FJ 40 with a chevy 350...

[discostu004]

OK i know NOTHING about engines, just curious:
i'm looking at an FJ40 with a chevy 350 engine.
1. i'm assuming this will mean a LOT more power than an FJ40 with a standard engine? If so, how much more
2. what concerns are there considering someone swapped out a CHEVY engine with a toyota and the transmission is the same?
thanks

 

[cjgoode]

This is the most common swap. Some are done real well, other are a hack. Pictures would help a lot, not me but the 350 experts will be able to help if it was a good swap or a bad one etc.

 

[Pebble Pup]

Having purchased a '69 that a previous owner put in a 350, I'm dealing with a bit of hack job myself. At minimum, post some pictures, but it would be good to find someone who does that kind of swap and get their opinion.

As for the drive train, I believe that at 350 will close to double the torque output of the original engine. As such, the drive train behind it needs to be able to handle it. Here is a link to Mark's Off Road website: Marks Off Road Home Page. Check out his FAQ and Soapbox. A lot of good general insight from a guy in the know.

 

[discostu004]

Do these pix help at all? also put 2 pix of the axle area to maybe give an idea of how well (or perhaps not well) it was restored etc)

 

[Budsboy]

OK i know NOTHING about engines, just curious:
what concerns are there considering someone swapped out a CHEVY engine with a toyota and the transmission is the same?
thanks

The original engine in the FJ was pretty much a Chevy engine.

 

[Bret]

I would look carefully around the truck. The paint job looks a bit rushed (masked poorly, painted over stuff that should be removed/cleaned). try and find out if the truck has any trouble overheating (at idle or highway). I hate it when somone paints over everything including wires, connectors, etc. Look for rust and rushed body work in the normal spots.

The motor looks like it is quite a ways back in the engine bay. This can aggravate engine cooling.

What they did with the shifters and transmission tunnel? What transmission/transfer? Rear of the transfer case support? What do the welds look like for the front motor mounts, scab plates, bolted etc.

What conversion did they use, bellhousing or plate?

There is a lot to look at, but the paint alone would make me wonder.

 

[discostu004]

OK, i didn't want to reveal it was on ebay (maybe you guys already saw it). i am not in austin would be buying this basically blind, as i don't know anyone in austin to check for me (and i grew up 30 miles from austin), but here is the link to the auction:

Toyota : FJ Cruiser | eBay

honestly i would be buying this to leave in colorado and use not a whole lot and certainly not taking on long trips. just a fun, cool car to have up there when i'm there. help?!?!

regarding this comment:
The motor looks like it is quite a ways back in the engine bay. This can aggravate engine cooling
can you mount an engine anywhere you want? i'd think it'd go kind of one place only. also why does this affect the cooling? thanks

 

[PixelWrangler]

Looking over the photos on the auction site, I can clearly see that paint job is covering up a lot of crap. s***ty paint job too, lots of runs. Close up of the dash shows the amount of preparation they did before paint, almost none on the inside. They seem to be proud of the rusty heater and door plates, even bothered to shoot up under the dash to show you they didn't do any restoration there. The lack of spot welds on the outside says there is probably lots of bondo. Looks to be rust bubbles already under the passenger door. Obvious parts missing, exterior mirrors, defrost hoses, and probably a lot more that they don't show. No shots of the undercarriage, wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of rust under there. I think I would pass on this one if I couldn't look at it in person. If I did see up close and personal, have a feeling I'd run... very quickly! As of now the auction is at $5100.00, not sure I'd pay that much for it. This is their idea of being a "professional restoration"

 

[steve1580]

Also look at their feedback, most positive but a couple negative. The negative comments don't look to good.

 

[Bret]

regarding this comment:
The motor looks like it is quite a ways back in the engine bay. This can aggravate engine cooling
can you mount an engine anywhere you want? i'd think it'd go kind of one place only. also why does this affect the cooling? thanks

The engine can be placed differently, but with a 350 conversion it is a matter of compromise at almost every step. How those compromises are dealt with can be the difference from a well thought out trouble free conversion or a ongoing pain in the A$$ from the previous owner.

Having the engine far enough forward so you can access the distrubitor/heads is nice, having some airspace around the back of the motor gives air a chance to move by it, having it close could cause the transmission tunnel to get pretty warm. Moving it forward with a 3 spd tranny may require the drivetrain to be lowered and the shifter bent into a Z to clear the heater or even remove the heater. The list goes on and on, if you read a few of the 350 conversion threads most of them pop up.

At the end of the day it depends on what you want, the way the seller describes the truck and the work done does not line up very well with the pictures.

 

[fzr400guy]

Honestly after looking at the auction link and all the pictures I would pass on this one. I spent alot of time waiting for the right 40 to buy. In the end the wait was well worth it.

 

[imnewtolandcruisers]

Honestly after looking at the auction link and all the pictures I would pass on this one. I spent alot of time waiting for the right 40 to buy. In the end the wait was well worth it.

X2...on this one and for anything...wait and find the one you really really want....dont settle.

 

[nspctr1]

The paint on the rig in the pictures at first is a dark blue then turns to aqua or bluegreen. different rig? The upholstery is not original and is ugly imho. Also, IIRC the 71 models didn't have a roll bar or that one does not appear to be oem.
Some issues with engine placement are cooling, access to distributor and correct fitment of the exhaust system. Pics of the motor mounts and tranny mount would help but again, I'd find another rig.....
.02

 

[DaveA]

X2...on this one and for anything...wait and find the one you really really want....dont settle.

Yep.....just passing through!

 

[discostu004]

thanks for the guidance. on the engine, i didn't want a chevy in it, that's how it was coming and i thought it sounded odd to have a toyota but put a completely different brand of engine in it

 

[Bret]

very common to have alternate engines, just different strokes for different folks

 

[phsAutoTech]

my 82 fj 40 project

this is a project that my high school kids are working on

 

[Bret]

Looks very nice, why not paint the inside of the hood?