ANOTHER V-8 Question

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

M

mtrdud

10 Year 15 Year 20 Year
Joined
Feb 4, 2006
Threads
570
Messages
4,242
OK, I know this subject has been discussed a lot and that there are a lot of threads on the subject but I have a couple of questions that are specifically for PIG owners. I have a 350 and obtained a good stock 4-speed transmission from a fellow mud member last weekend.

My questions to 55 owners that are using a 350 and a 4-speed are:

#1 - Did you have a problem with positioning the engine without the distributor touching the firewall?

#2 - Is it possible or would the use of a Marks Adapter be a plus?

Again, bear with me on the questions. I just want to have my ducks in a BEFORE I start shelling out $$

Thanks
 
Howdy! See the other post on this list about the Marks Adapter. So far nobody has posted up with this setup in a Piggy. With any bellhousing style adapter, it will be challenging to place the distributor near the firewall and get the shifter tower up thru the floor without removing the heater. I used the Ranger Underdrive/Overdrive unit between my 350 with stock bellhousing and my original H42 4speed. Not cheap, but it adds 8" to the driveline. My setup MAY require the repositioning of the crossmember that goes right behind the transfer case. John
 
Conversion

John,
I also considered that route but you're right about it not being cheap. The Marks is 4 7/8" thick. Do you think the 8" that the Ranger gives more leway in the positioning? I realize that things become more clear as you tear into things but I want to have a clear plan before I start laying down a lot of cash. Can you send me some pics of your set-up if you get a chance to include engine bay, inside where the shifter comes out, and the underside?

If you can send pics to my email - mtrdud322@aol.com

Thanks
 
i don't have a problem with the dizzy touching mainly because the valve cover touches first. and i still have to bend the shifter cause it's under the heater ;)
 
Conversion

Nuclearlemon,

What manner of conversion do you have? 4-Speed? How far under the heater is it? Can you post a pic of the shifter? AND let me ask this - IF a Marks Adapter adds 4 7/8 "would that make a difference in the positioning of the shifter from what you have encountered?

Thanks
 
I have a 350, 4 speed with, what I'm told, is an Atlas OD. No problem with the dizzy being too close to the firewall or heater being too close to the shifters but I didn't do the swap, the PO did.
 
if you are worried about the shift coming out under the heater, use a top cover plate and shifter from an FJ60. it will help, b/c it moves the shifter about 3" or so further back. bolts onto earlier trannies. Reverse light switch is on top, so you might have to clearance the tranny tunnel...

V8 conversions in FJ55's are tricky. the long water pump setups on 69 or so and later CSB make it a tougher fit, since the right valve cover gets close to, if not touches the firewall about the area that the parking brake cable lever exits the firewall, if you have any kind of clearance between the radiator and the fan.

I would not use the ranger OD. I had one in an old Kaiser M715, and that thing just sucks. make shifting the tranny real stiff, and it whines like no other. worse than a 3 speed t-case made out of mismatched gears.
 
Howdy! Yea, I can pop some pix, but it will be Friday or Saturday before I can do. I don't know anything about the Marks unit. Is it just a bellhousing conversion, or is it a bolt on box between the Chevy bell and the Toyota transmission? John
 
Conversion

I do realize that the conversion will be tricky and that things will "work themselves out" as I go. I just would like to have a clear direction before I start. I realize things will pop up as I go. I just want to have a plan ahead of time so I don't have to drop un-necessary $$ with the wrong idea. Also this PIG is pretty decent and I don't want to butcher it up any more than necessary when I embark on this.

As for the FJ60 top plate - Will it just bolt up and work OK?

Thanks
 
mtrdud said:
Nuclearlemon,

What manner of conversion do you have? 4-Speed? How far under the heater is it? Can you post a pic of the shifter? AND let me ask this - IF a Marks Adapter adds 4 7/8 "would that make a difference in the positioning of the shifter from what you have encountered?

Thanks
Click to expand...

i've got a stock 4spd with a old school downey bellhousing plate adapter. i'll try to get pics later. hhhhhmmmmm, somebody had a 60 series trans, i may have to try to get that.
 
pics of the v8 in my 73ish...
DSC03852.webp
DSC03855.webp
DSC03853.webp
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom