55 Trannys And MPGs

[alextreme76]

I have no experience with 55's, but I found a great deal on a 71 with a rebuilt motor. I was looking for pickups and 4runners, but I could live with a 55 as a DD if I could get some MPGs out of it.

I was wondering, is there an easy swap for the 3spd? Or is there an overdrive unit out there?

If I could get 16 city I would be one happy camper with a piggy

 

[alkarich]

A 4sp would be an easy swap. Better for around town with syncro gears. No overdrive with that though. You could also put in an H55 Toyota 5sp which has an OD, or an NV4500. Do some searching for these trannys also check out the faq section here as well. Lastly welcome to Mud.

 

[alkarich]

Still probably won't get your desired 16mpg in town though since you will rarely be in 5th gear. Best mpg would be going with a diesel.

 

[Pin_Head]

Even a 5 speed might not get you any better MPG. Taller gears are only beneficial if the final drive ratio is too low to achieve the optimum operating RPM. This is probably not the case with a 55. Pigs are heavy with the aerodymanics of a brick, so there isn't much you can do except tune it up and drive it slowly.

 

[Southeast Overland]

When I had my Pig tuned PERFECTLY I got some ridiculous mileage - probably 18 highway and not much less in the city. I was desmogged and traveling light - then my motor started going south and that mileage was cut in half. I had a 2F, desmogged w/ a 4 speed.

 

[alextreme76]

thanks, i just realized this was my first post here, my first vehicle was a 91 FJ80 with OME springs and 33s. it had aweful mileage as well, sold because of electric gremlins and need a reliable college car....sad day but now im trying to get back in the game

thanks for the info

 

[FineWynsFJ40]

a 55 would be great for college, it's a sweet ride. I wish I had mine going instead of torn down, but hey, what can ya do? If you want good passenger and cargo capacity with fuel efficiency, get a Buick LeSabre. Otherwise, your 55 will haul people and cargo wherever you aim it. Efficiency around town? Not so much. But, you'd drive something with character and heart. Your call. Good luck, glad to see you're interested in a 55!!

 

[cruiserbrett]

In a 73 FJ55, with a tired but well tuned F motor, 3.70 gears from an FJ60, narrow 33" BFG A/T's and a 4 speed(still the same top gear ratio as the 3 speed) I got 17 mpg average on a nearly 8000 mile round trip across the country and back. that was GPS mileage which matched my corrected for tire and gearing odometer mileage pretty well(less than 1% difference.)

On average its closer to 13-14.5 around town/highway mix driving.

 

[jmylie]

Swap in a 4sp or better a 5sp, desmog the motor and get the carb rebuilt by
Jim C. That should put you in the ball park for high teens on highway and maybe around town depending on the local traffic.

It would most likely be a unique ride.

 

[snailwagon]

An old 1bbl. will squeze out the mpgs., but without a diesel or modern drivetrain I don't see how an F can get better than 15mpg around town. My 55, when equiped with the mighty 1bll and f145 would get 17mpg on highway, maybe 12 on the road, and between 2-8mpg off road. It even went 80mph downhill.