79 FJ40 - New Gears or OD for Speed?

[overton]

This is a never-ending topic that get discussed in detail on several threads, but I would to get a summary on the best solution to get a little more highway speed out of a stock 1979 FJ40 with 3:70 gears. What do ya'll suggest? I have never had a Cruiser with a Fairy Overdrive but I hear that is not a bad solution if you can find one. What say ye Cruiser faithful?

 

[Landpimp]

bigger tire?

my 82 has 3.7's and 33's and its will cruise all day at 70mph

 

[Poser]

H55/splitcase combo.


Best setup possible for your application.

Oh, and welcome back Greg.

 

[Living in the Past]

Fairey stated back when they wer still around that the overdrive would not fit the 79/80 FJ40 with the one piece transfer case. Probably has something to do with the larger under the tub gas tank that waas behind the transfer case.

A few things about the H55F. You lose the hand brake on he back of the transfer case with the split case. Could get lucky and find one made to fit the split case but they are pretty rare. A disc brake kit I believe is still available. 80 and later LCs had a hand brake on the rear axle. Both FJ40 and FJ60 imported here.

The shifter for the H55F is a few inches further back if your traying to keep the OEM look. They made a H55F with the correct location shifter for the 40 series but those have been discontinued. There are a few floating around but rare. If I could find one I would buy a H55F for my FJ45.

 

[1911]

bigger tire?

my 82 has 3.7's and 33's and its will cruise all day at 70mph

Same here; only pulling about 2500 rpm to run 65 mph. 33's and 3.70 diffs are a good combo.

 

[SSCR]

Your 79 should have 3.70 gears already, not sure how much lower you can go.

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All,

Yeah, on flat terrain . . . . just saying!

-Alan

bigger tire?

my 82 has 3.7's and 33's and its will cruise all day at 70mph

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Supposedly, 3.31 ratio diff gears were an option from the factory, but I've never heard of a TLC that actually came with that axle gear ratio.

-Alan

Your 79 should have 3.70 gears already, not sure how much lower you can go.

 

[pardion]

Hi All:

Supposedly, 3.31 ratio diff gears were an option from the factory, but I've never heard of a TLC that actually came with that axle gear ratio.

-Alan

Early cruisers with 3.3 ratio's were availiable, had a set and sold them years ago. I counted the ring and pinion gears at least 10 times. John