4.11 and an H55F

[HemiAlex]

I've got about 12,000 miles since my h55F swap and I'm currently running 3.70 diffs. The truck runs great on the highway and has proved itself on the trails also, but its not perfect.

The only thing that worries me is the downhill on steep grades in 4LOW. First gear is too touchy and causes me to jerk the truck around a lot. Second gear causes me to feel more comfortable but I've got to use the brakes to keep it stable, which means I'm on the brakes lightly for long periods of time and it doesn't feel as stable.

It feels like 4.11 with the h55f first gear would be awesome for 2nd/4low gear downhill stuff off road based on how the 3.70's feel.

I've got FJ62 4.11 chunks that I can put in before SAS. I've driven around in 4th and the truck seems very happy at 2600-2800 rpm cruise for about 70mph and torque seems more on demand. If it feels like that in 5th, I wouldn't be disappointed and slowing down on the highway with the dynamics of this vehicle at speed. I may leave them in, but its a big deal to swap them back out if they're too big of a deal around down. I already feel that first is a very short gear, and its going to get even more shift happy after the swap.

How many have done this? Did you want to go back to 3.70? Are my expectations for what I want to control with more gearing reasonable?

As it sits now, the truck isn't daily driven like before. My wife drives it 5 miles a day now, so more gearing or hardcore stuff isn't a big deal. I'm adding sliders, and an extra battery soon so weight is another reason I've considered gearing up.

 

[Seth S]

What size tires are you running

 

[Tennessee80]

I have posted these same questions in another thread, and have talked a bit with Georg at Valley hybrids. I am running 35” tires with the H42 now, but I’m upgrading to H55 soon... but he said 4.11 and H55 is a great combo at least for my tire setup for on road and mild-medium trails (no hard core stuff)

HTH

 

[Godwin]

My 60 is set up with 4.11s, H55F, and 33s. It'll run 65 - 70 @ 2500 +/- and if the highway is flat deliver about 14 mpg. Around town pulling from a stop in 1st often need to shift before crossing the intersection. If the road is level or with a slight decline I'll start in 2nd.

I think that 4.11s, H55F, 33s (or 255/85/16) is the best combination and I would not go back to 3.7s.

I periodically get into steep, rocky stuff and 1st gear, low range with the 4.11s feels right.

 

[HemiAlex]

What size tires are you running

33x10.5 and eventually a 32” 16 tire.

 

[OSS]

I drove my 60 with a 5 speed in it for 25 years. 31" All terrains. Crawling, endless freeways, beach driving, steep hill climbing, sand dune hill bombing edge of redline, through mud, snow , etc -the cruiser had seen it all except gnarly Rubicon type boulder crawling.

I also drove it for a while with the stock 28" 225/75R15 street tires that were spec for the truck. I had a second set of wheels for just city driving even though they looked funny.

My impressions:
31" tires with stock 3:70 gears and the H55F is too tall. Its not the transmission per se, but the wheel diameter to gear ratio of 3:70. I never liked how it felt. It always felt geared wrong with that combo except at freeway speeds in 4th gear. 5th gear is just wrong with that combo unless driving above about 68 mph

I can say it felt "wrong" because I also had a set of the 28" tires that I used occasionally (which was Toyota's recommended gearing) and I really liked how the engine felt and the acceleration using the smaller tires regardless of either transmission.

Granted the lower first and second gear of the H55F matched with 28" tires and 3:70 gears is actually a bit too low for street use, and 1st is almost unusable because it's so low, the other remaining gears feel good and overall the driving experience was much more "fun" with the small tires and H55F than running 31" tires.

When I'd put the 31" tires back on, the truck would feel more like an old dog on the street and a donkey driving up hills and definitely felt like the gearing was off. Too high. It wasn't as fun or peppy to drive.

But 28" tires are worthless off road and look rediculous on a lifted 60, so the best overall compromise was to keep the 31s with the tall gears. It was acceptable but not ideal.

When I'd take loooong trips for several months in baja, driving on all those dirt roads & trails to nowhere, I could reeeealy feel the wrong gearing of 31s and 3:70 gears. It's a lame combo offroad (but I used it for 30 years).

Usually, since the trails are so rough and I prefer to keep the speed down below 25 with the loaded cruiser, my gearing of choice ALWAYS was to drive in 2WD LO in whatever gear. That's a reflection of how mismatched 31s & 3:70 gears are for slow driving offroad use.

I ALWAYS wanted to put 4:10 gears in my axles and knew I'd love it (w 31s or 32s) but I never could justify spending the big bucks to do it.

The only time that 31s & 3:70s shine is when driving fast on the freeway, in every other circumstance (in my opinion) that combo blows.

And you're running 33s which is just evil.

Get the 4:10 gears

 

[FJ60Seth]

I’m running 35’s with the h55f and 4.11 diffs and my main complaint is at freeway speeds 5th feels to high. I need to be going 75 on the flats to keep rpms feeling right. I’m considering 4.54.

 

[Spike Strip]

The 4:11/H55f/33s is an excellent combo and IMHO the best if you're after improved off-roading without losing too much on-road facility.

It's the combo I have and with the 31's it was a bit more freeway friendly, but I stick with the 33s for the 1st 'n low grunt.

 

[HemiAlex]

The true fix for me would just be to do 3:1 t case gears in my spare 38mm split case, but I’ve already got the 4.11

With a 2.28:1 t case, the h55f and 4.11 I’m at like 41:1 first gear in low.

If I had the 3:1 t case gears with the same trans, and 3.70 id be at 49:1 in low.

It would be the best of both worlds, low cruise rpm without shifting a ton around town and a solid low range.

But I have a feeling that efficiency will actually go up with what I’ve currently got and 4.11 gears. Anything to make the 2F not work as hard to keep up with the rest of the world.

 

[4Cruisers]

In my '86 FJ60 (took it to SAS #2 and will take it again this year) I run a 3FE, H55f, FJ62 transfer case, FJ62 axles with 4.11s, OME heavy/medium suspension, and BFG 235/85R16 ATs (~32" tall) on '70-Series Toyota wheels. I'm really happy with that combination. Does really well off road and not bad at all in town. At 70 MPH I'm less than 2,900 rpm.

 

[Dustin Messina]

I’ve been thinking of the h55 4.11 swap as well. I checked mine with the 4 speed stock 3.7s and 33x10.3x15 km3s @70 I’m 2750 rpms (per the Snipers ECU) . If I’m reading through everything right 5 speed with 4.11s should drop it to 2500 @70 ?

 

[Godwin]

I’ve been thinking of the h55 4.11 swap as well. I checked mine with the 4 speed stock 3.7s and 33x10.3x15 km3s @70 I’m 2750 rpms (per the Snipers ECU) . If I’m reading through everything right 5 speed with 4.11s should drop it to 2500 @70 ?

yes

 

[Code Red]

I'm pretty happy with a 3FE, H55, 4.11's and 33x10/50's. But even there, I sometimes want a lower low range.

If I were in your shoes, I would go for the lower T-case gears. They will give you a 10% underdrive in high-range, effectively the same as swapping the chunks, and a better low range.

 

[doug720]

Here is one of the better gear ratio calculators - easy to use, includes tire size, and it has the common Toyota transmissions built in.

Gear Ratio Calculator

Keep in mind that many tires are smaller OD than advertised. 33" BFG's are closer 32" new.

 

[Dustin Messina]

Here is one of the better gear ratio calculators - easy to use, includes tire size, and it has the common Toyota transmissions built in.

Gear Ratio Calculator

Keep in mind that many tires are smaller OD than advertised. 33" BFG's are closer 32" new.

My KM3s are barely 31.5"...

 

[HemiAlex]

My KM3s are barely 31.5"...

If they don't make a true 33x10.5 when I wear these current ones out, I'll go with a 16" 70 series wheel and find an equivalent in a Yokohama G003 MT. Far more control over sizing in 16".

 

[Dustin Messina]

If they don't make a true 33x10.5 when I wear these current ones out, I'll go with a 16" 70 series wheel and find an equivalent in a Yokohama G003 MT. Far more control over sizing in 16".

I agree. I have half the mind to sell these and grab some tires that are actually 33s....or at least closer. Pisses me off.

 

[HemiAlex]

I agree. I have half the mind to sell these and grab some tires that are actually 33s....or at least closer. Pisses me off.

If you just put that effort into an H55F you would be way happier....

 

[Cruiserdrew]

The 4:11/H55f/33s is an excellent combo and IMHO the best if you're after improved off-roading without losing too much on-road facility.

X2. Mine is a 62 not a 60 but 3FE/H55f/4.11 is a sweet spot in Land Cruisering.

 

[Dustin Messina]

If you just put that effort into an H55F you would be way happier....

Its happening... I've already decided that! Its why I jumped on this thread to figure out how bad I need 4.11s vs 3.7s.