Builds Build Thread: Jim’s ‘55 (1 Viewer)

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If you bolt the clutch to the flywheel is the height of it correct?
Height, meaning distance off of the flywheel. The fingers will be your first clue, are they about flat and parallel, or are they sticking out towards the middle where the bearing rides?
 
trainbufftony said:
If you bolt the clutch to the flywheel is the height of it correct?
Height, meaning distance off of the flywheel. The fingers will be your first clue, are they about flat and parallel, or are they sticking out towards the middle where the bearing rides?
Click to expand...
In other words, is the throw sufficient, eh?
 
JLB206 said:
I have now sheared 2 rods between the slave cylinder and the clutch fork.
Click to expand...
I think you might have a mis-match between fork and rod. There are 2 different clutch forks for the 3-speed and 4-speed tranny, each require their own different pushrod and pivot ball to work. The cast iron clutch fork you have (I think) is the 4-speed and takes the pushrod with the longer threaded section that goes through the adjuster nut and the hole in the fork...

20241118_091927.jpg
 
Update: made a decision on the motor swap. While I really wanted to stay Toyota with a modern engine, in the end, the amount of off the shelf solutions for the LS swap is hard to pass up. Just drove home a ‘99 Silverado with a 5.3 Vortec engine. Plan on pulling as much as needed to complete the conversion, plus anything that provides some modern functionality without taking away the utility that I love in the rig. Motor is super clean, but truck came at a discount because of extensive body damage. Planning on the Marks L/C LS adapter+ clutch kit from Advance Adapters and going to rebuild the tranny and transfer case while I swapping the motors. Has anyone used the Mark’s adapter? Feedback?

IMG_4215.jpeg
 
If you're going LS, I'd recommend mating it to a NV4500 5 speed rather than the H41. I had an H41 in my FJ45 and, as you've already mentioned, the thing is too loud - had to wear ear plugs to drive the 45. If you wanted to ensure that you have an H41, pull the top cover and count the number of teeth on 1st gear. You should cound 41 teeth. There's several folks looking for H41 currently, so the value is high and usually a core NV4500 pops up on FB marketplace around me every week or two. So, I expect you can find one fairly easy and either rebuild it or send it in for rebuilding.
 
Marks adapter works just fine. If you don't want to use the NV4500, get a brand new H55 and splitcase. Gives you a good low first gear and overdrive. There are options to put in OD/UD gears in the transfercase too. Georg or Cruiser Outfitters can hook you up with a bolt in package
 
Lifelong40Fan said:
If you're going LS, I'd recommend mating it to a NV4500 5 speed rather than the H41.
Click to expand...
I’ll second this with the added bonus of an overdrive and much easier physical install compared to the H55F, which seems to hang down lower, or require extensive floorpan and trans hump modification to bring up higher.
NV4500’s also have a lower 1st gear ratio, if that’s something you’re being mindful of.
Their weakness is the 5th gear retainer nut.
 
I appreciate the input about possible transmissions to mate to the LS. I have a few reasons for wanting to stick with what I've got:
  • By going with the Mark's adapter, I'll have no modifications to the drive shafts/ no issues with stick location in the cab/ no modification to the firewall.
  • It is loud, but I honestly love the super chonky feel of every shift.
  • While I wish it had an overdrive, I like the low end gearing. I know the H55 gets you the same ratios, but it would require driveshaft modifications
  • Cost of the new transmission is a consideration. I've got the H41 and it works well, aside from the front seal leak.
  • Finally...and I'll be the first one to admit this may be crazy and/or a pipe dream...I still have this wild idea of tying a Nissan Leaf motor into the drivetrain via the rear PTO. I purchased one of the L/C Fire Truck Water Pump PTOs from Mark's Offroad and intend to install it on the back of the existing transfer case when I rebuild it. I'll eventually connect the leaf motor (mounted to the frame in front of the rear axle) to the PTO via a short drive shaft, and spin the drivetrain that way. The PTO I purchased from Mark is the 10 spline style, which mates with the output shaft on the H41/H42, but will not work with the later split case Transfer case that mated to the H42L or the H55. I'll be the first to admit this may never work, but it's been bouncing around in my head ever since I bought this pig. With a 10 mile round trip commute to work, I could be electric during the week, and then go gas when I take it to the mountains for hiking/camping/skiing. It is worth a try, and for what 2011-2012 Leafs go for, the cost of entry is pretty minimal to experiment and possibly end up with a mild hybrid.
 
samc2447 said:
Marks adapter works just fine. If you don't want to use the NV4500, get a brand new H55 and splitcase. Gives you a good low first gear and overdrive. There are options to put in OD/UD gears in the transfercase too. Georg or Cruiser Outfitters can hook you up with a bolt in package
Click to expand...
The bolt in overdrive is what I was thinking of adding to the H41. I thought Gear Vendors had one that I could bolt on the back of the T-case, but I talked to them and they don't have any Toyota connectors. I'm super curious about mods to the existing transfer case gearing. Is there a way to add a second 2wd option? So you have 4H, 4L, 2H, and 2Overdrive? Is there room in the original H41/42 case for that? Who is Georg? I bought my transmission rebuild kits from Cruiser Outfitters and I can ask them about overdrive options in the T-case/ bolt on options. I didn't think there were any, based on scouring this site. Sounded like the previous options were no longer available/in production.
 
JLB206 said:
The bolt in overdrive is what I was thinking of adding to the H41. I thought Gear Vendors had one that I could bolt on the back of the T-case, but I talked to them and they don't have any Toyota connectors. I'm super curious about mods to the existing transfer case gearing. Is there a way to add a second 2wd option? So you have 4H, 4L, 2H, and 2Overdrive? Is there room in the original H41/42 case for that? Who is Georg? I bought my transmission rebuild kits from Cruiser Outfitters and I can ask them about overdrive options in the T-case/ bolt on options. I didn't think there were any, based on scouring this site. Sounded like the previous options were no longer available/in production.
Click to expand...

There are no high range underdrive or overdrive options for the 1pc caae, you would have to convert/upgrade to the BF1 split case to get high and or more low range options.
 
tucker74 said:
First gear is pretty useless with the H55 other than off road, think of it as a 4-speed with a granny gear with the v8 😆
Click to expand...

Not with 35-37" tires :D
 
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