BJ 46 4 speed vs 5 speed

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The Crowbar

The Crowbar

Joined
May 31, 2018
Threads
11
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Location
Yokosuka, Japan
Looking at buying a RHD BJ46 in Japan. I have found two, one is my favorite color red and has a 4 speed while the other is blue and has a 5 speed. Trying to decide if one is a better buy. It will be used for daily driving in Japan and the occasional highway where the max speed is about 65 and eventually bringing it back to the U.S. where it will be used for back woods travel and the occasional interstate drive around WV and PA.
 
Not a fan of red, and not a fan of the H41.
Blue H55 all day long, every day any time of the day. Unless the blue one is rusty, where the red one is not..... otherwise H55 without doubt.

You WILL want a 5 speed with the 3B. Once you Turbo charge it you will even want 3.73 gears with the H55. Good luck finding one as Toyota no longer makes the H55B, only the H55F.
 
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charliemeyer007 said:
I like more gears in manual, so I vote 5 speed. How is driving in Japan compared to say Boston, Mexico City or Stuttgart?
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Driving in Japan is not too bad just remember your right shoulder is toward the center of the road. The other problem is the streets have a trench deep enough to swallow your tires and be sitting on the frame instead of curbs for drainage like we do. I had more problems driving when I got back.

In England a Ram 1500 looks huge when you drive a Skoda.
 
My 40 had a 4 speed and still has 4:11s and when you shift by hear with out a tach I as always looking for 5th. That has been rectified.
 
I vote 4 speed. I love it and rarely find myself wanting for 5th gear. I've done month long road trips in mine through the Australian Outback and 4 gears were enough. I've got a 3B as well no turbo.

If the 4 speed car is better I'd be getting it. 5 speed isn't worth the extra pain of rust repairs etc.
 
The Crowbar said:
Looking at buying a RHD BJ46 in Japan. I have found two, one is my favorite color red and has a 4 speed while the other is blue and has a 5 speed. Trying to decide if one is a better buy. It will be used for daily driving in Japan and the occasional highway where the max speed is about 65 and eventually bringing it back to the U.S. where it will be used for back woods travel and the occasional interstate drive around WV and PA.
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I agree on the red vs blue.

I would think easier and cheaper to change transmissions than a complete color-change repaint, doing it right.

You can buy the red 4-speed and see how you like the transmission. Then change it, if necessary. Either way, you'll have the color you prefer.

Good luck whichever route you go...
 
plink01 said:
I vote 4 speed. I love it and rarely find myself wanting for 5th gear. I've done month long road trips in mine through the Australian Outback and 4 gears were enough. I've got a 3B as well no turbo.

If the 4 speed car is better I'd be getting it. 5 speed isn't worth the extra pain of rust repairs etc.
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Our speed limits in Australia lend themselves well to a 4 speed. Most of my Cruisers in Australia were 5 speed, but those with 4 speeds weren't awful simply because our speed limits (since NT gave in to Canberra's nanny laws) are positively glacial. Even in the Tanamai I used 5th regularly, just for the fuel economy.

In America it's not uncommon for traffic to travel 130-135 kph. With 4:11 and an H41 or H42, that's about 4200 RPM...... not many 3Bs are happy at that RPM.

You will never, ever wish you didn't have a 5th gear: if you do, simply down shift. If you wish you had a 5th gear with a H41 or H42, however, there's nowhere to go after 4th.
 
I have the 4 sp H42 with 3.70 gears in my 40 and the H55f with 4.11’s in my 62. I honestly prefer the shift pacing and gaps in the former but these aren’t apples to apples comparisons of course.

I bet you’ll be tickled by either.
 
I really enjoyed my H41. Shifting gears was smooth and fluid. I like having the 5th gear in my H55f but the shifting is a slower deliberate movement.
Just my 2 cents.
 
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