Me and my father are currently fixing up our first vehical, a 66 fj40 and do not know much about the 3 on the floor transmision. While shifting you have to sort of wait for the transmision to let you put it in gear instead of just placing it in and it often grinds, needless to say it is not smooth. I have seen a kit to rebuild the 3 speed trany fot about 150 bucks but will this solve my problems? Any advice will be greatly appriciated. Thanks
3 speed questions
- Thread starter i<3fj40's
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First of all, you know that there's no synchro on 1st gear, right? You pretty much need to be stopped to get it into first smoothly. Even with good synchros, there is a slight pause between shifts to 2nd and 3rd where you have to put pressure on the synchro and let it get everything to the right speed before you can complete the shift. It's not a quick-shifting modern transmission by any means and those gears are pretty heavy.
If the synchros are going out on 2nd and 3rd, I'd just get a good used one from someone on here or PBB or LCML or... I just took a perfectly good one out of my cruiser and dismantled it so that I could send it out a little bit at a time in the trash. It's too big to be a doorstop, but too light to tie my dog to. I don't have a boat, but I don't think the shape would be any good for an anchor either. I only have the case left and a few gears that are going to be paperweights once I clean them up... They're not worth that much even in good shape, so I'd be hesitant to spend $150 just for parts to rebuild one unless it's for a strict restoration (in which case you'd have to put the column shifter back anyways).
What are your final intentions for the rig? No matter what they are, there are better trannies out there that swap in relatively easily.
Post up some pics and stats for your cruiser. I'm a big fan of early 40's - partly becasue that's the only one I have
Eric
If the synchros are going out on 2nd and 3rd, I'd just get a good used one from someone on here or PBB or LCML or... I just took a perfectly good one out of my cruiser and dismantled it so that I could send it out a little bit at a time in the trash. It's too big to be a doorstop, but too light to tie my dog to. I don't have a boat, but I don't think the shape would be any good for an anchor either. I only have the case left and a few gears that are going to be paperweights once I clean them up... They're not worth that much even in good shape, so I'd be hesitant to spend $150 just for parts to rebuild one unless it's for a strict restoration (in which case you'd have to put the column shifter back anyways).
What are your final intentions for the rig? No matter what they are, there are better trannies out there that swap in relatively easily.
Post up some pics and stats for your cruiser. I'm a big fan of early 40's - partly becasue that's the only one I have
Eric
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks for the quick reply and info. I pretty much figured that i would not be able to down shift in that thing after trying a fiew times but its good to know that it is not just me. I would definatly be interested in putting in a 4 or 5 speed in but dont know what im doing and am scared to screw it up. What transmitions can i put in and about how much do you think one will cost? if someone can explane to me how to post a pic i will do so. My final intensions are to lift it 4inches slap on some 33's and pretty much make a nice looking cruiser that will show my friends who is boss on the trail. Thanks once again.
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a 3 speed in good shape can shift as smooth as butter, yes 1st is non syncro but any other gears should be able to slide right into or up, I have a 3 speed(colume) in my 66 fj45 and its so smooth, no need to put presure on the gear......its just go in.....like any other trany in good shape. Now this is a somewhat recently rebuilt 3 speed. So yes its possible to have a very nice, smooth and easy shifting 3 speed.
the other 3 speed I have does have issues, it wants to grind when going from 3rd into 2nd.............time for a new/used trany for that one.
a toyota 4 speed is a pretty easy upgrade for the 3 speed.
the other 3 speed I have does have issues, it wants to grind when going from 3rd into 2nd.............time for a new/used trany for that one.
a toyota 4 speed is a pretty easy upgrade for the 3 speed.
Landpimp said:
What he said.
I also have a rebuilt 3spd that I rebuilt in my DD that is as smooth as butter. Double shifting helps a lot (shifting into 2nd first to stall the spinning gears). Look inside the tranny and see how many teeth are chipped on the straight gear. That will tell a lot.