Early FJ40 eng./drivetrain options...

[Owyhee Jackass]

Our first Land Cruiser is the one that gets the least love. It's a 1963 FJ40 softop (missing top and bows). I stucka 4-spd in it 16 years ago when the 3spd was making bad noises...no idea where that transmission ended up.

I want to put a 3spd, column shift back in it. Here's where the snowball starts...

I've got a 2f, frame and disc brake front end...do I update the old 40? or leave it stock? I've already got an 'FJ65' ( a 45 with FJ60 drivetain) and I just added discs and power steering to my '73 FJ55.

I know a few have put a one-barrel carb on a 2F. I'm not so concerned with it being "all original" as much as I want it to look old school, but still perform. I'm not sure the old F is in that good of shape.

I've heard the "you're polishing a turd" argument, but hey it's an old-school original turd!

What do you guys think? I'm for sure going back to the 3-spd column. I hope to fabricate some soft top bows and get a top made. I have the original seats, but have put in a 'newer' early 40 passenger seat...maybe will go back to the original.

The engine is my dillemma. and disc or the old pain in my assholes drums...

 

[FJnotCJ]

Since you asked here, you know you want old school original, and you want to keep the F and the drums...single circuit and all. Ball and claw axles and single barrel carbs are good for the soul. When you want to get all in a hurry and crave modern high speed stuff drive the 45 or 55.

That is all.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

I don't have the original front and rear end under it anymore either...when I first got it (no prior experience with FJs) I saw the centered rear end and offset tcase and thought 'that's not right!'

So, I guess my point is, I'm not going to the trouble of hunting down a centered rear end and so, should I bother with going 'old school' at all? I also tossed the generator and stuck an alternator in it over the years too...can you even find generators for these?

in my defense, I did these mods prior to the discovery of the LCML and way before this site's inception. I just wanted to keep it running, nobody I've ever run across has seen a FJ as early as this one. I remember spotting other FJ40's going down the road, chasing them down to ask a question or look at something, only to find out it was a 'Chevota' and always, newer than '63...

Well, thanks for the sounding board. I'll hopefully get started on it later this fall or winter.

Dan

 

[FJnotCJ]

Your arguments for "hotrodding" a '63 are weak in this neighborhood. The 25 Mafia obtains much unobtanium. I have your 40 centered diff axle right here, heck, get one of my 25 front axle housings and be the cool kid with a diff inspection cover just like the rear. Generators can be found...

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

I agree with FJnotCJ, if you want to restore it back to stock you can...it may take a while for certain parts, but it is not impossible.

You say you already have a couple of other heavily modified rigs, then it's a no brainer...start hunting for your parts, and just bring this one back to stock...at least this way you'll have one stock Cruiser amidst your pack of heavily altered rigs...and when done it would be your coolest Cruiser!

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Run a compression test on the F, if that's good and it has oil pressure, it's not a turd, and doesn't need any polish.

I've got a couple 2bbl->1bbl adapters somewhere..............don't think that would be retro, just a little silly.

If you're going to go through the effort to put in the column shift, I'd keep the rest looking original also.

Brakes are another story, if youv'e got working discs I'd keep them.......................or go back original.

 

[67azcruizr]

PM sent

 

[cruiserman]

Dan, I would "upgrade" it, but you knew that.

 

[mderrick]

i have entire 3spd drivetrain including a pto from a 64 that is not being used.. it's in slc utah... single bbl and such..

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

i have entire 3spd drivetrain including a pto from a 64 that is not being used.. it's in slc utah... single bbl and such..

I'm interested...you've got PM

 

[JohnnyC]

i have entire 3spd drivetrain including a pto from a 64 that is not being used.. it's in slc utah... single bbl and such..

ohhhh Dean....PTO nice

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

Well, I'm slowly getting started.

I've gotten a hold of a pressure washer and am cleaning up the tranny, t-case, front and rear end from my '65 FJ45. It's not the best pressure washing weather (no daylight after work and it's barely getting above freezing) so the going is slow.

The bastards that installed the 4-speed cut out the cross member aft of the t-case so I'll be welding one of those back in, someone in the local club had one laying around, luckily.

My plan is to just clean the gunk and grime off of everything, hit it with some flat-black-rustoleum and install. I'll check that things are operational and rebuild as necessary, but I don't have the time or money to do a restoration...it's a jackasstoration. My main goal is to get this thing back on the road, with "closer-to-stock" components by this spring.

Dan

 

[IDave]

Tick tick tick