fj40 engine rebuild or swap?

[Mason1500]

Hello,
a few of you may remember me as the 18 year old college kid who drove out from colorado in his 68 fj40. I have a dilemma though, after doing an oil change I found a large amount of what I believe to be bearing material in just the drain plug. My engine has always had a slight knock but it has gotten worse along with the oil pressure dropping over the past four months (based on the stock oil pressure gauge). Based on this, I know I can't get much more life out of my engine the way it is, but I am unsure as to which rout to take in terms of engine swap or rebuild. The used land cruiser engine market in NC is smaller than in colorado so Im not sure of the availability of 1f or 2f engines and the price range. I got a quote of $800-$900 from poteat's engine rebuilding for machining and labor on the engine. So basically I'm looking to see what you guys think I should do.

thanks
-mason

 

[jamesurq]

Is it your only vehicle?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

$800 to $900 for a 2F longblock rebuild with bearings and labor?! That's a steal!

You'll be hard pressed to find a running 2F for that little money. I was looking a month or two ago and found one or two 2Fs for sale in the southeast, but I didn't get prices as the year wasn't going to work out for me.

 

[Mason1500]

yeah but I have friends with cars and live on a college campus so I can make it fine without it for a while

 

[NCFJ]

Your best bet is to rebuild your current motor if it checks out.

I believe the price he quoted was machine work and labor, no parts, still a good deal

 

[mtweller]

Your best bet is to rebuild your current motor if it checks out.

I believe the price he quoted was machine work and labor, no parts, still a good deal

2F parts are getting hard to find, pistons specifically. If you have to bore, be sure you source pistons, rods, bearings, etc before you do anything at the machine shop.

 

[roadstr6]

Still running the F or has a 2F been swapped in?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

2F parts are getting hard to find, pistons specifically. If you have to bore, be sure you source pistons, rods, bearings, etc before you do anything at the machine shop.

When I priced out a 2F rebuild a couple of months ago, parts were around $3500. Completely agreed.

 

[roadstr6]

SBC swap or if you're really cheap and you just want to get home in it, pull the pan roll in some new bearings and pray to the 'Cruiser gods that it makes it. My bet is that it will.

 

[jfz80]

Hey mason, sorry to hear of the cruiser woes.

Your budget and timeline will be the biggest factors I would guess. I would expand your 2f search and work hard looking and posting in se area clubhouses.

Best for ease of wrenching would be swapping in a 1 or 2 f if you could source one. Maybe refresh while its out if time and budget allows.

but may have to be patient if current running condition allows

Perhaps @mdemeglio still has his f running gear he was going to swap in favor of a sbc

Or contact Marshall at troll hole cruisers for leads in sc.

Also consider parts rigs as well. there is a pig for sale with trashed body but good drivetrain in Georgia Offer 1000 and uship.com it to marshalls or maybe ncfj and meet him there for a weekend of motor swapping
1976 Fj55 Land Cruiser
Donate the remains to Marshall for parts or scrap as long as it's not a burden.

If you do go the 350 route I could donate some headers and the tail cone crossmember if it helped.

 

[Mtbcoach]

I've got a Benz OM 617+ 4x4 Labs adapter and bell housing I can let go cheap as another option

 

[NCFJ]

I've got a Benz OM 617+ 4x4 Labs adapter and bell housing I can let go cheap as another option

If you are gonna do a swap That would be a cool one. I would guess that Jerry has a boat load of info about it too.

 

[jfz80]

@Mason1500

Did you ever reach a solution?

This is a stretch perhaps but I believe your transmission will bolt up to the 3fe. @GLTHFJ60 can you confirm? Bhmapping did a similar setup in an early 80. If you could get this motor for 200-300 bux and get your truck to trollhole cruisers it might be an option. I bet he could even secure the motor to his shop for you with a deposit

land cruiser 1989 motor and trans

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Yup, should no problem.