4spd out...5spd in?

[GregS]

Hi all,

This is my first post on this forum so here goes. I've got a 1982 BJ42 with the H42 4spd. I'd like to swap in a H55f to make it more highway friendly while not working the 3B quite as hard. Has anyone made this switch? Will my transfer case bolt directly up to the H55f? Will my shift levers/floor openings be repositioned? Input shaft compatibility? Mounting/support repositioning? Driveline lengths? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated before I start collecting parts. Thanks...Greg

 

[crushers]

you will need either a shifter tower from a BJ42 or notch the floor hole back 3" for a H55F from a 60 series. (not sure of the 70 series)
the rear drive shaft will need to be shortened and the front lengthened.
the tcase front half will need to be 5 spd specific for the 5th gear oiler
the speedo cable will need to be longer or rerouted.
the tranny itself is a straight bolt up.

while you are in there it will be the best time for a new clutch disc, Presure plate, release bearing, pilot bearing and rear engine seal.

i am sure someone will speak up if i missed anything...
cheers and best of luck on your switch, it is one of the best moves you can make in the BJ42...

 

[GregS]

Thanks...That's the kind of staight-up info I was looking for. Sounds like finding a 5spd setup out of a 42 (say an '83 or '84) might elliminate a few of the issues ie. shift tower and transfer case. Size wise, is the H55f shorter than the H42 and will it require any fabrication to the undercarriage?

 

[crushers]

the H55F is longer but the mount is in the same spot...

 

[rutbeer]

I just posted up a list of parts you need for the shifter linkage....you can click the link in my sig.

 

[seapotato]

yeah it's reasonably straight forward, the bj42 5speeds are pretty freakin rare, but it's really no big deal with the 60 series one. shifter comes out a little further back, so it's just a question of a bit of trimming and patching, and bending the shifter. ( hits the seat if you don't....)

only other thing is the crossmember. 5speed ones are clearanced for the front driveshaft...and the 60 series on doesn't really fit ( I don't think....) so you may have to modify yours a bit, depends on whether the dshaft touches or not. a cv driveshaft helps the clearance a lot on that end.

cheers,
ryan

 

[crushers]

hummm, i didn't seem to have a problem using the 4 speed cross member...

 

[Tapage]

correctme if I'm wrong .. but I thought there are some H42 with spacer between tranny and t-case coz the idea I supose is have the same drive train lengh with those H42 and H55F ..

 

[crushers]

i believe in some of the wagons they had this spacer, i have never seen them though, supposed to be common in the states...
i have never seen this ih any 40 series rigs...

 

[Greg_B]

The spacer was only used in the USA model 60's and after 1985 or 1987, as they maintained the H42...can't remember which year though. In Canada, the H42 was dropped, and the H55F was used in the 60's from 1983 onward.

hth's

gb

 

[rutbeer]

Mid to late 85 is when the 60's got the spacer here. It was carried through 1987 model because the 1988 went to an automatic and vacuum transfer.

 

[seapotato]

hummm, i didn't seem to have a problem using the 4 speed cross member...

well, depends how much lift you have. doesn't take much for it to start getting close....

 

[crushers]

i ran a 3" block lift on a 1982 BJ42 with H55F and 35" boots for many years and never had a concern...and i twisted that puppy up good many a time...
i know the older BJ40 (1978 i think) had the mount on the bell housing and the front driveshaft was WAY too close to the cross member...

how much lift yah talking?