Chevy v8 conversion!

[WB8LBZ]

An FJ40 with a V8 is was on my bucket list.

Larry

 

[RAYJON]

Anybody ever install a 307 chevy instead of a 350? How much do you notice not having that extra .25" stroke and 43 cubic inches?

I am starting to doubt putting a 307 (free motor) in my daughter's cruiser.

307's are great little motors, just put a good cam in them and they run forever, its a 327 with a smaller bore. They tend to run longer and cooler than 350's (personal opinion). It was one of gm's better SBC combo's the reason they have a bad rap is gm made a bunch of them with bad camshafts improper hardening and the cams went flat over time making them a slug.. bore and stroke ratio is similar to a 350 so they run about the same when tuned properly. I have one in my red fj40 and it runs great.

But that being said with the price of used ls motors and that they run forever they are hard to beat..

 

[reddingcruiser]

IMHO, the Gen II LS series engines make for the least complicated conversion in the FJ40, while improving on the venerable early carbureted SBC.
The interchangeability with some of the early components is a plus for a budget build and there are less 'fitment' issues when compared to later LS engines for folks with limited fab skills or tools.
Don't get me wrong, an LS6 shoe - horned into a FJ40 is pretty impressive and it's on my bucket list.

 

[Flipper1938]

I'm sticking an LS engine in the truck that is in my avatar, but the FJ40 will be getting a old school SBC (at least to start).

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

IMHO, the Gen II LS series engines make for the least complicated conversion in the FJ40, while improving on the venerable early carbureted SBC.
The interchangeability with some of the early components is a plus for a budget build and there are less 'fitment' issues when compared to later LS engines for folks with limited fab skills or tools.
Don't get me wrong, an LS6 shoe - horned into a FJ40 is pretty impressive and it's on my bucket list.

Out of curiosity, do you know the approx. year range for the Gen II LS? Just curious. My 283 is getting re-sealed and run into the ground but if that day comes, I'd be curious.

 

[reddingcruiser]

Out of curiosity, do you know the approx. year range for the Gen II LS? Just curious. My 283 is getting re-sealed and run into the ground but if that day comes, I'd be curious.

Generation II engines were produced from 1992 - 1997.

 

[Flipper1938]

Generation II engines were produced from 1992 - 1997.

Are all LT1's reverse cooling (heads first)?

 

[reddingcruiser]

Are all LT1's reverse cooling (heads first)?

Yes, the Gen II's are reverse cooling. Not to be confused with the early 70's LT1, though.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

Generation II engines were produced from 1992 - 1997.

Don't those engines have Optispark, which when it gets wet is a bad thing?

 

[reddingcruiser]

Gen III engines use individual coils. Gen II engines retained the traditional coil/distributor arrangement. The Gen III coil packs can be relocated to a 'dry' location using kits available for that purpose.