Help me pick my FJ55 Drivetrain

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

1973Guppie

1973Guppie

Supporting Vendor
Joined
Jan 31, 2003
Threads
953
Messages
10,234
Location
"the whale's vagina", CA
So I will be picking up a new project in April and am brainstorming about what I would like to do. Here is some information on my vision.

The truck is a 1970 FJ55, bone stock, torn apart, it comes with a 2F engine, 3spd and 4spd Tranny and a TC, all stock. The end use for this truck will not be for off road. I would like to do a restoration. Restoration may not be the best word as it will be modified, disc brakes, PS and AC for sure. But the main use for the vehicle will be carting around the family to the beach, desert, AND maybe some light wheeling, camping. I want it to be reliable as possible so that side of me tells me to reinstall the stock drivetrain, 2F, tranny, TC, etc. At the same time I think it would really be nice to have an automatic tranny for traffic, etc here in san diego.

So, with that information, what are my options for putting an automatic in an FJ55 AND what are the things that will need to be modified in order to do this?

The first solution that comes to mind is to swap in a 3FE and an auto from an FJ62? Is that correct? What modifications will need to be done? etc?

Just can't decide between the simple stock setup and doing something else. The car probably won't be driven too much as it will not be a daily driver.

Any and all opinions, help is appreciated.

Noah

a pic is attached.....
 
Small block and an automatic...


Good luck!
 
Poser said:
Small block and an automatic...


Good luck!
Click to expand...



X2
X2
X2
X2

X2


I think a high torque 383 ( I went with a 406, little bit of overkill, but I don't care!!!) with a 700r4 would be kick ass in that thing.

Enough power off road, and enough to blow by those little fags in their rat racers around town. And the gearing in the 700r4 would give you overdrive, so that would be real sweet around town.


Good luck
my64fj40




EDIT: And plus with a SBC and little bit of work, It will have "The Sound".
 
Not to rain on the small block parade..but stay stock

Or better yet...stock diesel

And if not anything stock, I say go diesel...your wallet will thank you in the long run

As for the disk breaks, PS, and AC I consider that stock+ because they are necessary improvements (kinda like how people who restore old Ford Model A's are no longer deducted points at shows for three point seat belts, safety glass, and power breaks)

If it's not going to be for off road use, I think you should re-gear the diffs to 3.7s, that will take some load off the engine (and if you have a diesel you wallet will thank you more)

Oh almost forgot, manual transmission.
 
I like the diesel idea as well, or a 3fe so you can get some good old fuel injection. But I wouldnt swap in a small block or v-8 or any of that. Stick with cruiser stuff and you wont have to do much modifying which will make life easier. Also stick with the stick, I drive stick through bike week in Myrtle Beach and ATL traffic and all kinds of stuff and its not big deal.
 
Stay with the 2f or 3fe. But then again, a toyota V8 would be nice!:)

Chuck
 
I should of mentioned this in my original post. I am looking at toyota swaps and drivetrain only! Thanks for all the opinions. I am looking for more info specifically on what type of toyota drivetrain setup would be best. How hard is a 3FE and an automatic? will it basically bolt up or will this requre alot of fabbing?

I have done the vortec V8 in my 40 and it is nice but for this 55 I want to stay all Toyota and make it a nice rebuild. Depending on what people have to say I will either just swap the 2F that is coming with the project in with the stock 55 drivetrain OR go with a 3FE and an automatic. Would like to hear from other whom have done a 3FE / automatic type of setup in their 55's.

Thanks!

Noah
 
1973Guppie said:
Would like to hear from other whom have done a 3FE / automatic type of setup in their 55's.
Click to expand...

Post in the 55 section and you'll get more response, but I don't think you'll find one. I dpnt recall anybody having done that with their pig. Its either stock or some v-8 conversion.
 
Picking up a complete FJ-62 with a rotted out body is cheap. Then you have everything you want/need. I would suggest swapping in everything including axles.

Second option. Grab a HJ-60 from up here in Canada. Again cheap with everyone buying the japanese imports. Then you get a 12HT deisel and an automatic. Again, just swap everything in.

Third option. Exotic motor and tranny from G&S Cruiser Parts or SOR. But that would be a lot more work/money.
 
i would put a blueprinted 2f with an H55 w/split t-case that would sweet.
 
I was thinking this would be nice, what are the benefits of the 55 vs. the stock tranny? I know you get a 5th gear, correct? BUT does the 2f put out enough power to really push it to that 5th gear on the freeway? I just remember the F engine I had in the 40 before, it was a dog, I have heard the 2f is much better though. I plan to keep the tires small so power should not be a big issue, 32 inch all terrains. Will the 55 tranny swap right into the stock location or will I have to fab up a new crossmember, etc? all help appreciated.

Noah
 
Ideally I'd go diesel with the H55 behind it, but that wouldn't be cheap by any means. I think a 3FE with an H55 tranny would be awsome on and off pavement, but given that you'll be doing city driving with this rig, the auto would be convenient.
 
1973Guppie said:
I was thinking this would be nice, what are the benefits of the 55 vs. the stock tranny? I know you get a 5th gear, correct? BUT does the 2f put out enough power to really push it to that 5th gear on the freeway? I just remember the F engine I had in the 40 before, it was a dog, I have heard the 2f is much better though. I plan to keep the tires small so power should not be a big issue, 32 inch all terrains. Will the 55 tranny swap right into the stock location or will I have to fab up a new crossmember, etc? all help appreciated.

Noah
Click to expand...

Benefits: Fifth gear (nicer than you really know), lower first gear, split case (vast improvement in the strength and noise departments). With a strong 2F, an H55F will be a great improvement in driveability, especially if the truck sees anything more than city driving. The lower first gear will be better off road, the mild (.8?) overdrive will be great for the highway. Smoother shifting than a NV4500 too, and it'll net you a split case. Get a crossmember from an FJ60; it'll require some work, but it's worth it. 32s, 4.11s, and a H55F would make a nice, stockish 55.

Personally, I'd go diesel, anything factory turbo'd and direct injected.

Edit: or go with an 80 frame/drivetrain. :D
 
Auto tranny for sure.

ALF
 
cruising around SD, (hot summers), family trips (need fuel economy), and not really a hard core 4wd.

you want to stay stock? then fj60 2F and 5 speed. I don't believe in ever going into a 2F bottom end, and heads rarely. J60 2F's are more common and if it ever dies, replace with used engine. replace, replace, replace...

you will not get good fuel economy.

a 3FE will be worse still. a dog of an EFI system and craptastical auto performance
-----------------------------------------
diesels,

have any of you ever driven a 3B in city traffic and w/ a/c?
have any driven a 13B-T in a wagon w/ a/c in traffic, on how about on the grade from Indio to Chiriaco Summit (in July) or across the hell basin to El Centro?
2H? etc.

they suck.

Sure, 12H-T is coveted 1HD-T are cool, but how many are available in a running state today, March 27, 2006 in the United States OR Canada? SOR does not have a runner, G&S may be backordered, etc.

to get a decent diesel engine for a wagon it will cost between $6,500 (HZ) and $15,000 (trick HDT) installed.
---------------------------------------
if you have dough, at least $10,000+ for overages go diesel (turbo hz or hdt only)

My first choice for typical cruiserhead budget is what poser said, chevy and auto.

(and I daily drive a 1HD-T 70 series)
 
thanks for all the opinions, appreciate it.

I think it is going to be between a 2f/H55 setup and a 3fe / auto tranny. Not concerned with fuel economy really. When I say family trips, they will be local to the beach, mountains, desert, not too far. Is there anyone out there whom has done a 3fe conversion? I would like to read up on this but have not found anything on it yet. I am wondering how difficult / expensive it will be to do. It will basically come down to $ as I want to try to keep this build as inexpensive as possible. If it is another $1k to put the drivetrain I want in then that is cool but sometimes it can add up when you are modifying things.

Noah
 
Why not a toyota V8 w/auto tranny from a Tundra/etc?
 
also 3.73 in the diffs that would go great with the h55, low first and more of an OD
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

mgoldb1739
1978 FJ55
Replies
14
Views
519
mgoldb1739
mgoldb1739
nisala4423
Help me identify this light
Replies
9
Views
616
nisala4423
nisala4423
GILBERTH
Help on my Toyota bj41 2b
Replies
1
Views
597
-MaTTi-
-MaTTi-
7
Help ID’ing controls on my 62 LC
Replies
5
Views
353
brian
brian

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom