FJ40 LS Swap?
- Thread starter FloridaLife
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FloridaLife
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- #42
The original 3 speed transfer case, and yes it is loud. But then, so are the tires, that Spall fan, wind whistling through everything…. It’s so loud that carrying on a conversation with my wife is all but impossible.
At 65 mph with 28.9” tires, 4.10 rear axle ratio and .7 final drive on the transmission you’re looking at 2169rpm.
So... is carrying on a conversation with your wife all but impossible a good thing, or a bad thing? LOL!
Thank you for the RPM information!
I really admire your tenacity with this 40 build but I honestly have to ask, why not just buy a new/lightly used 4Runner and/or dual cab Tacoma? You would be $ ahead and way more comfortable given all the surgeries. I am probably a bit younger than you, maybe, and have absolutely no medical issues but there is no way I would daily drive a 40 regardless of how much money I threw at it.
FloridaLife
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- #44
Oh believe me, after getting deep into I have told myself that another 4Runner or Tacoma would have been a better idea. I plead ignorance. No other excuse. I have always liked the look of the FJ40, as has my wife. Once every few years we'd see one in good condition for sale, but for a single income family of 4 the price was always way beyond our reach. Then when medical issues (primarily the tremors, including in my legs) forced me to give up my pride and joy, my motorcycle, my wife said to get something with 4 wheels. I was not familiar with Bring a Trailer, so I began looking online and spotted an FJ40. It was nice, but way more than I planned. Then I found one online in Oklahoma for only $5k. Having been born & raised in Texas, I knew that vehicles in Texas, NM, AZ, and OK are usually pretty rust free & solid, I had a momentary lapse of reason & logic, and bought it, thinking if I put $10k into it I'd have something nice. That's because 25 years ago I could buy and build a '34 Coupe streetrod for that. The seller said the engine started having a knock in it, a guy he knew said he had rebuilt multiple straight 6 Chevy's and he could do it for him. Then something happened and the guy couldn't, and the engine was all there but disassembled and in the back. My plan was to put the engine together with my boys, teaching them, and then enjoy driving it with the patina. But when it arrives we could see that it had light beige paint in all the gaps and it looked terrible.
That's what started the trip down the rabbit hole. I should have sold it right then. But, decided while the drivetrain was out, that would be the best time to paint it. Then when unloading the engine out of the back, the crank & pistons were gone, so then I was looking for a replacement. And even with penetrating oil, everything we tried to remove for paint prep, all the bolts snapped, so then I'm buying stainless replacements. Then this, then that, and it quickly turned into a vacuum machine sucking money out of my bank account. And to add insult to injury, it must have lived somewhere else like Colorado before Oklahoma because of the rust we've found in the past couple of weeks, and the back section of the frame even has to be replaced. I can't catch a break. If it was raining soup, all I'd be able to find would be a fork.
At this point I'm so deep into it that I might as well finish it. And, it will be solid, and it will be nice. Hopefully I will like and enjoy it. But, if not, then I'll list it for sale and try to break even on what I've put into it, and get a 4Runner or Tacoma.
And, being medically retired, I don't daily drive anything anymore. I might leave the house once a week to run an errand. And when I recover from this most recent surgery I'd like to take my son's fishing in it once in a while, maybe to the beach, and maybe a little off-road if I can find it here in Central Florida. But no daily driving, and no beating on it like when I lived in the mountains.
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Well sir, it’s not like none of us have been there or know of someone who is. I’ll admit it IS A PASSION . Clearly you know it. When I was restoring motorcycles I was in that position several times. I loved the eclectic stuff from the depression era. You know All the stuff with the same problems. Nothing matched up, nothing still available after 65 years, companies that were in business barely 3 years and never survived the depression. Parts? Sure…have them made or you’re SOL.
At least with the Land Cruiser, the biggest costs are getting behind you I hope!
At least with the Land Cruiser, the biggest costs are getting behind you I hope!
FloridaLife
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- #46
Thank you!
Throttle Cable
FloridaLife
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- #47
For a 1971 (build date December 1970), when swapping in a 5.3 LS, does anyone know the correct size/length throttle cable it will need? The engine is a throttle by wire so I've got to get a cable to throttle body, so that made me think that I should ask about the cable. I'm assuming my original won't work?
Fairly certain I used a 36” cable.
FloridaLife
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- #50
Thank you! I did a Google search for "36 inch throttle cable" and found results from $5 to $85. Did you just get one of those, or did you get one for a specific make & model? Thanks again.
FloridaLife
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- #51
Ah, OK, thank you! I'll search for one of those. Thank you again.
Throttle body
FloridaLife
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- #52
I've got to switch the '07 5.3 LS I got from throttle by wire to throttle by cable. On Amazon and other places I see some 92 mm and some 102 mm. With a stock 5.3 LS would a 102 mm be better, or is this one of those cases where less is more and it would be better to go with the 92mm?
Transfer Case Vacuum Shift
FloridaLife
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- #53
Anyone have any video or pics showing & demonstrating an FJ40 with the vacuum controls for the transfer case up on the dash rather than a manual control lever on the floor? I'm just curious to see how it shifts and works. My 1971 FJ40 (build date of December 1970) originally had a column shifter for the transmission, and a vacuum control / shifter either on the dash or mounted on the underside of the dash and I would love to see how it works. Like what movement puts it into 4wd, what movement puts it into 4wd Low, and what puts it into 4wd High? I searched YouTube but didn't see a video of it. With my LS swap we will be using a vacuum controlled split transfer case and using the original '71 dash controls for it, so I'm just curious. Thank you.
Are you having the comp programmed for the cable TPS? I do not believe the 07 DBW sends the same signal as a TPS. The 102 TB would be for mods like heads intake, exhaust, not to say with a proper tune it wont add power but it will definitely need a tune after done to check the throttle position & set the fuel curves with the larger throttle body.
FloridaLife
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- #55
Yes, they set the ECU up for a throttle by cable (and asked me for the gear ratio and tire size and stuff like that), and built me a custom super easy wiring harness with everything labeled very well. My 12 year old could easily connect it. They were great on that. And, I agree with you. Once it is done I think I need to take it somewhere and have them fine tune it. I am sure looking forward to trying it out! It's like a kid waiting on Christmas!
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Get the stock replacement throttle body for a 98-02. You don’t want a larger one, it will
bog at low rpm’s without custom tuning and offers you zero benefit with a stock intake even with tuning.
bog at low rpm’s without custom tuning and offers you zero benefit with a stock intake even with tuning.
This
I’m a little late on this, but I’m using the Toyota oem cable for my LS swapped 40. Only time I have any trouble is when I’m at full flex in the rocks. Otherwise it works perfectly. As I understand your use is mostly street, you should be perfectly fine with stock cable. I could be wrong on your intentional use though…
Engine placement could be another factor.
I kept the vacuum shifted transfercase and controls pretty much stock. The two vacuum fittings on the side of the TC I changed to a 90’ degree banjo fitting.
Forgot to add that the shift linkage needs to be moved from the transmission mount to the frame and the rod lengthened about 8” or so. Forgot the actual amount. I just added the needed length in 3/8” rod.
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