FJ62 buildup Questions ARB, Gears, tires not covered in FAQ (1 Viewer)

[RIDDLER]

Disclaimer: I am mostly a purist FJ40 guy but I recently ran across a rust free all stock 1988 FJ62 that was too nice to not buy. It has the stock 3FE and A440F tranny. I had all systems checked by a great mechanic and he told me it has been very well maintained. No tranny issues, near new compression numbers, new brakes and no evident collision history or bondo. We don't wheel the stock 79 or 80 FJ40's and the FJZ80 is my wife's so we don't take that offroad either. So I bought it.....

Current plans this month:
1) Full tune and fluid change
2) ARB lockers front and rear and 3.73 gear swap for better highway performance.
3) 2 inch extended shackles to run 31 9.5 15's or 33 9.5 15's on stock chrome rims.
4) front seat swap to newer buckets.

This truck will be used for logging roads/ light trails/remote camping/skiing/towing a light camp(2000lbs) trailer. I know the 3FE and A440F is a serious slug combo anyway. I know this would not make it a good rock crawler but how about for dirt roads and muddy trails? I don't mind slow as I drove a mercedes diesel for 5 years.

Future plans: custom front bumper with 8274/rear bumpers/full length roof rack.

I also have a LT1/700R4/NP 205 if the engine/tranny ever crap out.

Please let me know your thoughts on this build? Any issues with this swap?

Thanks

Aaron

 

[agent orange]

Sounds like a great plan, might want to get 4.11 thirds and throw the ARBs in those. I wouldnt go to a 2" shackle, 1" over would be fine as you dont need much lift at all for 33x9.5s.

 

[RIDDLER]

Question

Agent Orange. The 2 inch shackles was only due to already owning them. I have them sitting already.

Why 4.11 and not 3.73 for better economy? It has 4.11 stock in the truck now. But I have a couple solid 3.73 thirds. I though this would allow for better fuel economy on the highway.

What do you think? or better yet what am I missing...?

Thanks

Aaron

 

[Cruiserdrew]

The motor will be out of it's sweet spot, especially running larger than stock tires. Stay with the 4.11s and when you go to 33s, consider 4.56.

FJ62 are slow anyway, with higher gearing and bigger tires, it may not move at all!

If all you plan is logging roads, ARBs will be a waste. Maybe do a rear only at first and save the cash for the other one and do it later.

Have you considered a manual tranny swap?

 

[RIDDLER]

Q and A

Cruiserdrew: I get it. Stay with 4.11's. One ARB iin the rear first. Done deal. Saving $$ is cool by me.

"Have you considered a manual tranny swap?" Yes I have. I may be priced out. Maybe there is something that I missed. I used search function but nearly left skid marks in my jockeys at the prices for H55F swaps and the serious PITA involved. My local mechanic will swap the LT1/700r4/NP205 for $2000 for everthing with electronics and have it be down the road ready. The H55F swap appears to run over $3000 as does a A440F quality rebuild. I break from my Toyota purist stock when I think of future wheeling/towing etc. Am i off on the prices Cruisercrew?

Suggestions?

Thanks for the help with my gearing oops...

Aaron

 

[hicruise55]

"FJ62 are slow anyway, with higher gearing and bigger tires, it may not move at all!

If all you plan is logging roads, ARBs will be a waste."

X2

 

[Bryan062087]

If you tow (or even if you don't), add a large/heavy duty transmission cooler.

Other than that you are set.

 

[CSA]

X2 on the gears. A rubber overdrive is all you need if you want lower RPMs on the highway. As an additional data point, I will add that my 62 hated 33s with the stock 4.11s. It was just too far out of the powerband. I'm running 4.56s now, which are a just a smidge tall and great on the highway.