We have a 1973 FJ40 that originally had a 1F and 3-speed. Our 1F died and we decided to do a 350 swap and swap in a 4-speed as well. We have already acquired a 4-speed and a 350. I see it as we have two options, the AA kit or the Marks 4wd kit. The only real advantage with the marks kit I see is avoiding drive shaft modifications. But since we are swapping a 4-speed in does this even matter? Or can we re-use our 3-speed driveshafts by flipping the front and rear? I cant seem to find that information anywhere.
1. "Cleancut" here on mud has the adapter you need (listed in the classifieds) for 250 bucks, grab it fast, it's a deal.
2. I sell the custom "Chevota" clutch you will want, I'll send you a PM on this subject.
3. Several different companies have the 4 speed tranny to 3 speed transfer-case adapter you will need.
4. I have a very decent price on the front and rear motor mounts you will need.
5. I have the freebie Downey V8 installation instruction manual you will need.
Besides the driveline mods the typical V8 moves the shifters forward almost into the heater. The Mark's adapter keeps the shifters in the stock location. A 60 series transmission top cover moves the shifter back. Never researched if a 60 series transfer shifter can be made to work on the one piece transfer case.
I did this exact swap over fifteen years ago using the @Downey kits (4 speed V8 swap kit and 4 speed trans to 3 speed transfer case kit) when they were still in business. In my 10/73 Fj40 I went from F.5 and 3 speed trans/transfer case to 350 chevy with 4 speed trans/3 speed transfer case. I placed the engine using Downey's instructions and reused my original driveshafts in their original positions since it made up for the drivetrain length changes by using the longer 4 speed transmission in place of the 3 speed transmission. The only problem I had related to the swap kits was that I was shipped the wrong mount for the slave cylinder which Jim took care of immediately over the phone when I called for help... Thanks again for all off your help over the years Jim. You will have to extend the clutch hard line to the passenger side (bought the line at O'Reilly's and bent it myself) . I bent the transmission shift lever and notched the heater vents at the base for clearance (I now have a FJ60 top cover to move the shift lever back toward the stock location-yet to be installed) and had to bend the transfercase shift lever to the rear to clear the heater lines when in 2WD.
HTH,
Will
I did this exact swap over fifteen years ago using the @Downey kits (4 speed V8 swap kit and 4 speed trans to 3 speed transfer case kit) when they were still in business. In my 10/73 Fj40 I went from F.5 and 3 speed trans/transfer case to 350 chevy with 4 speed trans/3 speed transfer case. I placed the engine using Downey's instructions and reused my original driveshafts in their original positions since it made up for the drivetrain length changes but using the longer 4 speed transmission in place of the 3 speed transmission. The only problem I had related to the swap kits was that I was shipped the wrong mount for the slave cylinder which Jim took care of immediately over the phone when I called for help... Thanks again for all off your help over the years Jim. You will have to extend the clutch hard line to the passenger side (bought the line at O'Reilly's and bent it myself) . I bent the transmission shift lever and notched the heater vents at the base for clearance (I now have a FJ60 top cover to move the shift lever back toward the stock location-yet to be installed) and had to bend the transfercase shift lever to the rear to clear the heater lines when in 2WD.
HTH,
Will
That is great to know and I shouldn't even have heater vent issues since mine are missing! So using the Downey bell housing and swapping in a 4-speed, did the driveshafts stay in their original locations or did you have to flip them?
That is great to know and I shouldn't even have heater vent issues since mine are missing! So using the Downey bell housing and swapping in a 4-speed, did the driveshafts stay in their original locations or did you have to flip them?
I followed all the instructions from Downey Off Road (@Downey) on the V8 conversion engine mounting location and I think it was within less than an inch (from memory of the measurements taken before and after- I may have that greasy piece of paper in my files somewhere) of the original locations. Unfortunately I made the measurements back then with the drivetrains' weight on the suspension (not on jack stands) so they were not exact due to the lighter weight of V8 engine and the heavier 4 speed vs. 3 speed transmissions. I'm not sure of the total change in drivetrain weight for both systems. But I'm still running it to this day with no issues from the drive shafts... So it is close enough not to worry about. To your question it is far enough off the firewall- the distributor (using a HEI distributor) and for engine cooling I have had no issues... (Jim (@Downey ) offered to send you his instructions for the conversion (which I'm sure are the same ones I used years ago).
HTH,
Will
I followed all the instructions from Downey Off Road (@Downey) on the V8 conversion engine mounting location and I think it was within less than an inch (from memory of the measurements taken before and after- I may have that greasy piece of paper in my files somewhere) of the original locations. Unfortunately I made the measurements back then with the drivetrains' weight on the suspension (not on jack stands) so they were not exact due to the lighter weight of V8 engine and the heavier 4 speed vs. 3 speed transmissions. I'm not sure of the total change in drivetrain weight for both systems. But I'm still running it to this day with no issues from the drive shafts... So it is close enough not to worry about. To your question it is far enough off the firewall- the distributor (using a HEI distributor) and for engine cooling I have had no issues... (Jim (@Downey ) offered to send you his instructions for the conversion (which I'm sure are the same ones I used years ago).
HTH,
Will
