Gear heads...Please help!!

[Denofearth]

Said it all before, one more time for me

Ok! I have a FJ-40 1977

I recently put 350/tbi and 465 tranny, I am running 529 gears. My question is what should I do?
I have trouble going 60 mph on the hi-way. Rpms are 3500-4000. I don't want to loose the crawl ratio that I have finally gotten...but I need to go a little bit faster. I still have the 411 gears but would hate to go back to them (crawl ratio).
I used my own transfer case and A/A kit to make it all fit. I have sunk money into it already and want to know what you think (about my problem!!!)
Any ideas?

 

[spotcruiser]

More money, but you could install an NV4500. Pretty good low gear, with an overdrive 5th gear. Don't know about the additional work that might be required to install it in your truck, but it would be a way to give up a little bit of low end for a little bit of high end.

Just a thought.

 

[andrewfarmer]

You could put 3 speed gears into the t/case and go back to 4.88s or even 4.56s. Not a bad idea anyway - I've heard the pinions break on 5.29s.
Or put the 4.11s back in and get an orion...

 

[Pin_Head]

Did you correct your speedometer? A quick calculation indicates that 4000 RPM should be about 85 MPH with 39 inch tires and a 5.29 ratio.

 

[Mace]

I am thinking that he does not have a tach..

 

[FLYINGLOW]

You could put 3 speed gears into the t/case and go back to 4.88s or even 4.56s. Not a bad idea anyway - I've heard the pinions break on 5.29s.
Or put the 4.11s back in and get an orion...

I like this idea.

 

[Denofearth]

tach

Yea I do have a tach! I had my wife drove beside me @ 50 mph and I was going 55mph but my tach was reading 3200 rpm's.
The motor is a 4 bolt but I don't think that I should be running 3500-4000 rpms on the hiway? I would hate to see this motor blow up.

I know what you mean the rpms should be lower...but unless my tach is not hooked up right (not likely) I believe that it is right.
The 4500 is that a stick, and what is the final drive ratio?
I was told that the 465 that I have is a 1:1 in 4th gear, is that true?

Thanks for all of your help!

I need it.

 

[Denofearth]

three speed transfer

I know and heard of doing the three speed transfercase gears.
Would I still have the top end of the stock LC or where would I be sitting. I really don't want to loose my grunt on the bottom.

I have no idea of where the truck rode when stock. It took a year to get this motor into it. My memory is very short too.

 

[spotcruiser]

The 4500 is that a stick, and what is the final drive ratio?
I was told that the 465 that I have is a 1:1 in 4th gear, is that true?QUOTE]

The SM465 has a 6.55 1st gear and a 1.0 4th. The NV4500 is a 5 speed manual. The most common version of the NV4500 has a 5.61 1st gear and a 0.75 5th. Earlier versions of the NV4500 are out there with a 6.34 1st and 0.73 5th. It's not a huge change, but it does shift some of your gearing to the upper end.

However, it would probably run $2K to complete ($1000 for the transmission).

P.S. There are transmission tables in the Tech Links section here on Mud.

 

[nuclearlemon]

buy a tow rig and trailer

 

[vt78cruiser]

Wouldn't the easiest solution to swap back in 4.56's or 4.88's and just get used to not crawling as slow? Of course you could just always get 46" tires....;p .

 

[Mr. Toad]

You've got rock-crawling 5.29s in your truck yet you're complaining that it's not a good highway rig. I think you should figure out what this cruiser is going to used for.

 

[Pin_Head]

There is still something fishy going on. 3,000 RPM with 39 inch tires would be 64 MPH. Do you have 32 inch tires? What does your tach say the RPMs are at idle?

 

[akwheeler]

high r's

I have a overdrive unit i'm not using. Bolts up to the t-case and output for the rear driveline. Beleave 1:1 in low 1:1.75 in high.

 

[Poser]

I have a overdrive unit i'm not using. Bolts up to the t-case and output for the rear driveline. Beleave 1:1 in low 1:1.75 in high.

Welcome akwheeler.


Round aluminum barrel type thing?



Bone a drive....the LAST thing that he would want in this mix.





Pin head is on the right trail....



Further, a 2F can run all day long at 3-3500....and you have a problem turning a small block at those Rs?



I have a 420 behind a 2F and it pushes my 42's down the road at 70, if I feel the need to run that fast....4:88 gears now, but had 4:11's with 38's and it crawled just fine, and ran on the flat gound here fine. If you need more gear off road, get a different tcase...Orion or Atlas.



Good luck!


-Steve

 

[65swb45]

One of the guys in our club, DaveWest5150 on this board had a similar quandary with his FJ. He already had an H55 and a Mark's gearset in his T/C and was very happy with the truck off road but very UNHAPPY with the highway performance.

He bitched about this for over a year. He finally pulled the H55 and split case and went to an SM465 with a 203 doubler and a stock case. Gave him enough low range to put 4:11 back in the axles.

He is smiling now.

 

[akwheeler]

round barrel type thing

ha poser do you know what this overbrive thing is and is it eany good. I dont need it and would like ti sell it.

 

[Denofearth]

Gear heads Please Help!

I need to know what is the best thing to do now that I have created a bigger problem that I had to begin with.
I have 529 gears with 39 super swampers a 465 tranny behind a TBI 350.
My delema is, this is a great set up for the trails (low gears) but I need to do at least the speed limit with out blowing my engine. @ 55 miles /HR I am turning 3500 RPM. I do use this truck as much as I can in town but when I have to hit the highway it bites!!
I am willing to trade out the 529 with what ever, I even still have 411 gears. I just don't know how steep to go with gears. I do want to crawl as best as I can with in reason (I do realize you can't have both) But anything would be helpful.
Thanks in advance

 

[Poser]

You can have both, it just costs a pile of cash.


I ran 38” tires with 4.11’s for a while without issues. Is it the best combo? No, but it does work. I was turning them with a 2F and a 420.

I now run 42” tires and 4.88’s, and can maintain 70 on the freeway, with the same 2F and 420. You have a V8, you should not have any problem pushing those tires with the 4.11's.


I guess if you have the 4.11’s, I would swap them and see how you like it. Just swap the rear diff, and go drive it. If you like it, swap the front. If you do not like it, then you will need to find a gear set of 4.56 or 4.88, as those are your only other options.

 

[Denofearth]

Thanks Poser

Yes I am turning the front end soon and putting in the Longfields at the same time so I would be changing out the front andback but as you stated I have the HP and I was just wondering if or what would be a good combo to get good HWay speeds. I live in Houston and the Kooks don't do the speed limits here so I do look like I am at a stop when they blow by me.
Thanks for the input