Fj40 with fj60 gearbox no handbrake Need advice

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Hi I am in Aus and rebuilding bottom up a 1976 fj40 with an fj60 5 speed gearbox but no handbrake, i have 8 bolt backing plates on rear axle so i am told i cannot fit fj60 handbrake suitable backing plates. I have been told to get a hj47 8/1980 to 11/1994 transfer case and use the longer output shaft and trans handbrake. I have a hj47 transferbox but an unknown year. How can i tell if it is the right box and does the shaft fit into the fj60 box simply with the backing plate and drum or are there other items i need consider to use for the conversion?
 
You need to the rear output shaft and rear bearing retainer. Then the rest will just bolt on. The drum has to be from a split transfer case. The rest could be from a earlier setup. To tell if you have the correct Transfer case look to see if it has bolts all the way around where the whole back half comes off. The earlier that won't work will have a removable plate on top but the case does not break down into two pieces. Guessing if it's out of HJ47 it has the transfer your looking for with a hand break. This is off a 84 HJ47 which is what the correct one should look like.
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Thanks, yes that looks right, the one i have isnt split it is the wrong transfer case and the bearing retainer that holds the backing plate is too small to fit the fj60 box. Can i look for other models outside hj46 as they appear to be rare. Later model fj40 and 45s?
 
Thanks, yes that looks right, the one i have isnt split it is the wrong transfer case and the bearing retainer that holds the backing plate is too small to fit the fj60 box. Can i look for other models outside hj46 as they appear to be rare. Later model fj40 and 45s?

Australia I believe got as many split case transfer with a hand brake as any market. Few 40 series the US got post 8/80 and later all had the hand brake on the rear axle. Pretty sure all 60 series had them on the axle as well. Best bet is look for a 8/80 and later HJ47 or FJ45. All those I believe got hand brake on the transfer case. Searching I have never found any of those models that got a rear axle brake in Australian market.
 
Jonesygee,
If you have no luck on Friday and depending where you are located, send me a message, I have one, it also has a mechanical PTO attached.
 
Hi
Check your crossmember.
If it needs cutting make it removable .
I made the mistake of cutting and welding . Now if I want to remove the gearbox I have to take out the motor as well.
I'm on the north side if you need a second opinion give me a call.
Cheers


...via IH8MUD app
 
Hi
Check your crossmember.
If it needs cutting make it removable .
I made the mistake of cutting and welding . Now if I want to remove the gearbox I have to take out the motor as well.
I'm on the north side if you need a second opinion give me a call.
Cheers


...via IH8MUD app

To remove the transmission when dealing with a fixed crossmember you might be able to disconnect the rear motor mounts and drop the back of the motor down a bit. If this will work it sure would reduce the amount of work needed.

Don
 
To remove the transmission when dealing with a fixed crossmember you might be able to disconnect the rear motor mounts and drop the back of the motor down a bit. If this will work it sure would reduce the amount of work needed.

Don

X2
This is how I do it in my 68 FJ40 with a four speed. Plus I shimmed the front motor mounts a little to give me a little better floor clearance.

After reading this thread I thought if I put a five speed in my 79 I would have the same issue. But then realized it's the brake drum that creates the problem. I going to be running a axle with the hand brake so shouldn't be a problem. Which if I lived in Australia is how I would do this on a SWB 40. While 40 series with a hand brake aren't that plentiful in Australia 60 series and post 8/80 4X series are. The HJ47 full floater I picked that came from Australia doesn't have the hand brake but it does share the same backing plate bolt pattern as the 60 series which does. As long as the 40 series brake cable is still available it should be a pretty easy conversion only needed to make a few brackets on the 1/79 and later model 40 series. Earlier would require some custom cable work to use the handle under the dash. Few have done that in the US using a 60 series rear axle. It involves using a lever between two cables

Then all the FF rear 60 series axles minus the brakes and split transfer case hand brake parts could be shipped to the US for us poor yanks who didn't get either.
 
thanks for the tips, i finally got a hj47 transfer box that looks right i will see if i can make it fit by replacing fj60 box or output shaft.

This is where i am up too in the rebuild: repaired chassis, painted in 2 pac, new 2" lift kit installed, fitted fj60 steering box, checked and resealed holden 308 motor, new brake cylinders, rekitted front brake calipers, tub and panels all sandblasted and etch primed. Next immediate jobs after handbrake installation include fitting engine and tranny to chassis, modifying rh front strut to allow hj75 intermediate shaft to rotate, tyre alignment, repair tub and paint
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