3FE upgrade on a 1974 FJ40

[noerror05]

Mud newbie here...been working on my 40 for 5-6 years now...he's running like a champ, but would like a little more HP under the hood. Have been talking with a cruiser head from NC (Steve - runs BushTaxi) and he has convinced me to do a 3FE upgrade on my 40. Has anyone else done one of these? Curious to hear thoughts, results, land mines etc! Thanks for the add to the FB group and look forward to meeting you all soon.

 

[LDowney]

Mud newbie here...been working on my 40 for 5-6 years now...he's running like a champ, but would like a little more HP under the hood. Have been talking with a cruiser head from NC (Steve - runs BushTaxi) and he has convinced me to do a 3FE upgrade on my 40. Has anyone else done one of these? Curious to hear thoughts, results, land mines etc! Thanks for the add to the FB group and look forward to meeting you all soon.

It appears that you are capable and want to do this yourself, but there are several Cruiser shops in the region that have done these conversions. For example, it is my understanding that ACC has done several of these conversions and is close by, so a conversation with Brian might be a helpful starting place. Cole at OTM in Birmingham or Matt at Matt's Cruisers in Orlando could be very helpful too.

A tangential suggestion to your request is ... Sniper EFI conversions on F and 2F engines have been mentioned as major improvements for these engines in hp and mpg. There probably is more info in the 40 and 60 series forums than what might be gained from the chapter pages, so a search there could be helpful.

But next Saturday will be the July breakfast meeting and it might be a golden opportunity to meet and discuss the field of options for your Cruiser.

Good luck

 

[1911]

Mud newbie here...been working on my 40 for 5-6 years now...he's running like a champ, but would like a little more HP under the hood. Have been talking with a cruiser head from NC (Steve - runs BushTaxi) and he has convinced me to do a 3FE upgrade on my 40. Has anyone else done one of these? Curious to hear thoughts, results, land mines etc! Thanks for the add to the FB group and look forward to meeting you all soon.

There's a few here on Mud that have done it.

I haven't done it, though I did own a 3FE-powered FJ80 for a number of years. FWIW, here's a few of my thoughts on it:

The 3F is a de-stroked 2F. Toyota made them as a stop-gap measure, until they could come out with the FZJ engine. The F-series motors were just not enough oomph for the heavier 60 and 80 wagons on the highway. De-stroking it means that it can rev higher than a 2F, so you gain some hp at the top end (highway speed) but you give up some of the legendary off-road low-end torque of the 2F.

The EFI is nice, but comes with a few of it's own problems - problematic EFI relay and a few other minor flaws. Of course, you'll need the 3FE ECM and wiring harness to go with your project.

In terms of more HP, the 3FE is not a night-and-day difference from the 2F. It will be a lot of work for relatively few more HP, though I get the idea of keeping it all Toyota. But if more HP is your main goal, you'd be way ahead to do an LS conversion rather than a 3FE. In my opinion, FWIW.

If you're determined to do the 3FE anyway, I've always thought it would be fun to build a "2FE", i.e. the 3FE head and induction on a 2F block. That way, you keep the long stroke and outstanding torque of the 2F, with the convenience and efficiency of the 3FE.

Good luck with your project in any event.

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

We have a member in our group who owns an FJ43 with a rebuilt 2F engine. He has upgraded to a larger cam, installed higher compression pistons, and added a Sniper EFI system. I have driven his vehicle, and it has significantly more power than both of my stock FJ40s. If you're looking for moderate gains, I would recommend this approach. However, if you're aiming for substantial horsepower increases, you'll need to consider options like increasing the engine displacement or adding a turbocharger.

I think a 2UZ-FE 4.7 would be AMAZING in a FJ40!

Just my two cents...

 

[noerror05]

There's a few here on Mud that have done it.

I haven't done it, though I did own a 3FE-powered FJ80 for a number of years. FWIW, here's a few of my thoughts on it:

The 3F is a de-stroked 2F. Toyota made them as a stop-gap measure, until they could come out with the FZJ engine. The F-series motors were just not enough oomph for the heavier 60 and 80 wagons on the highway. De-stroking it means that it can rev higher than a 2F, so you gain some hp at the top end (highway speed) but you give up some of the legendary off-road low-end torque of the 2F.

The EFI is nice, but comes with a few of it's own problems - problematic EFI relay and a few other minor flaws. Of course, you'll need the 3FE ECM and wiring harness to go with your project.

In terms of more HP, the 3FE is not a night-and-day difference from the 2F. It will be a lot of work for relatively few more HP, though I get the idea of keeping it all Toyota. But if more HP is your main goal, you'd be way ahead to do an LS conversion rather than a 3FE. In my opinion, FWIW.

If you're determined to do the 3FE anyway, I've always thought it would be fun to build a "2FE", i.e. the 3FE head and induction on a 2F block. That way, you keep the long stroke and outstanding torque of the 2F, with the convenience and efficiency of the 3FE.

Good luck with your project in any event.

Great info...unfortunately my '74 is the F.5 engine which is mostly the F with a few 'upgrades' that the 2F received. My F has 90 HP so going to the 3FE will gain me 50ish additional horses and I'm seeing the 3FE engines for $500 due to the 60 & 80 owners doing the LS upgrade & not wanting/needing the 3FE. Will definitely share these thoughts with Steve to make sure we understand all options prior to pulling the trigger! Tks for your thoughts.

 

[noerror05]

It appears that you are capable and want to do this yourself, but there are several Cruiser shops in the region that have done these conversions. For example, it is my understanding that ACC has done several of these conversions and is close by, so a conversation with Brian might be a helpful starting place. Cole at OTM in Birmingham or Matt at Matt's Cruisers in Orlando could be very helpful too.

A tangential suggestion to your request is ... Sniper EFI conversions on F and 2F engines have been mentioned as major improvements for these engines in hp and mpg. There probably is more info in the 40 and 60 series forums than what might be gained from the chapter pages, so a search there could be helpful.

But next Saturday will be the July breakfast meeting and it might be a golden opportunity to meet and discuss the field of options for your Cruiser.

Good luck

Thank you. Will be reaching out to those shops to get their thoughts. Appreciate your comments and look forward to meeting soon!

 

[noerror05]

We have a member in our group who owns an FJ43 with a rebuilt 2F engine. He has upgraded to a larger cam, installed higher compression pistons, and added a Sniper EFI system. I have driven his vehicle, and it has significantly more power than both of my stock FJ40s. If you're looking for moderate gains, I would recommend this approach. However, if you're aiming for substantial horsepower increases, you'll need to consider options like increasing the engine displacement or adding a turbocharger.

I think a 2UZ-FE 4.7 would be AMAZING in a FJ40!

Just my two cents...

You don't think the V8 would be too much for the small 40?

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

You don't think the V8 would be too much for the small 40?

We have another member (@jesus888) who has a LS and H55 five-speed, and it's great. I have driven it and love it. People have been putting small block Chevys in these vehicles for years. The 2UZ 4.7 engine produces between 235 and 282 horsepower, which is comparable to a small block. I love the idea of using all Toyota parts. You'll have plenty of power and reliability.

Check out these threads...

2UZ swap into my 78 '40

Thought I would throw this up here incase any have expressed interest or have thought of putting in a Toyota 4.7 iForce V8 into their beloved FJ40. I have chosen to remove my exsisting SBC conversion for this swap..mainly because I wanted more HP and more importantly, fuel injection. Yes, yes...

forum.ih8mud.com

My UZJ40 Build - 2UZ iForce V8 and a750f 5spd auto

This thread is a bit unconventional, as is my build. The reason being is that the vehicle is almost complete after over 2 years of hard work on it, and I've kept the build relatively quiet. The 2UZ swap is still somewhat rare, and there's only one that I know of using the 5 speed auto...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

I've also seen some with the 3.4 and that is a solid engine as well. Super relialbe but not as much power as the 2UZ I don't think you could go wrong with either of these but I would go with the 4.7 if it were me.

5VZ-FE swap into '74 FJ40 Project

I have done some research and started a project of swapping "new" engine into my 1974 FJ40. After considering several options I ended with 5VZ-FE engine for my swap. This is relatively simple engine without much of electronics and its been for over 10 years in Toyota production. It was first...

forum.ih8mud.com

3.4L V6 DOHC 24 valve in a 40 has anyone ?

Has anyone put a forerunner / tacoma motor in a 40 ? What mods ? any build threads out there ? Good idea or no ?

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[noerror05]

I've also seen some with the 3.4 and that is a solid engine as well. Super relialbe but not as much power as the 2UZ I don't think you could go wrong with either of these but I would go with the 4.7 if it were me.

View attachment 3944347

5VZ-FE swap into '74 FJ40 Project

I have done some research and started a project of swapping "new" engine into my 1974 FJ40. After considering several options I ended with 5VZ-FE engine for my swap. This is relatively simple engine without much of electronics and its been for over 10 years in Toyota production. It was first...

forum.ih8mud.com

3.4L V6 DOHC 24 valve in a 40 has anyone ?

Has anyone put a forerunner / tacoma motor in a 40 ? What mods ? any build threads out there ? Good idea or no ?

forum.ih8mud.com

Would you lean towards a 3FE if I told you I sourced a great looking engine for $500?

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

Would you lean towards a 3FE if I told you I sourced a great looking engine for $500?

The main consideration is how much work you're willing to put in and how original you want your build to be. I haven't done extensive research, but my instinct tells me that the 3FE engine would likely be the easiest option. You could probably use the same motor mounts and possibly even the same transmission bellhousing. That being said, it seems like a lot of work for not that much gain.

The other two options would require new motor mounts and likely a new transmission and transfer case, or at least some sort of adapter for compatibility. You also would have some serious wiring mods to do as well. Be sure to do your research, clarify your goals, and avoid overestimating your budget, skills, and timeline. I would hate for you to take apart your Land Cruiser and not get it back on the road, especially if it is "running like a champ" right now.

I also desire more horsepower for mine, but not enough to disassemble it and be without it during the process. These 40s are what they are, slow, noise, etc... but I love them. As I mentioned, do your research and you'll determine what's best.

Additionally, you could reach out to the individuals in these threads who have gone through similar experiences and ask for their advice. It seems that a couple of guys have successfully completed similar projects with 3FEs.

76 fj40 3FE done

First post, longtime lurking. Just want to say thanks to the guys that posted on this board about a 3fe changeover and FJ62 power steering . I could not have done this as easy as it turned out without reading through the threads . Its a 76 FJ40 that I bought about 18 years ago , drove it...

forum.ih8mud.com

My 3FE into FJ40 swap

Creating this thread to document my FJ40 conversion to a 3FE. Also, since I have never worked anything close to this big on my cruiser before, I need a good place to ask all of my questions...there will be a lot, and many of them pretty basic probably. I have a good friend who has been very...

forum.ih8mud.com

All that being said, I love the 4.7. The idea of one in a FJ40 with an automatic trans sounds amazing to me!!

 

[noerror05]

The main consideration is how much work you're willing to put in and how original you want your build to be. I haven't done extensive research, but my instinct tells me that the 3FE engine would likely be the easiest option. You could probably use the same motor mounts and possibly even the same transmission bellhousing. That being said, it seems like a lot of work for not that much gain.

The other two options would require new motor mounts and likely a new transmission and transfer case, or at least some sort of adapter for compatibility. You also would have some serious wiring mods to do as well. Be sure to do your research, clarify your goals, and avoid overestimating your budget, skills, and timeline. I would hate for you to take apart your Land Cruiser and not get it back on the road, especially if it is "running like a champ" right now.

I also desire more horsepower for mine, but not enough to disassemble it and be without it during the process. These 40s are what they are, slow, noise, etc... but I love them. As I mentioned, do your research and you'll determine what's best.

Additionally, you could reach out to the individuals in these threads who have gone through similar experiences and ask for their advice. It seems that a couple of guys have successfully completed similar projects with 3FEs.

76 fj40 3FE done

First post, longtime lurking. Just want to say thanks to the guys that posted on this board about a 3fe changeover and FJ62 power steering . I could not have done this as easy as it turned out without reading through the threads . Its a 76 FJ40 that I bought about 18 years ago , drove it...

forum.ih8mud.com

My 3FE into FJ40 swap

Creating this thread to document my FJ40 conversion to a 3FE. Also, since I have never worked anything close to this big on my cruiser before, I need a good place to ask all of my questions...there will be a lot, and many of them pretty basic probably. I have a good friend who has been very...

forum.ih8mud.com

All that being said, I love the 4.7. The idea of one in a FJ40 with an automatic trans sounds amazing to me!!

Yessir. Definitely doing the planning up front to make it easier on the back end. Have begun reading the few boards I've found from others who have done the 3FE upgrade and you nailed it, I'm trying to keep it as simple and standard Yota as possible. I don't expect my tractor to be much more than a tractor, just want to be able to enjoy it in the N Ga & NC mountains w/out being stressed if I'm going to get run over trying to get there! From what I have read, the 3FE upgrade is relatively straight forward, motor mounts are the same, can match it right up to my existing trans and can purchase a harness that's close to plug & play. Parts are easy to source etc. Definitely not looking to spend a ton on a 50+ year old rig, but I do love driving it and all it stands for. Appreciate your feedback & links you shared. Look forward to meeting at some point in the future!

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

Yessir. Definitely doing the planning up front to make it easier on the back end. Have begun reading the few boards I've found from others who have done the 3FE upgrade and you nailed it, I'm trying to keep it as simple and standard Yota as possible. I don't expect my tractor to be much more than a tractor, just want to be able to enjoy it in the N Ga & NC mountains w/out being stressed if I'm going to get run over trying to get there! From what I have read, the 3FE upgrade is relatively straight forward, motor mounts are the same, can match it right up to my existing trans and can purchase a harness that's close to plug & play. Parts are easy to source etc. Definitely not looking to spend a ton on a 50+ year old rig, but I do love driving it and all it stands for. Appreciate your feedback & links you shared. Look forward to meeting at some point in the future!

Awesome!! Can't wait to see it!