FJ40 max cruising speed

[snaggletto]

I've got a 76 FJ40 stock 2F and 4 speed tranny. It has well worn 31" tires and I'm assuming stock 4.11 gears in the diffs. Going by seat of the pants, the 2F just doesn't sound or feel like it wants to go over 45mph. In other words, if I had a 5th gear I'd be shifting at the 40 - 45 mph range. Does this sound about right? I read alot of threads about people doing 60+ or even 75 'easy'.

Maybe I'm just to conservative. What is your easy cruising speed? Thanks.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

I have a 76 FJ40 with a 'hot' 2F and SM420 (same 4th gear ratio as the stock 4 speed, 1:1). I run 35" tires and 4.88's but when I was running 4.11's with the 35's I could cruise 65-70 pretty comfortably on flat ground. Your 2F sounds like its screaming, but you can run it 3000rpms all day. Typically I will run mine 3000-3500 and shift at 4000. Run a tach.

Now with 4.88's 60-65 is about max speed I like to run comfortably.
HTH

 

[cjgoode]

These are not speed machines, but it should not be struggling at 45mph. 55 should be reasonable. Check your gear ration, search this forum many posts on how to check what gear ratio you have in your diff.

What does it sound like, like the RPM's are way to high, or like the engine just cannot handle the load of trying to go faster? RPM's to high then gear ration would need to be checked, but I am guessing engine lacking power to push it.

 

[1911]

My 1980, stock 2F, stock 3.7 diffs and 33" tires is turning 2500 rpm to go 65, which is plenty comfortable to me and it will do that all day without batting an eye. It will go faster but I don't like to run much more than 2500 rpm on the highway for any length of time.

 

[myquestoyota]

55 is reasonable in mine, 60 is okay. '77 with a 2f 33 9.50's.

 

[sebfj40]

I have the same issue with 31s and stock gears. I think the noise of the straight cut gears in the TC help give the impression of over-working everything. But I don't go over a true 90kph (50mph) because at that speed the speedo tells me I'm going 100 (62) which I assume is caused by the 31in tyres. Just a side note... What is the stock tyre size for a 77

 

[subzali]

When I first drove my FJ40 the day I bought it, at 45-50 mph it sounded like it was screaming. Now I just know that it's a tin can and loud by nature. Make sure you're not in low range (I have heard of this happening) - you can go about 45 mph in 4th gear low and be turning about 4000 rpm, which is "redline".

A '76 doesn't have straight-cut gears in the t-case, I don't believe. But it's still loud. And out-of-adjustment valves and exhaust leaks will add to the noise.

 

[Michael Hanson]

65 is fine. If good tires and tie rods. Mike

 

[77mustard40]

60 on the dial is comfortable in the mostly stock 77 running 10.50 31s.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[skidplate]

!975, 2F stock running gear, 31" tires- 58 MPH indicated which is probably around 64 Mph tru speed, 2500 RPMs. It will go faster but is comfortable at this speed on flat ground. I usually put the speedometer needle between the 50 and 55 mph and enjoy the ride.

 

[brian]

85mph all day long.

 

[lcwizard]

uphill or downhill?

 

[FJsnoozer]

I like 62 max with 2f and stock 29s. 70 with 33s.

Long trip, I will probably drop it down to 65 mph.

 

[DSRTRDR]

85mph all day long.

uphill or downhill?

actually, mine does go 85 on flat ground - with pedal to give I haven't tried to max out downhill but it can make it up I-17 to Flagstaff without dropping under 55

I always have the same urge at 45-50 to shift into 5th (my other vehicles are 5 speeds, and I have a H55 to drop in) - miraculously, the cruiser eventually gets quieter over 65 - filling the transmission up also helps cut the noise down

 

[taro]

The early Land Cruiser commercials claimed an ability to cruise at 85 mph all day long, no?

 

[69 Spring Green]

Maybe those commercials were referring to 85 kilometers per hour...

 

[AlexJet]

Make sure you're not in low range (I have heard of this happening) - you can go about 45 mph in 4th gear low and be turning about 4000 rpm, which is "redline"...

If I remember right from sales brochure I've seen in local dealer archive, Toyota speced 1975 2F with 3'600 rpm as max power and 3'850 as "Red line".

 

[MicahMan]

I have 33's stock 73 3 speed and a pretty smooth low mileage f motor stock gears 4.11s and I sit at 70 mph all day and have cruised at 75 before. GPS verified. My sewing machine doesn't mind the 3500RPMs

 

[msapers]

Quick fix: Remove the hard top. Seriously. It amplifies all the noise (engine, drivetrain, road) and makes it seem like you're turning more RPM's than you really are.

I have a 1976 with a stock 2f, 4:11's and 33"s. I drive it about 60 miles on the freeway every day and I cruise comfortably at 70mph. There's enough power to go faster, but I'm happy at 70.

You might want to install a tachometer for peace of mind until you get used to the way your rig sounds at speed.

 

[40's rock]

I clocked my 76 on stock gears and 32" tires at 83 mph with a gps and it still had pedal to go. I was running a weber, electric fuel pump and header.

I can easily run with the traffic around Dallas, until I remember what I am driving....