62 V8 crawl box?

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Cruiserdrew said:
Mainly because I see the cruisers as recreational vehicles, not daily drivers. You can put up with slowness in something you only drive on trips. The 3FE is a good motor, you already own it, and all of the tech for making it a manual with lots of low gearing options are already worked out and available. I'm sure you'll love the SBC, but it's tons of work and significant expense. I don't see your FJ62 being your commuter for the next 10 years. Like most of us, you'll go wheel it 5-10 times a year, and for the that, the 3FE works fine. How far are you really going to go? I go to Dusy in my 40 and its way, way slower than your FJ62. Moab is easily doable with what you have, and that's probably the limit of where you might take it. If you want to go faster, get an 80 or a 100.

Remember that H42s are basically free. Your motor, with an H42 and a Toybox, will take you anywhere within a 2 day drive with no problem at all. Then you can crawl with the best of them. Have you seen Brett's FJ62 in action? It works great with a 3FE, H42, and toybox. Really a nice machine.

Now if your 3FE is dead, then swapping to an SBC is probably makes sense. You won't go much faster though, since you are limited by a primitive chassis and you'll break more parts.

Anyway, what ever you do, remember it's a hobby and it's supposed to be fun. So if you like the challenge of a SBC swap, then go for it and don't look back. If it's simply about function, though, you already have what you need.
Click to expand...

I see your point and appreciate the input.
Ive considered the swap that Brett had done after following him through Rubicon last fall. It is an amazing vehicle under the control of an amazing driver.
Here is my rationale:
I havent done a compression test on my 3FE, but it does have 230K on the clock, and Im of the opinion that it is TIRED to say the least. So taking that fact into consideration Id at lest be looking at a rebuild of my 3FE and or doing a 2FE conversion PLUS the 4/5 speed conversion to gain a lil extra HP....I guess that would be do able and for, marginally, less than what Im looking at spending for the V8 swap....
My ultimate goal is to be able to run a grade on the road at, at least 55 MPH without rapping the RPMs up to the point that Im scared...Actually, im VERY happy with its performance off road. Even on the Rubicon the ONE time that I did it, as it sits, I didnt really have TOO MUCH issue, at least nothing that a front locker wouldnt have solved.
My ONLY deterrent to doing the V8 conversion is the COST!
My wife has been VERY understanding of this lil obsession of mine, but when I start looking at this expense Im considering...I want to kick MY OWN ASS for considering it. If cost wasnt an option...Id LOVE to take on the challenge.

With that being said...Do you all think that a re build plus the manual swap would make the rig a little more pleasant (55 MPH) up a grade getting to and from the trails?

I am NOT rich. I make decent money and have enough to live comfortably, save and play a little with my Landcruiser as most of us do. With that in mind...what would you all do?

Again...My one and only complaint is ON ROAD power UP A GRADE and lack of gearing options for my play toy. Otherwise, Im totally happy with the set up of my rig barring a front open diff.

Thanks for you input!

Chicago
 
chicago said:
My ONLY deterrent to doing the V8 conversion is the COST!
...
With that being said...Do you all think that a re build plus the manual swap would make the rig a little more pleasant (55 MPH) up a grade getting to and from the trails?
Click to expand...

Cost, Ha Ha, try a diesel swap!

Seriously, having the same or better mileage and a ton more power seems like a win situation to me. If you are counting on a rebuild then you might as well just swap in something bigger. If I hadn't been infected with the diesel bug then a V8 would've been my top choice. The only part of the swap that would be complicated would be the wiring and they have pre-made looms for that now. There is a ton of support for the V8 swap so most questions and issues have been solved.

Why settle with just a little more pleasant?

If you do keep the 3FE have you considered a turbo?
 
Before you drop the coin on the AA adaper, you might want to look into using the factory 6-bolt to nv241 adapter (if it exists). Then all you need to do is redrill the face of the 203 to match the pattern and you would have the added benefit of the 6-bolt pattern on the 4l60e, which is a weak point of the 4 bolt pattern transmissions.

I drove a built, cam'd 2f'd fj60 daily for a few years. Going up to an EFI 350 was a night and day difference and similar to wheeling pre SOA and post. There were many times on hill climbs & deep snow where the 2f would not have made it no matter how I finessed it. There were also a few times when more HP would have gotten me farther, hence the new stroker. I would never go back to manual transmission either, unless I neede the reliability.
 
You know how I feel on this...2F and 3FE are great engines for what they were built for. Times change, People have personal driving styles that these engines don't keep up with. I like the V-8's for the available power, aftermarket support for add on goodies. Why go through the headache to turn a 2f fuel injected, make a 3FE turbo? You still wind up with the same end result...Less smiles per mile! :D

I have seen all the work you have done to that truck so I don't think you will be trying to recoup your cost in the end. It is a hobby and the result is hobbies cost money...But you get to enjoy it.
 
I have seen all the work you have done to that truck so I don't think you will be trying to recoup your cost in the end. It is a hobby and the result is hobbies cost money...But you get to enjoy it.[/quote]

This last statment made me chuckle!
Any ideas Ive had about trying to re coup anything I have into it went out the window with the SOA!
Its worth a FORTUNE to me!

Chicago
 
Lucky for some of us our better half's keep us grounded. Otherwise we would be homeless, and broke living out of our fully blown SOA mud slilning 60's! :D I wouldn't see anything wrong with that. But atleast she understands my addiction and supports me with an allowance.
 
Hey chicago,

I ended up getting a 350 TPI as well, not so much becuase of the power but becuase it weighs 250 lbs less. And for me building a crawler, lighter is better... I never thought I would be one to give up my 2f but a deal came about where I traded it straight up for a low milage 350. I always loved the low end grunt the 2f gave, I hope the 350 will live up to the 2f.

Ill let you know how the toybox works behind my 350. I am running an h41/toybox/split case/1 tons...in a much much lighter body.

I havnt really looked into adapters yet to run my cruiser tranny (h41) behind the 92 350 TPI but I am sure they are pricey.

Glad to see your still pluggin away at your rig. If you plan on 37s under a heavy wag, and really plan on wheeling it hard in the rocks I might look into a different rear axle and I dont mean polys(14 bolt/D60/9).

Hasta,
-Al
 
I am happy with the H55F and toybox after its first long roadtrip to Moab. The only complaint is more horsepower to get up the hills with a loaded down cruiser. But if it is relatively flat I could cruiser at 70mph at about 2400 rpms. I used just the low on the toybox a lot on the trails and then used the transmission gears to vary my speed.
 
just swapped a tbi 350 into my 87 fj60 and wheeled it first time last weekend and god it was night and day from before. needless to say the sbc has a torquer cam and dish top pistons and 305 heads. needless to say much lowend grunt. wheeled most the time probably from idle to 2500 rpm through mudholes and hill climbs. looking now to double it up though i just want a little lower crawl and the 4.11 work just fine with the ranger overdrive for on road gas mileage. as for your big worry of cost my motor/donor vehicle was free, 1000 for rebuild, 800 for adapter used, and probably another 800 or so in the little things. I love every minute of it. Good luck


Bryon
 
my 2 cents would stay with the 3fe and you need a rebuild rebuild it or find anther one with lower miles, swap it in r rebuild it. T ake this extre time saved and do the toy box or 203. Plus there is money saved and more important to me these days is time saved and not doing a conversion at the begining of the wheeling season, just how i am thinking because i will be gone next season. again my 2 cents
cheers and happy wrenching
 
So I sat down and ran some numbers...
It would actually be right around the same price to do the V8 swap with the vortec and a 4l60 tranny, marlin box, all the wiring, shafts etc (Based on Iaintscared's list) as it would to do a used 4 speed, marlin box, shafts, engine re build etc. manual conversion.
I CAN NOT believe that a master rebuild kit is 1500.00!!!!
Youve gotta be fricking KIDDING ME!
I havent called Marlin on this, but it would seem that I could run the 4.7 box behind a 700R tranny and eliminate 2 adapters and mate the tranny, marlin box and split case all together...
Im thinkin im just gonna do the V8 swap, and get stuff as I can afford it.
The tired old motor is what is forcing a decision as it boost the cost to make it a wash either way.

Chicago
 
i have the 203/to the 3spd landcruiser case and a 700r to a v-8, i have yet to take it off road, but so far i love it.
 
Mace said:
203 is 2:1

Bob is running a C6/203/splittcase

Marlins boxes are pretty strong. I am running dual cases in my 40 and beat the tar out of it with 40's and almost 200:1

If you start shattering axles, go from there. There is a good chance you won't. If you do, there are poly performance options or just pony up for a 35/40 spline 9".
Click to expand...

i have already busted 2 rear axles... and now keep a long and short at the house. SOA and 37's are in my future soon if i dont do a 383 and a 150 shot in the camaro:doh:
 
That's what I am talking about! Remember mud-bay is your friend. Pick up some deals on adapters and piece parts and you are ready to roll. You can run 700R4 or 4l60E with the Vortec. Just a matter of programming. I researched the rebuild kit for the 3FE the best price I have ever gotten has been 1200.00 just FYI if the 300.00 were to sway your decision.

BTW...Welcome to the DARK SIDE! :D
 
iaintscared1969 said:
That's what I am talking about! Remember mud-bay is your friend. Pick up some deals on adapters and piece parts and you are ready to roll. You can run 700R4 or 4l60E with the Vortec. Just a matter of programming. I researched the rebuild kit for the 3FE the best price I have ever gotten has been 1200.00 just FYI if the 300.00 were to sway your decision.

BTW...Welcome to the DARK SIDE! :D
Click to expand...

So randy...
When Im looking at these crawl boxes on the net and they say "will work with the 700R tranny, does that mean they will also fit with the 4L60? Theyre basically the same right... dependent upon what year and bolt pattern on the 4L tranny you get?
Its pretty incredible what the cost of these adapter plates are!

Naw, even though I a big fan of Toyota and their product...If Im gonna pull the motor to do a rebuild, Im gonna want to save some cash in the process. The price of the re build for the 3FE is STAGGERING. Then you add the other stuff that youll want to replace while your at it, it easily amounts to MORE that it would be to do the swap.
I realize that Im over simplfying this whole process, but in the end Ill I should have more power, I wount have to mess around with the valves, and the parts for it are MARKEDLY cheaper than for the 3F!
Its just gonna take a bit to get the pieces together. Im gonna start with an engine FIRST and work from there.
When I get a motor Ill let you know!

Thanks for the assistance thus far!

Chicago
 
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