H55F Planning/advice please :( (1 Viewer)

[thewadejack]

Alright,

I know I want a 5-speed. I want to go on road trips and not worry about it sitting in 4th gear for over 5 hours. I currently have the original 4-speed with a TBI swap in my cruiser I bought in November. One year from now I want to at least bought a 5-speed from one of the sites that sells them, unless I get a lucky find on craigslist then rebuilt it. I'm here in Austin and Land Cruiser specialists told me they do this swap regularly.
I want to know if I'm overly optimistic? What should I evaluate while I save up my money? Am I crazy and I don't need a 5-speed? I want piece of mind. I'm happy to hear from you hardcore fabricators to the guys that look and say I don't trust myself messing with any kind of tranny .
And here is a picture of my pride and joy for fun.

As always, I just want to say I'm impressed with this community and appreciate all input.

 

[FARMAN33]

You are not crazy! The H55f is the transmission these Cruisers always needed. It will TRANSFORM your 60! I just did mine (myself) and couldn't be happier. Talk to @beno and he will put you on the path! Your 87 should make for a very straight forward swap. Check out my build in my sig line with my install pics.

 

[Godwin]

I did ca. > 550 miles yesterday running 65-70 on the highway and having that 5th gear makes for a better highway cruising experience.

Forget a used H55F and a rebuild. You will be way ahead in purchasing a new one. Along with the cost of the tranny add in for the shift lever and a rebuild of your t-case.

 

[thewadejack]

You are not crazy! The H55f is the transmission these Cruisers always needed. It will TRANSFORM your 60! I just did mine (myself) and couldn't be happier. Talk to @beno and he will put you on the path! Your 87 should make for a very straight forward swap. Check out my build in my sig line with my install pics.

I wish I could try to do it myself, but drive shaft modifications sound like something I shouldn't touch for the first time while working on my own vehicle. (currently picturing mad-scientist starting human trials with and by himself #LizardKing)

 

[FARMAN33]

If yours is an 87 driveshafts are a non-issue. NEW is the only way to go!

 

[thewadejack]

I did ca. > 550 miles yesterday running 65-70 on the highway and having that 5th gear makes for a better highway cruising experience.

Forget a used H55F and a rebuild. You will be way ahead in purchasing a new one. Along with the cost of the tranny add in for the shift lever and a rebuild of your t-case.

Thanks Man! Yes I want to be able to head to Colorado from Austin and find a park where I overland to a place to setup the roof tent for a night of camping and serenading the lady, and she cant be furious when we get there.

 

[thewadejack]

If yours is an 87 driveshafts are a non-issue. NEW is the only way to go!

Wut......WUT! Oh I will try now! If its essentially Plug and Go Play then Yes I will attempt and save the Money!

 

[gregnash]

If yours is an 87 driveshafts are a non-issue. NEW is the only way to go!

Remember he has a TBI (assuming 350sbc) conversion. Are the driveshaft lengths still the same with that? I am assuming so since the drivetrain didn't move with the swap as the bellhousing is the adapter correct?

 

[FARMAN33]

Yeah, I thought about that but if he is running the stock 4spd. now, all should fall in place.

 

[thewadejack]

Yes its an Advanced adapter on a sbc. I'm pretty pumped that I can do it now. Just need to will myself into saving up the 5 grand ish

 

[FARMAN33]

Did mine for 3500 a month ago. With a transfer case rebuild and new clutch throw out rear main seal all of it! Talk to Onur @beno or Georg @orangefj45 and tell him what you have and he will know what you need.

 

[thewadejack]

Wow ok I cant find a place where I could buy an H55f that cheap for the life of me thanks!

 

[Output Shaft]

The 5th speed will drop the revs 0.845.
3000 rpm in 4th will be 2535 rpm in 5th.

 

[thewadejack]

The 5th speed will drop the revs 0.845.
3000 rpm in 4th will be 2535 rpm in 5th.

Even with the V8?

 

[gregnash]

I believe going cost from the vendors on here for the H55 with everything needed is right around $2900 currently. So if you shop is quoting you $5k there is something else going on, granted we get a slight discount by ordering from our guys on here.

 

[thewadejack]

I believe going cost from the vendors on here for the H55 with everything needed is right around $2900 currently. So if you shop is quoting you $5k there is something else going on, granted we get a slight discount by ordering from our guys on here.

and so the PLOT THICKENS! I knew I made a post for a reason. This seems so much more feasible now, literally more feasible by the hour

 

[Output Shaft]

Even with the V8?

Yes. Any engine.

 

[Willard]

I was going to go with the H55f as well. I have been fighting with it for the last year.

My last 60 cruiser had a ranger OD with a TBI in it mated to the 4 speed. What was the difference on 4:88 and 35"s. Not enough to care. it was minimum at best as while I could do 75 the noise made me stay at 65.

I have had all sorts of Cruisers. Living in Canada I have had 2 BJ42's one with a 5 speed, one with a 4 speed. that Diesel tractor motor needs the 5 speed.

I also had an old F150 with a 4 speed and never saw the need to upgrade.

After thinking about it for the past year
While I think the 5-Speed is awesome, 3K once installed is just to much for me with zero gain. Lots of people swear by both, lots of people have WAY more cash than me. I could think of 100 other places to put 3K into my Cruiser.

5 hours on a 4 speed = not an issue. Wanting to do 75-80 MPH issue.
You have larger tires I imagine what 33" hills will suck but you will see the lower RPM's thinking a 5 speed and these tires will be better is a pipe dream. If not worse.
Go 4:11 in the gears you will be kitted right.


Read this, Mark has a good writeup on the 5-Speed.

http://www.marksoffroad.net/CollectedStories.html#4

This summer I am driving 4300 miles in a 1986 FJ60 with the factory 6 cyl and a 4-Speed. that is about 12 hours a day driving a mix of Interstates and side roads. I may change my mind after that trip. But do you NEED a 5 speed nope.

 

[thewadejack]

Yes. Any engine.

Ugh I knew that

 

[thewadejack]

I was going to go with the H55f as well. I have been fighting with it for the last year.

My last 60 cruiser had a ranger OD with a TBI in it mated to the 4 speed. What was the difference on 4:88 and 35"s. Not enough to care. it was minimum at best as while I could do 75 the noise made me stay at 65.

After thinking about it for the past year
While I think the 5-Speed is awesome, 3K once installed is just to much for me with zero gain. Lots of people swear by both, lots of people have WAY more cash than me. I could think of 100 other places to put 3K into my Cruiser.

5 hours on a 4 speed = not an issue. Wanting to do 75-80 MPH issue.
You have larger tires I imagine what 33" hills will suck but you will see the lower RPM's thinking a 5 speed and these tires will be better is a pipe dream. If not worse.
Go 4:11 in the gears you will be kitted right.

This summer I am driving 4300 miles in a 1986 FJ60 with the factory 6 cyl and a 4-Speed. that is about 12 hours a day driving a mix of Interstates and side roads. I may change my mind after that trip. But do you NEED a 5 speed nope.

Wow so much information, I think my problem is I want to go 70-75 or 65 and have it be quiet enough. I've got 33"s on right now. As far as gears I'm not sure if they are or aren't factory (which prolly means they aren't 4:11).
I understand 35s plus a 5-speed being a pipe dream but a decent improvement, added piece of mind, and a new transmission seems worth a couple grand. As well as the experience of tackling it myself.