FJ55 Drivetrain Swap (1FZ)

[FJBen]

75 FJ55....a have a chance to buy an FZJ80 drivetrain, engine 150K, tranny, transfercase, motor mounts, ECU, wiring harness, tranny x-member, fuel tank for a good price. I have heard of this swap very very little...but have heard of it.

The thing I'm not sure about is the fulltime Fulltime 4WD...I have been talking with gineric about the FJ62/or FJ60 case as an option for parttime...I'm not sure of any other routes to go. Or just stay with the full time and rebuild the front.

I think i have "thought" through most of the swap...looking for any other issues possible...

1FZ computer and harness pretty engine contained, splice quite a few wires I'm sure
Motor Mounts custom made
Tranny mount/x-member I can modify
Tranny hump inside cut...custom
Drivelines resized, and different flanges on the case side
Radiator, found Ford F-250 from 80's fits very close and has tranny cooler provisions
Exhaust custom, i'm assuming O2 sensor needed...i don't need emissions to pass
Either use inline fuel pump or FZJ80 tank, 80 tank will need sender mods for guage to work assume

any advice or thoughs definitely welcome

 

[tucker74]

FJ55 Drivetrain Swap

Sweet - I'd keep it full time with the origional driveline (does it have lockers?). Landpimp posted some pics a while back of TLC doing the same thing w/ a split rear 62 body on a FZJ frame and chassis. That would be one cool project - I'm jealous (and have one of both), keep us posted!



Tucker

 

[woody]

Re:FJ55 Drivetrain Swap

IMO, great project, but it will be a busy one...can't wait to see pics tho!

 

[FJBen]

FJ55 Drivetrain Swap

I don't have the axles... but if I did, I would just swap the body onto the FZJ80 frame, that would prolly be the easiest...

I don't think any other transfercase will fit so I think it will stay Full time, i talked with slee offroad and they seemed to think no other parttime cases would bolt up with out some involved mods.

The wiring really doesn't scare me too much...the guages are a little worrysome...

The tranny's are huge...that might be another problem to take into account when mounting...

I don't have power steering, but do have a/c...so i will prolly do a power steering swap at the same time.

I'm glad we have a 93FZJ-80 to help look at...

 

[Panzer]

Check MAF or SOR for aussie 5sp/tc units. That way you can go PT on the driveline. Unless you are set on staying autobox.
Depends on what year it is. pre94?IIRC there is a kit to PT the TC that would let you keep the auto.

 

[bad_religion_au]

there is a kit in aus that turns the center diff into a part time case, something about using the diff lock switch as your 2>4 wd selector, think it must alter the center diff or something... very common swap here in aus, after everyone started wearing out front axles... only other part of the kit is free wheeling hubs, which you have if your running 55 series axles... maybe worth a look if your interested in part time

 

[FJBen]

In all reality i would rather go with 5spd and part time. Autos are nice but I prefer the stick...I will check with them and see what have for 5 speeds.

 

[PHAEDRUS]

FWIW,
the switch mad will only work on the 91-92 cruisers. after that they got a viscous coupler in the t case and from what I understand the kit will not work.
Dave

 

[Pskhaat]

This will be involved. The tranny is much longer. Stay with the 55's fuel tank if it has a return line to it and use an external pump. The FP leads (fuel pump) out of the EFI can directly power the external pump. You would just always keep the hubs locked, with the center differential should not be too bad...why does everyone talk about the PT conversion

 

[CruisinGA]

why does everyone talk about the PT conversion

Because They're:
1) Too lazy to repack birfs every 60k.
2) Need to squeeze every last horsepower outta that underpowered 3fe (in 80's that is).

 

[bad_religion_au]

there are conversion kits offered for all full time 4x4 models in aust, up to the 100 series.

but i don't know what's involved in the kit, maybe a different center diff?

 

[Pskhaat]

[quote author=CruisinGA link=board=12;threadid=16361;start=msg158873#msg158873 date=1084844919]
Need to squeeze every last horsepower outta that underpowered 3fe (in 80's that is).
[/quote]

Not in 40s, though, right? 8) Actually, the best wheelin' vehicles I've seen are the FJ80s; though that's probably because the owners didn't drop so much $ on the FZJ80 and spend the $ for the HG replacement and instead put it towards mods

 

[fj55-100]

Fj-ben , had my fulltime 4.7 swap done for almost a year ,got lots of info ,pm or hit me on the 55 list (my usual hang out)
Evan

 

[FJBen]

Evan,

I sent you a PM on that. thanks

 

[Delancy]

Ten year old bump, since I doubt any of the original participants will mind.

Why not a 1FZ swap?

Inline 6, so stays true to the heritage.

If one could source an H151 and HF1A, gets PT and an easier harness to deal with.

 

[Sam Stewart]

Nice thread revival.

I don't see the point of part time. Is it worth the extra work? No. Do you really get that much better mileage? No. Is it going to get horrible mileage regardless? Yes. So who cares? Just leave it full time.

As for the swap, I think it's a great one. Check out @ACC Toyota 's TRD S/C FZJ55 build. Sick, sick, sick truck. 55 style with "modern" drive train. They did as the OP suggested if he had 2 complete trucks. Just swapped the body onto the 80 chassis. They did way more than that of course. Aside from maybe a 2UZ, the best swap you could do in a 55 IMO.

 

[Delancy]

Nice thread revival.

My observation.

If one could associate a dollar amount with each build thread, you'd see a marked decline that'd parallel the economic decline.

Have to dig a little....

I don't see the point of part time.

9.5" LP front diff, was my main objective.

As for the swap, I think it's a great one. Check out @ACC Toyota 's TRD S/C FZJ55 build.

Have followed prior to joining Mud.

Sick, sick, sick truck. 55 style with "modern" drive train. They did as the OP suggested if he had 2 complete trucks. Just swapped the body onto the 80 chassis. They did way more than that of course.

It's been considered, but, personally, if I'm going to build another 80, would do it with a true Poverty Pack body and interior.

Already have an AWD 80.

Have one Pig with a bastardized 2F, and another with the original intentions of maintain the F in it, plus a third titled roller I can't bring myself to scrap.

Can't find parts for the second Pig engine, have all kinds of hair brained idears, but most come back to dumbing down a 1FZ-FEs electronics so that it could be swapped into anything.

Really, I'm going about this ass backwards.

Going to source and build the drivetrain, then decide what it's going to reside in.

Aside from maybe a 2UZ, the best swap you could do in a 55 IMO.

We could debate the merits of 1FZ versus 2UZ all day.

Owned an '04 2UZ and, by far, the pinnacle of Toyota's power plant engineering, in my opinion. Best vehicle I've ever owned, from a daily driving perspective, surpassing it's replacement, an '11 1UR by a country mile.

Have a 1GR-FE that's impressive, too, considering the fat ass body it pushes around without any issues.

Love the 2UZ, but the 1FZ is the most underrated engine, in my opinion, and if it could be "dumbed down", for lack of better, it'd be the ultimate swap option.

 

[Sam Stewart]

Totally agree on the 2UZ. Bought the wife's 4Runner basically to get that drivetrain. Really superior to any other SUV besides the LC itself. Only place it lacks is the tie rods are tiny.

So, that drive train with a solid axle, full time (a la 105 series) would be awesome.

I guess it really all boils down to, what do you want to do with it? What matters the most in the end product? Off road capability? Fuel economy? Wow factor? Do you have a personal preference on the engine? Do you want to keep it as a an inline 6 to be more "true" to the original design? Cost? Etc...

A complete 80 can be had for cheap these days. But I have also seen some totaled out Tundras go cheap too. So, many questions... In the end, whatever makes you happy takes the cake.

 

[Delancy]

I'm a build addict, plain and simple.

Have one wheeler, being the 80, without intentions of another, at this time.

Primarily, want to do it for the hell of it, like the 1FZ and think it's capabilities are untapped, from a potential swap in classics.

No SBCs for me and I don't win a boat, therefore don't need an anchor.

You gotta admit, 700HP on a stock lower end is impressive.

Not that it's my goal, because it's not, but it'd be too friggin funny to line up with the candy kid ricer crowd in ANY LC.

 

[Sam Stewart]

Agree that the 1FZ is a good platform. The only engine I know that you can blow a HG and cause no other issues at all. Just replaces gasket and go. Very good lower end capable of very high mileage or withstanding a large amount of HP. Remember the Titan(?) program with the 1000 HP 1FZs?