H55 Questions...

[GregS]

H55 experts speak up.

I want to swap out the 4 spd in my 1982 BJ42 for an H55. Do I source a used H55 with a fine spline for the 3B and rebuild it or buy a new H55 coarse spline and convert it? What other internal parts besides the input shaft would I need to convert the tranny to match up to the 3B? Also, I would like to use my existing t-case as it has relatively low miles and shifts great. Any issues there I should be aware of? Thanks in advance.

Greg

 

[Tapage]

split case should bolt in without problems .. and the only difference between H55F it's the length of the input shaft ..

 

[FF LC FREAK]

According to several threads I have read here on Mud (Georg at Valley Hybrids and others), most recommend to buy a new H55. For the small increase in money, you get a brand new transmission. Can you not buy a new H55 already setup for a 3B? No idea on that. If not, just buy the input shaft and have everything swapped over.

I bought a used H55 from EBI (actually, the whole engine, tranny, t/c when I blew up my 3B last fall). The used H55 has worked just fine since then as my daily driver. However, it is somewhat hard shifting into 2nd gear. I have read that these trannys can have that problem. I just had it apart last week and the syncros look ok. Who knows.

With all that said, do you really feel you need the H55? Unless you do a lot of highway driving, it may not be worth it - both money and time. On my BJ42 with 33" tires, I don't even think about 5th for anything under 55 mph. 60 mph is even better. However, I do like the lower 1st gear off road. Just something to think about.

 

[cruiser_guy]

You will want an H55 for the '40 series wheelbase. The tranny cover for the '40 series positions the shifter in a different location than that for the '60 series.

 

[rick_d]

The transfer case you have will not have either the oiler cup provision nor the bearing relief in the case for the H55 rear mainshaft bearing.

The common h55 available new are 1986 and later style. The 3B input shaft and the longer 3B bearing retainer are both obsolete parts and no longer available anywhere new. Your transmission can't be a donor either as the tooth count is wrong and the bearing retainer lacks oiler ears.

The 40 series top plates are bringing stupid money (better than $1,000 used) so you would have to use the rear mounted shifter. The 40 series transfer levers are also long since gone and you must modify a 60 series to work.

That all being said, find a used BJ60 or BJ70 transmission is your best option and just do a simple bearing and synchro job on it- it is the only real option.

 

[GregS]

According to several threads I have read here on Mud (Georg at Valley Hybrids and others), most recommend to buy a new H55. For the small increase in money, you get a brand new transmission. Can you not buy a new H55 already setup for a 3B? No idea on that. If not, just buy the input shaft and have everything swapped over.

I bought a used H55 from EBI (actually, the whole engine, tranny, t/c when I blew up my 3B last fall). The used H55 has worked just fine since then as my daily driver. However, it is somewhat hard shifting into 2nd gear. I have read that these trannys can have that problem. I just had it apart last week and the syncros look ok. Who knows.

With all that said, do you really feel you need the H55? Unless you do a lot of highway driving, it may not be worth it - both money and time. On my BJ42 with 33" tires, I don't even think about 5th for anything under 55 mph. 60 mph is even better. However, I do like the lower 1st gear off road. Just something to think about.

New H55f's with the fine spline not available to my knowledge. For the longer trips, I would like to drop those RPM's a bit at 65 mph. I know, drop the mph. On California freeways, I'm a stationary road hazard at 60 mph.

split case should bolt in without problems .. and the only difference between H55F it's the length of the input shaft ..

So it sounds like the internals are all the same with the fine spline input shaft, just longer outside the case.

You will want an H55 for the '40 series wheelbase. The tranny cover for the '40 series positions the shifter in a different location than that for the '60 series.

Believe it or not, I've got the correct H55F 40 series shift tower just waiting to go into action.

 

[GregS]

The transfer case you have will not have either the oiler cup provision nor the bearing relief in the case for the H55 rear mainshaft bearing.

The common h55 available new are 1986 and later style. The 3B input shaft and the longer 3B bearing retainer are both obsolete parts and no longer available anywhere new. Your transmission can't be a donor either as the tooth count is wrong and the bearing retainer lacks oiler ears.

The 40 series top plates are bringing stupid money (better than $1,000 used) so you would have to use the rear mounted shifter. The 40 series transfer levers are also long since gone and you must modify a 60 series to work.

That all being said, find a used BJ60 or BJ70 transmission is your best option and just do a simple bearing and synchro job on it- it is the only real option.

Good to know and effectively, sounds like the only way to make this swap with what parts are currently available. Thanks all for the info.

 

[rick_d]

I am helping a friend in town fit a 13bt h55 in a fj45 but he is moving the engine forward to make the shifter line up. We got an '85 bj70 180,000 mile transmission we have re-bearing'd and re-synchro'd for this. The bj70 transmission was under $250 shipped so parts and labor are reasonable.

 

[RufusTheDufus]

You can swap in an input shaft from a 3B H41 trans into a new H55. It's the same part. It's a big PITA job too.