bin of history for which parts are no longer made?

You call and call and call just to find that all the listings are imprecise or in error and that you're SOL because you have an oddball.

Based on the dozens of parts houses that seem to cater to this niche I think that it's basically like gray market equipment. Just don't get unlucky and buy something that was obscure in its home country and you'll be fine.

That said, I still wouldn't buy one. The value for money isn't there regardless of the parts hassle.

The pgm fi was very rare in 94 and they changed the motor shortly thereafter. I was told that no one was making parts specific to it at this point. We made intake and exhaust gaskets for it but the HG was not something you can make at home. I spent a lot of time searching and had open requests for the parts at several big Kei truck parts stores. No one could come up with one. When they said they had one, it was wrong.

 

[Takotruckin]

Main reason to get one is to move a lot of dirt around the property, can't get a truck into most places and hauling wheelbarrows up hills sucks. Figured it would be perfect for moving the dirt around and also move bricks and other crap around for retaining walls, and later sell it once its usefulness/novelty has worn off.

They are perfect for that. I’ve loaded 1000-1500 of rock in mine multiple times, at one point I had 2x4s between the axle and frame to keep the tires from rubbing.


Also, everyone will stop and talk to you about it and tell you how cute or cool it is. I’ve had mine for 6-7 years and neighbors still talk about it all the time.

 

[arse_sidewards]

The pgm fi was very rare in 94 and they changed the motor shortly thereafter. I was told that no one was making parts specific to it at this point. We made intake and exhaust gaskets for it but the HG was not something you can make at home

One year shit like that sucks.

I get that it's not something you'd do for a customer but if it came down to it you could CAD the old gasket, get a copper one made, O-ring the head and block and cross your fingers.

Don't be a pussy
You should buy one and show us how it's done

If I wander across a screaming deal on one I might buy it to do just that.

I'll probably start by not breaking it.

But you might be waiting a long time because I'm not a Japanese car fanboy so I'm not gonna buy one at market rate.

 

[Bowe]

They are a novelty for 99% of users. The other 1% need 2 of them because parts are impossible to come by. My Honda Acty used a motor that was basically half a Hondagold wing motor. Parts were not obtainable. I sold it to someone and was glad to see it go. If I still had it, I would put it on a SxS chassis.

That’s why I have 3 of the same Mitsubishi kei truck. Paying out the ass for parts on a Suzuki I just picked up. Parts aren’t really hard to get for my trucks, either G&R in Missouri or Yokohama motors in Japan. I also want to put one of my parts trucks on a sxs chassis.

The Hondas seem to not be that great of a truck from what I see, I’d have a hard time buying one when I can get fixable Mitsubishis and Suzukis for 1k.

 

[Bowe]

The 90s trucks seem to be the sweet spot for parts availability at less insane prices. I would avoid 80s trucks altogether, basically like owning a really slow exotic as far as parts go. If I was buying a long term truck I would go 99-2000 + assuming you can get one legal.

 

[ScottRS]

The legal aspect kills it for me, former coworker had a RHD Honda Beat (think 3/4 scale Miata made by a cartoonist) that looked entertaining, but there's better options for not a lot more $$ that also aren't street legal, or other options for similar $$ that are street legal, for just about everything I'd use a kei truck for (I don't have enough land to be worth having a "just on my property" vehicle bigger than a lawnmower). I still want one anyway, but I'd rather have a mechanism to title a homemade car and/or plate an ATV or SxS. Surprising that Colorado is so far behind on that, nearly every state around us has better setups for it. Considering how Colorado rescinded collector plate perks from people who got legit collector plates when the "25 years old" rule started getting into the 80's, I have no doubt that they'd either refuse to tag a kei truck, or pull your registration after the fact, if you did manage to tag one here.

 

[BigBurt]

NY recently banned them from being registered.

I'm not sure if this is occurring, but I did hear of cancelation of registrations/void titles too.

I’ll confirm it is occurring they cancelled mine. Even before that they pull them over anytime they see one. If they haven’t got someone yet they will eventually. I do see the guy I sold mine too is still driving it but he has a trust out of Montana and idk anything about that. FWIW they’ve also started going after trailers registered in Maine

 

[Dethmachinefab]

Grabbed a few pics of my friends to check out the driveline.

 

[Dethmachinefab]

I’ll confirm it is occurring they cancelled mine. Even before that they pull them over anytime they see one. If they haven’t got someone yet they will eventually. I do see the guy I sold mine too is still driving it but he has a trust out of Montana and idk anything about that. FWIW they’ve also started going after trailers registered in Maine

Fucking scumbags. Can't do anything here. Purple tie pirates are out protecting and serving heavy today. It's why I need to sell my buggy before I pass the wrong road pirate.

 

[BigBurt]

Fucking scumbags. Can't do anything here. Purple tie pirates are out protecting and serving heavy today. It's why I need to sell my buggy before I pass the wrong road pirate.

Governors private army. Can’t take your own risk driving a 25 year old econo truck but you can get arrested with heroin 3x in a single day and then no show to the court date

 

[BUCKLAND]

Our snowmobile club had one on tracks because the president had one and liked them. I got them to sell it. Tiny, cramped and janky.

 

[Juztyn00]

If you're over 6' tall, I highly suggest you sit in one before buying. I can't get my knees in one and definitely would have trouble using the clutch without pain. They are somewhat popular as a farm sxs substitute around here.

 

[Socsmm6]

Used to coon hunt out of this one. Run it down the road and on to the 4 wheeler trails. Extended cab high top. Even had a/c. Decent room unless you have big feet. Lol

 

[akguy09]

They are fun

 

[Bowe]

If you're over 6' tall, I highly suggest you sit in one before buying. I can't get my knees in one and definitely would have trouble using the clutch without pain. They are somewhat popular as a farm sxs substitute around here.

The Subarus are supposed to be most roomy, Hondas the least.

 

[Bowe]

Our snowmobile club had one on tracks because the president had one and liked them. I got them to sell it. Tiny, cramped and janky.

What was janky? There’s lots of 90s econobox stuff going on with the interior and door handles and shit but they are pretty tough as far as drivetrain goes. Like a scaled down hardbody or toy pickup underneath.

 

[FleshEater]

I always look at these on carfromjapan.com. You can find some smokin deals on there.

 

[GM Guy]

The pgm fi was very rare in 94 and they changed the motor shortly thereafter. I was told that no one was making parts specific to it at this point. We made intake and exhaust gaskets for it but the HG was not something you can make at home. I spent a lot of time searching and had open requests for the parts at several big Kei truck parts stores. No one could come up with one. When they said they had one, it was wrong.

You didn't try hard enough;

 

[DMG]

You didn't try hard enough;

I have little faith in that method on any vehicle made after the 80s with aluminum block and/or heads.

Someone saw it parked at my shop and made me a decent offer on it in spite of my warning about parts availability before i got that stupid.

 

[Rustymofo]

This thing is awesome:

Honda ACTY van

 

[Murse]

This thing is awesome:

Honda ACTY van

There is a lot that can be done with that.

 

[Ditchrunner]

I’ve got a daihatsu. 4wd with low range, 5speed tranny. Hydraulic tilt bed with hinged sides. Is great for picking rocks. Put it in 1L and it crawls. Walk beside it and toss rocks in.
I’ve had it over the scales with 800lbs of rock in it. It will do 55 mph max, but will do like 54loaded. Just takes a loooooong time to get there.
I’m 5’10” and I fit, more or less. Big feet little pedals are an issue, but you get used to it.

Handier than the Kawasaki mule I replaced with it. Needs a pipe rack to be handy going to the hardware store or getting steel.

But I’d still sell it in a hot minute for the right price. Titled in MT no problem.

 

[rockota]

NGL... I want one... with a dump bed.

I don't need one and I'm not willing to spend Biden Bucks for one.