FJ 60 v8 conversion vs replacement 2f

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Apr 1, 2005
Threads
58
Messages
144
Location
Sonora Desert, AZ
Hello,

What are your thoughts on a V8 conversion vs replacing with a 2F on a FJ60? my truck runs fine but I just want to prepare for the inevitable.

Thanks,

Elkiny
 
It the only way to go you will smoke any 80 up any hill.
thumb.gif
I put 176K on a FI V-8 converted 60 with that said I have everything you need plus a lot more if you are interested in getting started. PM me for details on how to make this change EZ.
 
One of the guys in the group completely rebuilt his 2F and put TBi on it. Mostly did it to save a few bucks. In the end the amount of $ spent made him say:
"I coulda had a V-8!"
 
I dropped a FI v8/4l60e auto. Best move I made. Better gas mileage it'l cruise nice at 75-80 Hauls through the mountains even rolling on stock gears and 35s. I stuck with the stock transfer case. I did SOA right after and If I had to do it over again i would have went with a chevy transfer case and something like a 14 bolt rear. It honestly would have been cheaper and I would have ended up with a stronger combo. Not like the split case isn't strong enough but with the chevy rear and transfer case you get access to a lot of cool cheap parts. If its not going to see over 33s or over 300hp I wouldn't think twice about using the adapter. It makes the whole deal really easy.

I hated my 2f/ 4spd no overdrive trans so passionately I never put to much real consideration into it. Once I heard the rebuild cost which unless you do it yourself is more than a v8 swap, I decided that was never going to happen. I dropped about 3600$ total and put in a mildly built 4l60e and a 99k 93 tbi truck motor I replaced all sensors and resealed it when I installed.
 
I'll throw another option in, why not go diesel?
Talk to Rhino, or even a 4bt Cummins like D'Animal did..

I'm a 2f fan, but if funds were available..:hhmm:
 
I'm almost done with my v8 swap in my 60. The driveshaft is getting made right now and thats the last piece of my puzzle. It's only cost me about 3 grand dropping in a 454, th400, np205 and 14 bolt rear. You will end up spending the same amount of money rebuilding a 2f and have half the power. The 2f sucks, I'm sorry but it does. It would be kinda cool I think to have a totally restored fj60 with a clean 2f in it, but it is still a weak motor when compared to other options. The 2f/4spd combo isn't bad or unreliable, its just the power that it lacks. I hated driving up to flagstaff or payson in my 60 and only being able to maintain 45 with the 2f screaming at like 3800 rpms. I looked at putting tbi on a 2f also, it would be kinda cool, but you still don't have power. Basically you have to think, "Can I live with 130 hp or do I want more?" Because thats about all you can squeeze out of that motor.
 
Id be interested to see some pictures of the build.
 
I'll throw another option in, why not go diesel?
Talk to Rhino, or even a 4bt Cummins like D'Animal did..

I'm a 2f fan, but if funds were available..:hhmm:

Diesel would be pretty cool to have. Diesel motors make a lot more sense, they are quite a bit more efficient plus they usually produce large amounts of torque. However, I would have a hard time justifying that when you can put a tbi 350 for a lot cheaper and get almost the same mileage and more horsepower. But if you got the money....
 
https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/369020-454-into-60-a.html Theres the 454 sweetness. https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/288395-tbi-swap-6.html This is the tbi I dropepd in mine. The last page I put a list of every single part and price of what went into my swap. I'm pretty happy with it. Super reliable and tough. Not to bad on gas. One of these days its getting vortec heads new cam and 350hp 400lb of torque but probably not for another year since I hardly get to use it during school.
 
Last edited:
Get a Gen 3 or LS based motor. You will be in the 300 hp range stock and get decent mileage. They are super common and easy to find. I bought a complete 5.3 for $1100 a few years ago. I have it in my 40 and it moves.
 
Get a Gen 3 or LS based motor. You will be in the 300 hp range stock and get decent mileage. They are super common and easy to find. I bought a complete 5.3 for $1100 a few years ago. I have it in my 40 and it moves.

And I can verify it SOUNDS like it too when revved up in an enclosed space :eek::cool:
 
Stick with the 2f. V8 60's are so 2009...
 
Diesel would be pretty cool to have.. However, I would have a hard time justifying that when you can put a tbi 350 for a lot cheaper and get almost the same mileage and more horsepower. But if you got the money....


huh? you might be pushing it a bit, almost the same mileage and more HP? the diesels i know of that get near the mileage of a TBI 350 make more power, and the ones that dont (like mine) are close to dbl the mileage.


elkiny i think its a good choice your making,,, an engine swap is always a compromise for dollars spent. a good rebuild of a 2F, especially if you have the shop do a little work will net impressive driveability gains and keep its sewing machine reliability.
 
Show me where I can get a diesel that will get 36mpg in a 60 at 70mph-75mph and be able to maintain that speed on hills I would buy it in a heartbeat.

I would recommend going through the complete emissions system and have the carb rebuilt at the same time. That should give you a lot of trouble free miles and peace of mind. Honestly the carb and emissions junk are what drove me to a v8. My 2f had good compression and 150k. If it wasn't for the smog pump going and leaving me stranded and the emissions junk I probably never would have gotten angry enough to do a swap.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom