2F engine... To be or not to be?

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AndrewG13

AndrewG13

Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Threads
3
Messages
15
Location
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Hello everyone, how's it going? All good I hope.

I'm in the midst of fixing up my FJ40 and trying to decide if I should change the engine or keep the original 2F and rebuild it. I've been doing a lot of reading and it seems like the 2F is a great engine; strong, reliable, will last forever, just not a very high top speed. The 2F in mine is extremely rusty and I'm not sure of how good of condition it's in. Another thing I'm thinking is, I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling on the highway and will be looking to go a little faster than 60/65 mph. I don't need something to go super fast, I just don't want to blow the engine if I drive 75 for 12 hours or more.... I've also read that a good engine to replace it with is the GM small block V8. I've also heard good things about the "Type B" engine, but have no real experience with them. Thinking if I go ahead and replace it now, I might be saving money in the long run, but again... not sure. Just wondering what some people think and if anyone has any experience with this or other engines?

Thanks in advance.
Andrew
 
They really are not highway drivers even with a different motor; still a 90 inch wheelbase. Maybe a 5 speed conversion; I believe a H55 tranny? Never understood why anyone would want a junky GM motor in such a high quality vehicle like a Landcruiser but that is just me.
 
Drop the oil pan and Plasti-gauge the mains and rods and make sure they are within spec, if so, run it. If not, you might want to consider a rebuild or swap out to a modern V8. (2UZ, LS based GM, Coyote based Ford, depending on what is available in your area).

In my case, before I switched to 4.88's I ran 70-75 with jaunts up to 80 (it was scary). When I switched to the 4.88's I put in a new oil pan and plasti-gauged the mains and rods. All well within spec (had rebuild the engine 10 years prior to THAT). 65 is as fast as I go now, but can do 70 for passing. It's not a race car, after all.

Keep the oil changed with a good conventional oil (I think synthetics in a F/2F/3F is a waste of $$$) and add some ZDDP to keep your cam happy.
 
FWIW I wouldn't drive any FJ40 even close to 75mph for 12 hour jaunts, regardless of engine or gearing.. Maybe if you put the 40 body on a later model modified chevy or ford PU truck chassis and running gear. Easier to drive a vehicle intended for hi speed distance driving.
 
How is your supply of Toyota 70 series parts in Saudi Arabia? A 1HZ engine/H55F trans and transfer case from a HZJ75 might be interesting. Axles from a 75 might be a good upgrade, too. I know a General Export HZJ75 will travel at those speeds, but I don't think it will do it for 12 hours.
 
JungleBiker said:
How is your supply of Toyota 70 series parts in Saudi Arabia? A 1HZ engine/H55F trans and transfer case from a HZJ75 might be interesting. Axles from a 75 might be a good upgrade, too. I know a General Export HZJ75 will travel at those speeds, but I don't think it will do it for 12 hours.
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I agree I think the GM V8s has to do with not much else Toyota to choose from in the US. If we had gotten the H series diesel engines think they would be more popular than they are. I know gas is cheap over there and most all 4X series seem to have been gas powered. How available is diesel where your located? Was a time in the US where traveling more rural areas diesel was that easy to find off the beaten path.
 
Unless you change transmission or differential gearing, a V8 will still turn the same rpms as a 2F going the same speed. If you are going to be doing some long distance driving you might consider swapping in 3.70 gears if they are available where you are. Not sure if 60 and 70 series in the middle east got 3.70 gears like the US.

For a lot of other reasons the FJ40 isn't a comfortable long-distance vehicle, the engine is only one part of that equation. At 75 mph and 4.11 gearing I think you're pushing 3500 rpm on the engine; that's quite a bit to sustain but with some fresh oil and ZDDP I would think the 2F would be up to the task.

The B series engines are 4 cylinder diesel engines and if not turbocharged don't have that much power for sustaining that kind of speed unless it's very flat ground.
 
I have to agree that the vehicle chassis/sound/steering is going to wear you down trying to go that that far, that long. Why not just leave a couple hours earlier and run at 60? That said, I have 2 with chevy 350s. They are a masterpiece of simplicity, efficiency, practicality and durability. There's a reason that they have been made for many decades. They are made to run at close to 5000 rpm for as many hours as you would like. In a boat they used to be rated to run at 4600 rpm continuous. C-60 Trucks, etc used to run them to full throttle up against a governor in every gear with 26,000# loads for years. There is a reason that Toyota Copied the old I6 ohv chevy years ago. If they started later it probably would have been the SBC V8.
 
We don't know for sure what kind of roads the OP is talking about. I was once on an 11 hour road trip in Bolivia, average speed must have been up around 50 mph, the road was 4 lanes wide, but dirt washboard the whole way. We were in an 80 series Land Cruiser, I'm not sure that a more comfortable car would have held up to that kind of road as well for as long. (Before anybody bothers to point it out, I do realise that an 80 series is much more comfortable than a 40.) My point is just that maybe the 40 really is the best vehicle for the job the OP has in mind, if only it were a little faster.
 
I had my 72 FJ40 at 70MPH for a few seconds and it was clearly not completely in control.
In my opinion the suspension, steering and brakes are not suited for driving at modern highway speeds.
With an engine that can rev higher and higher gearing in the differentials, oversized tires, you could get one to run that fast for prolonged periods of time but I don't think it would be easy to control or safe.
 
Thank you everyone for your contributions, thoughts, ideas, advice, and information. Very much appreciated. Unless there's something majorly wrong with it, looks like I'll just rebuild the 2F and be happy in the slow lane. I've never been one to rush things, anyway.
 
I don't get it , I've cruised mine at 70 for several hours at a crack and have done weeks on end of 1hr one way trips to work at 70mph . Just running the stock 4.11's and 33" tires , no issues . Steering is a bit loose , but with the toe set properly it tracks just fine and feels very stable , to me at least . Maybe it's just the extra weight and 90" wheel base compared to driving a 3,000lb , 80" WB Samurai for so long (12yrs) as a daily driver . Sure , I could drive my full size pickup , but I still prefer to drive the Cruiser . An H55 trans would sure help , at least I'd feel better about that poor engine turning a lot slower ...lol .

Sarge
 
Living in the Past said:
I agree I think the GM V8s has to do with not much else Toyota to choose from in the US. If we had gotten the H series diesel engines think they would be more popular than they are. I know gas is cheap over there and most all 4X series seem to have been gas powered. How available is diesel where your located? Was a time in the US where traveling more rural areas diesel was that easy to find off the beaten path.
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There's virtually no diesel... I don't think I've ever seen it. Gas is next to nothing, so why bother?
 
White Stripe said:
After about 4 hours on the highway in a 40, Im exhausted. I take my 40 up to 80mph sometimes and it feels like Im taking the millenial falcon to light speed. If anything gets in my way at that speed, either its dead, Im dead, or were both dead.
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HAHAHAHAHA.... Great Star Wars analogy.
 
AndrewG13 said:
There's virtually no diesel... I don't think I've ever seen it. Gas is next to nothing, so why bother?
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That was my thought that running a 1HZ in the Middle East didn't make a lot of sense. I was surprised Toyota even imported them to that region of the world. Here in the Phoenix, AZ area we can find gas under a $1.40 a gallon. Would think it's even cheaper there.
 
Living in the Past said:
That was my thought that running a 1HZ in the Middle East didn't make a lot of sense. I was surprised Toyota even imported them to that region of the world. Here in the Phoenix, AZ area we can find gas under a $1.40 a gallon. Would think it's even cheaper there.
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Much cheaper... If I do the equations right from Liter to Gallon, it's something stupid like 80 cents per gallon.
 
I've driven mine 70 mph once (in a straight line) and felt it was just too hard on the 40 and my nerves. I go 55 and wave at people as they pass and give me the thumbs up. My Bronco with its 302 and coil springs up front seems a tad more stable doing 70, but I don't drive that truck anywhere close to that speed either. I'm just not in a hurry anymore I guess.

Oh and rebuild the 2F! Keep it stock.
 
Tigerstripe40 said:
Drop the oil pan and Plasti-gauge the mains and rods and make sure they are within spec, if so, run it.
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Before that, adjust the valves as good as you can cold and do a compression check.

subzali said:
Unless you change transmission or differential gearing, a V8 will still turn the same rpms as a 2F going the same speed.
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Yea, but a 350 at 3500 rpm is a much different beast than a 2f at 3500 rpm.

Cleg said:
I had my 72 FJ40 at 70MPH for a few seconds and it was clearly not completely in control.
In my opinion the suspension, steering and brakes are not suited for driving at modern highway speeds.
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JAFO2014 said:
I've driven mine 70 mph once (in a straight line) and felt it was just too hard on the 40 and my nerves.
Oh and rebuild the 2F! Keep it stock.
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If they're in reasonable repair, and with some rubber overdrive, 70 can be done.

Weber Sarge said:
I don't get it , I've cruised mine at 70 for several hours at a crack and have done weeks on end of 1hr one way trips to work at 70mph . Just running the stock 4.11's and 33" tires , no issues .
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See?

JAFO2014 said:
Oh and rebuild the 2F! Keep it stock.
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What he said. ^^^^^^

My SOA with 35s is 4" longer (wagon springs) and 3" wider (60-width axles) than stock. It has a stock 2f that passes CA emissions and a stock (h41) 4-speed. It drives great at 68-70 and will run at 75 without much trouble.
 
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