'88 FJ62 6BT swap

[FLNewt]

Got the front axle down to the metal, primed and painted. Putting it back together, then painting the leaf springs and mounting it back under the truck.

Slow going, but once this is done I can pull the 6BT and A518 and work on mounting them.

It's funny, when I bought the truck I was telling my brother in law I'd have it done in 3 weeks, that was the end of June!!!! I have learned sooo much already, like everything takes more time and money than you think.

 

[FLNewt]

Progress

When I bought this truck I said "I'll have this done in about 3 weeks, maybe 4". That was the last week of June!! I've realized just how little I knew about project vehicles, this being my first one. I have come to be jealous of you guys who have a shop and plenty of tools!!

So far I've got 3.70 gears in the diff's (thanks to snowboardonsnow), fully rebuilt knuckles, SOA completed, Hi steer kit installed, and every thing but the rear leaf springs and frame ground to the bare metal and primed/painted.

The PO had the after market wheels installed. They look nice, but instead of installing longer studs when putting shim/spacers on the front he felt comfortable riding the stock studs, even though the lug nuts only provided 2-3 turns before reaching torque specs. So, I had to hunt down a solution, which ended up being a special kind of lug nut that reduces and continues in for more bite. Now they get about 6 full threads of grip.

As of tonight she sits on her own axles again, after a few months of being on jack stands.

Here are a few pics of the process since my last pics. Forgive the cell phone pics, I'll try to shoot with the DSLR next time.

Front axle before, grimy and rusty.

Front axle wire brushed bare.

Front axle painted.

Rear axle painted.

Standing on its own again.

So, a few questions for you guys. I've got to replace the rear shocks, and I'm curious to know what's the average size for a typical SOA'd 62?

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

When I bought this truck I said "I'll have this done in about 3 weeks, maybe 4". That was the last week of June!! I've realized just how little I knew about project vehicles, this being my first one. I have come to be jealous of you guys who have a shop and plenty of tools!!

So, a few questions for you guys. I've got to replace the rear shocks, and I'm curious to know what's the average size for a typical SOA'd 62?

Projects always take longer than you think. Don't get discouraged.

What do you mean be average size? Length? Diameter? or Valving?

 

[FLNewt]

What do you mean be average size? Length? Diameter? or Valving?

Won't I need a shorter shock due to the SOA? I put the shock absorber mount on top of the spring pack so the overall distance should be a little shorter than stock.

I didn't know if there was a common length of shock that most people run after a basic SOA.

 

[inkpot]

I would suggest that you reconsider moving the lower shock mount much lower. Longer shocks will allow for much more suspension travel.

 

[FLNewt]

I would suggest that you reconsider moving the lower shock mount much lower. Longer shocks will allow for much more suspension travel.

Sounds like a good idea. I'll search for some pics. Thanks.

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

I'd think about adding axle ball gussets with that motor over the front axle. The TG ones have the lower shock mount incorporated into the design, actually so do the MC's but i prefer the TG design.

 

[FLNewt]

I'd think about adding axle ball gussets with that motor over the front axle. The TG ones have the lower shock mount incorporated into the design, actually so do the MC's but i prefer the TG design.

Hhmmm. I don't intend to off road it very often or aggressively, do you think those are necessary?

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

I would do it for peace of mind.
The 6BT is a heavy engine, and the toyota axle balls have a tendency to bend.

 

[FLNewt]

I would do it for peace of mind.
The 6BT is a heavy engine, and the toyota axle balls have a tendency to bend.

Yeah, $48 bucks is cheap enough that it's hard not to justify it, too.

 

[FLNewt]

Update for Nov 28, 2012

Just got done wedging the 6bt in between the frame rails of the FJ. It's starting to look BEAUTIFUL!!!! It was really nice to feel like I had a productive night of work again.

SOOOO BIG!!

Ready for the transplant to begin.

As you can see in the first pic the oil pan was pretty rusty, so I wire wheeled it clean and sprayed it down with two coats of Dupli-color iron gray engine enamel.

I kept asking myself how it was going to fit!

Now it's a battle of getting the motor lined up straight front to back, side to side, and leveled as well. Does anyone have some tips for effective ways to do this? I of course want everything to be lined up as much as possible.

I've thought of using a measuring tape for ensuring equal distances, a level to make sure the motor is level, but I'm wondering the best way to make sure that it's lined up front to back? Maybe lining the tail-housing up with the reese hitch out the back somehow?

I'll have to lower the motor a little to make it fit under the hood. I had to turn the turbo exit up to clear the frame/fender.

I've got enough clearance right now to lower the motor a little to get it to get snug up in there. Just a little wiggling and shifting it around it seems.

Still needs to go back a few inches, but it's getting tight in that back of the engine compartment.

Heater hoses that are touching the exhaust manifolds, so I'll have to work out something different.

Lastly, could I get some input on running a divorced transfer case? I had originally thought that a divorced case is run by getting a short driveshaft run between an intact 2wd transmission and a transfer case. However, someone told me yesterday that I have to take off the tail end (tail housing?) of the transmission, and then run a driveshaft from the trans to the t-case. Is this true?

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Lastly, could I get some input on running a divorced transfer case? I had originally thought that a divorced case is run by getting a short driveshaft run between an intact 2wd transmission and a transfer case. However, someone told me yesterday that I have to take off the tail end (tail housing?) of the transmission, and then run a driveshaft from the trans to the t-case. Is this true?

First you might need to cut those frame gussets in the front to make room for the motor.
Either that or remove the AC compressor altogether.

For the divorced Transfercase all you do is run a small driveshaft from the yoke on the transmission to input on the transfercase. You don't need to modify the transmission at all.
You do need to be sure you have a "divorced" transfercase though. A regular case won't work without modification.
With you running that auto you are gonna need to keep that shaft as short as possible.

I am running a 2WD medium duty manual behind my 6BT and my rear driveshaft is only 20.5" long. With a 12" Midshaft.

Are you planning on doing a bunch of wheeling?

 

[FLNewt]

First you might need to cut those frame gussets in the front to make room for the motor.
Either that or remove the AC compressor altogether.

I was thinking about cutting the gussets, but I don't want to sacrifice strength or safety, so if I did I'd have to come up with another gusset that worked with the fit. Not getting rid of the A/C compressor, I like the A/C when it's hot down here. The thing is, I have a few inches to go back, so I think it'll fit fine without cutting. Also, I need to make sure it's far enough back to fit the fan, radiator, intercooler, trans cooler.

For the divorced Transfercase all you do is run a small driveshaft from the yoke on the transmission to input on the transfercase. You don't need to modify the transmission at all.
You do need to be sure you have a "divorced" transfercase though. A regular case won't work without modification.
With you running that auto you are gonna need to keep that shaft as short as possible.

I have a divorced NP205 I bought that I'll be using. The rear driveshaft is going to be very short, and the front will be reeeaaallllyyyy long.

I am running a 2WD medium duty manual behind my 6BT and my rear driveshaft is only 20.5" long. With a 12" Midshaft.

I figure I'll have to run a shorter mid shaft than that. I haven't gotten to do any measuring though.

Are you planning on doing a bunch of wheeling?

Not a lot. Occasional trail riding will probably be the most. I'd love to have it tough enough to handle a mild trail once in a while.

Stevo, how'd you get your motor lined up and leveled?

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Not a lot. Occasional trail riding will probably be the most. I'd love to have it tough enough to handle a mild trail once in a while.

Stevo, how'd you get your motor lined up and leveled?

If you pop over to my build you will see the motor crossmember I modified to line the motor up within the framerails.

Then to get it parallel to the frame I set that when I made the crossmember for the transmission.

I just used a tape measure. And some magnetic angle finders for the motor.
The cummins motor is ok with 13 degrees of angle side to side and 8 degrees front to back.

 

[FLNewt]

If you pop over to my build you will see the motor crossmember I modified to line the motor up within the framerails.

Then to get it parallel to the frame I set that when I made the crossmember for the transmission.

I just used a tape measure. And some magnetic angle finders for the motor.
The cummins motor is ok with 13 degrees of angle side to side and 8 degrees front to back.

Sweet, thanks Stevo. I'll check out your build.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Our builds are pretty similar, so it should help out a bunch.
If you have any questions feel free to ask.

 

[cruiserjunktion]

Some one out there makes a bracket to move the ac compressor up and out of the way. I've seen it on 4bt swap.com. Let me see if i can dig it up.

 

[84bj60]

Hmm. I have a 5 speed 91 w250 and a 84 turbo bj60. Would hate to take the 3b out though... Maybe swap them both with eachother! Haha. Build looks excellent. Good luck

 

[FLNewt]

Some one out there makes a bracket to move the ac compressor up and out of the way. I've seen it on 4bt swap.com. Let me see if i can dig it up.

Thanks man! Looks like you've been pretty busy parting out that red FJ60, huh?

 

[FLNewt]

Hmm. I have a 5 speed 91 w250 and a 84 turbo bj60. Would hate to take the 3b out though... Maybe swap them both with eachother! Haha. Build looks excellent. Good luck

Thanks. How's the power on that turbo 3b?