Now you are strictly asking about opinions and that opens a whole new can of worms
I'd say it depends upon the intended use of the FJ55.
I like my drivetrain in theory: 6.0L Vortec, NV4500, NP203, 4 speed tcase + 4.88 gears and 35s. 350+ horses, granny gear, doubler, AND an overdrive
With luck, I'll be heading toward an orion in the future. We'll see how the drivetrain drives shortly. Both driveshafts are in the 33" range
I liked the drivetrain in my FJ40 except wanting about 5% lower gearing: Chevy 5.0L TBI, SM465, and 4 speed tcase with 4.11 gears and 35s. Ran the Rubicon well and was reasonable on the freeway.
I'm a manual transmission fan due to numerous auto tranny failures in the past. Not enough money to get me to run an auto. Until my knees fail, I'll be sticking it
FWIW, the Turbo 400 version of the NP203 is only slightly less rare than the SM465 version
I've heard it was a 2 year wonder while the SM465 version was a 1 year wonder.
*edit added from here down*
IMO, you should take a drivetrain you have wheeled with and tweak it to fit YOUR wheeling stats. Otherwise, you are building and financing someone else's dream rig
When I chose my FJ55 drivetrain, I based it upon:
- FJ40 wheeling experiences with the 5.0L TBI and SM465. As mentioned, it needed to be lower geared. 4.88 gears may have solved that issue BUT I was daily driving it and driving to the trail.
- Tacoma wheeling experience. The OD and 4.11 w/31s was perfect on the road. But it needed to go about twice as slow offroad. (My 55 was originally going to run 31s )
- What I had in my parts pile. I had what I thought was a rebuildable NV4500 and the NP203.
- My product experience. I've done numerous things with the NP203 as well as the AA 16 spline Cruiser adapter. So I was comfortable in dealing with them.
- Intended usage. I was planning to use my FJ55 as a tow rig, daily driver, and mid-level wheeler(31") So I picked the 6.0L Vortec. Unfortunately, that engine choice forced me into spring over and DANA 60s.