BJ42 4-speed to 5-speed swap

[sunnyicarus]

Hi. I am in the process of swapping my original Dec 1981 4-speed (H41) gearbox with a May 1985 5-speed (H55f) gearbox, but have run into a snag.

I bought the entire BJ73 as a wreck for, principally, the gearbox.

The snag is that the swap should work but I really don't want to cut my floor pan to allow the gear lever to emerge into the cabin (the new 5-speed gearbox lever sits back around 80mm on the H55f gearbox lid compared to my H41 4-speed).

So, I'd like to use the original top plate for the H55f gearbox as it came in the BJ or FJ (or even HJ45) during the 1982 - 1984 SWB cruiser. I have been trying to find one for quite a while as I suspect that I could simply swap the gearbox lid from (say) a BJ42 or FJ40 or HJ45 gearbox produced between 1982 and 1984 with the gearbox lid on my BJ73 box and then throw the modified H55f box into my darling (rusted as she is) BJ42.

I don't really want to try and find a complete gearbox to suit BJ42 for obvious cost reasons, but a gearbox lid for the 5-speed (from 1982 - 1984) would be really great, or maybe a damaged gearbox. I don't need the transfer case as my existing one is fine, as also is the one on the BJ73 (both are split transfer cases).

Might someone be able to comment on whether I can successfully undertake this gearbox modification, and tell me where I could find a gearbox lid/damaged gearbox? I am a little new at forum requests, as I have done all work on my BJ42 myself and managed modifications myself - I have owned her for 28 years, but I would like to be sure that this mod will work before buying something (possibly) blindly.

Many thanks for any comments that may be able to assist me?

Kind regards

Alex

 

[3_puppies]

you are correct, that you can just swap the top plates of the trans. the problem is finding the correct one.
not sure where your located, but you might be able to find one in Australia.
Good luck.

 

[sunnyicarus]

Hi again. Thanks very much for your comments re swapping the lid of the H55f gearbox. I thought the same myself, but I haven't been able to find a 5-speed gearbox produced between 1982 and 1984 to try and see if I can make the transfer.

Sorry, I should have said that I live in Adelaide, Australia. I have tried nationally at a whole lot of places but with no success. I was wondering what the chances of finding the appropriate H55f gearbox lid in (say) northern America were? I here that there are a lot of short wheel bases in the US or perhaps Canada? Any idea? Many thanks again for responding to my thread.

Kind regards

Alex

 

[bikersmurf]

Someone here in Canada may have one... Since we have more than our fair share of bj42s here.


Have you tried, Specter Off-Road Land Cruiser Parts - Page 066 Land Cruiser 5 Speeds... You'll pay through the nose, but they've got a large inventory. They don't seem to have one listed in stock, but I'd call.

You could try craigslist or craigzoom (search utility) to help search in North America.

 

[bikersmurf]

In Canada you might want to try, Extremebends.com | Landcruiser Toyota Parts and EBI 4x4 Accessories

They've got a good reputation locally... But I've never dealt with them.

 

[sunnyicarus]

Hi guys. Thanks to 3 puppies for your comments. I'd like to give the modification a go, so, I will just have to keep chasing the gearbox lid (or maybe a dead gearbox) to make the swap. Also, thanks to bikersmurf for suggestions as regards where to start to look for a lid in the US or Canada. It is really frustrating waiting to find parts here. in Adelaide, Australia, as they just seem so elusive. The BJ73 gearbox (still) remains in my garage waiting for the appropriate parts such that I can go to a 5-speed.

Seems strange really, as I purchased the entire damaged BJ73 for really only the H55f gearbox, so I have plenty of spares, and, now, I feel so .... close, yet, so ..... far. Let's see what Nth America can do. Thanks again bikersmurf.

For others interested in this modification, I had to change my original (factory) PTO for a later model (factory) PTO where the operating levers for the PTO came in on the front face of the PTO, and not the rear face (as in my earlier PTO), as the 5-speed box is 94mm longer than the 4-speed and the PTO would have clashed with the welded cross-member immediately behind the transfer case.

I'll follow up all your suggestions re locating a gearbox lid. Here's hoping.

Many thanks guys. Please feel free to offer any further suggestions.

Best regards

Alex
Adelaide, Australia

 

[sunnyicarus]

BJ42 4-speed to 5-speed swap-Is an H55f box an H55f box an H55f box??

Hi again. Well, I have managed to get an H55f (5-speed) gearbox/transfer case with the appropriate gearbox lid (to suit a 1981 BJ42 SWB) within Australia this week. My question now is, perhaps, more easily answered.

I have one H55f gearbox/transfer case from a 1985 BJ73, one H55f gearbox from a 1986 HJ60 and, now, one H55f from a 1984 HJ45 with the appropriate gearbox lid to insert into my 1981 BJ42. So, are there any differences between any of these three gearboxes?? If so, is anybody aware of them? My research doesn't provide me with sufficient information.

Clearly, the lid from the HJ45 is transferable to either of the three gearboxes, so which should I choose? Many thanks for ANY assistance rendered. Kind regards, Alex

 

[3_puppies]

the BJ box has a different input shaft than the HJ boxes. you need to use the correct one for the engine you have.

 

[sunnyicarus]

BJ42 4-speed to 5-speed swap-Is an H55f box an H55f box an H55f box??

Hi again. Many thanks for your reply 3_puppies. Yes, quite correct. I should have been more specific. Clearly I would use the appropriate bell-housing and input shaft for my 3B motor, but, I guess, I am just wondering if there would have been any important differences between the boxes, or, in principle, apart from the input shaft, are there no differences. I could simply swap the appropriate gearbox lid (to suit the BJ42) from the HJ45 to the BJ73 and use that one. Clearly, I will recondition the final gearbox choice prior to inserting it into my BJ42, but given that I have three to choose from, I am wondering which to use. I can also use my 4-speed for any parts if necessary. I guess, knowing the ratios might help as well if they are different? Many thanks again for responding 3_puppies. Best, Alex

 

[TOBASH]

Any chance of finding that same tranny shifter for me?

I am in Brooklyn, NY, USA and I am in the same boat as you were in.

I have an H55 tranny from a 60 series for my BJ-44, and have the same issue with the 3 inch/80mm spacing difference.

Best,

T

 

[imabigbangkindaguy]

I was looking for a recent thread, about a guy using an early or late 60 series top plate for a h55 going into a FJ40, but i couldnt find it. Seemed like it would have been the answer to most peoples problems in this scenario.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

I was looking for a recent thread, about a guy using an early or late 60 series top plate for a h55 going into a FJ40, but i couldnt find it. Seemed like it would have been the answer to most peoples problems in this scenario.

I put an H55f into an FJ-40 without altering the shift lever holes at all, using a 60/70 series top plate. So, it CAN be done. BUT: I did it by moving the entire engine, transmission and T-case assembly forward a few inches to make those holes line up.

I cannot imagine that there is some fancy/easy way to put a 60/70 series H55f top plate into a 40 without doing some bodywork, or relocating the entire drivetrain.

Dan

 

[BreckenridgeCruiser]

Unless you do the DanS method, you will need to cut the tranny cover.... I took a while to find a 40 series h55 just for that reason...

Top cover should be the easiest solution if you can find/afford them. The 3 different h55s are all the same... even to the new ones you can still buy at the dealership. This of course is with the major exception of the input shaft. The transfers may be different thought as the BJ60 one may have the larger idler (if you have more than one, not sure if your spare h55s came with transfers)

 

[sunnyicarus]

BJ42 4-speed to 5-speed swap-Is an H55f box an H55f box an H55f box??

Hello all. Please allow me to apologise. I have been away for nearly a week, unexpectedly. It wasn't my intention but things got away from me. Many thanks for the four respondents to my question. Many thanks to Tobashi, Richard, Dan, and BreckenridgeCruiser.

In no particular order, thank you very much BreckenridgeCruiser for your comments re the gearbox being identical (apart, of course for the input shafts). That was great news knowing this. Yes, all gearboxes (1985-BJ73, 1986-HJ60 [new] 1983-HJ45[with handbrake drum adjacent to the transfer case] and even my [old] BJ42 H41 [4-speed]) all have associated transfer cases. I am unclear about the larger idler gear in the transfer case. Is this a more-recent modification of the transfer case (all are split transfer cases)? Can I identify the larger idler externally eg in the 1986 HJ60?

Tobash, I spent AGES looking for this new (1983-HJ45) H55f gearbox. Maybe a couple of years! The BJ73 H55f box (with the inappropriate lid) was sleeping in my garage for some time waiting for the correct gearbox lid. I was almost despairing in my quest, and then suddenly this gearbox came along. I just wasn't prepared to cut my floor pan. I note, Tobashi, you say the "same boat as you were in. Do I thus presume that you have done something different?

Richard, clearly, a gearbox lid which has the gear lever emerging at the front of the cover would be the easiest choice, but they appear to be so hard to find. As best I know, I was unaware that early 60 series vehicles had such a gear cover for H55f boxes. I believe that they all had the lever emerging at the rear, close to the transfer case.

And Dan, I did think I would do the same as you suggested, ie move the entire engine/gearbox/transfer case forward and thus aligning the gear lever hole with the new H55f gearbox (the BJ42 has the engine set way back anyway, but I did wonder about transferring more weight to the front axle, albeit a small amount.

Now that I have this 1983 HJ45 H55f gearbox with the gear lever emerging close to the front of the gear lid (like my old 1982 H41 4-speed), I will just swap over the lid from the [new] 1983 HJ45 gearbox lid to my BJ73 H55f and I should be set up. So, no body work, and no need to move the entire assembly forward by 3"(75mm). But it WAS a long wait.

The (new) 1983 HJ45 H55f box appears to not be as good (had water in it) as the others, so I will use the BJ73 box, as it is in very good condition. I was looking for either the appropriate gearbox lid, or a damaged gearbox for some time. I guess I was just fortunate. Many thanks for all your suggestions. Kind regards, Alex ?

 

[TurboDiesel69]

I thought that one just needed to alter the tranny hump cover...

I'm undecided as whether to do that in my build, or move the engine forward a couple of inches like DanS.

 

[sunnyicarus]

Hi. Well, in effect, yes, that would be the simplest thing to do. Block out the original hole through which the gear lever enters the cabin, and make a similarly-sized hole around 2.75"(70mm) further back. Unfiortunately, this comes very close to the junction where the transmission cover meets the floor pan, and means a change to the floor mat and problems with the lever coming into contact with the bench seat. I guess I just wanted to keep the modification as standard as possible.

I am wondering about any differences to split transfer case over the period 1982 - 1986 as regards any gears eg idler gear, ie anything significant. Many thanks. Alex

 

[tmarx]

.The 3 different h55s are all the same... even to the new ones you can still buy at the dealership. This of course is with the major exception of the input shaft.

What about their respective bell housings' bolt patterns ? For example, will the bellhousing out of my 11/83 H55F BJ 42 bolt up to a HZJ 75 that had the H55F in it before ? Can you interchange the H55F bellhousing from a HJ 60 with the H55F bellhousing out of a BJ 42 ?