H55F Swap & 3-Speed to 4-Speed Clutch Upgrade Thread

[PabloCruise]

@Living in the Past are you referring to 31479-60030?

So we are talking about the bracket that mounts the clutch slave cylinder?

31479-60030 Genuine Toyota Support, Clutch Release Cylinder

ToyotaPartsDeal.com offers the great deal for genuine Toyota parts 31479-60030 (3147960030) Support, Clutch Release Cylinder. All parts are backed by the Toyota's warranty.

www.toyotapartsdeal.com

 

[PabloCruise]

Yes that's the one. If running a crossmember with an H55F (which I would recommend) could just grind off the section that bolts to the frame. I do not like destroying OEM parts when there is an OEM solution. Are you making a aftermarket market replacement?

I plan on keeping the bellhousing mounts and using the propeller-style mount off the back of the split case.
I think that will be the least amount of brain damage...

 

[PabloCruise]

Not sure when Toyota changed side for the clutch slave cylinder. 9/72 the high low shifter moved to direct shift on the transmission cover. From that time there was no longer a need to put the clutch hydraulics by the exhaust on the FJ40 or FJ55. Dash mounted high low shifting of the transfer case no longer used the right rear motor mount to pivot the linkage.

Good stuff!!!

 

[PabloCruise]

From the linked thread in the first post but though I would put this here.

Believe is was 9/72 when Toyota first started installing a four in the FJ40 that a forth fixed nut was added to each frame rail to bolt on a skid place. Three speed used the three forward fixed nuts for the skid plate. The four speed the back three.

Skid plate on the left was used on the four speed up to 8/80. The center is the 8/80+ four speed. Right is the five speed 10/82. Believe this is for the FJ4X and BJ4X short and mid wheel base.
View attachment 3715652
Here is the difference in the four speed before and after 8/80.
View attachment 3715651
The crossmember is why the 8/80 shorter.
View attachment 3715650
The mounting holes stayed in the same location thru the years. Looking at the skid plates used with a crossmember can see the five speed holes are in the same distance from the front as the four speed.

Those pictures tell a great story!
I can see how the middle, skinnier skid plate works with the crossmember.
What I can't picture is how the 5-speed skid plate integrates with the x-member?

 

[PabloCruise]

Although they aren’t difficult to find used, I do make a solid aluminum version of 31479-60030. I never thought about it but you’re right the bolts in a 75-79 bellhousing would be M12. My part would be perfect to drill to M12 as it has a ton of material

1981-84 Clutch Slave Cylinder Mounting Bracket 31479-60030

Billet Aluminum clutch slave cylinder mounting bracket for 1981-84 FJ40 and FJ60 models. Includes new OEM hardware for both bracket and release cylinder! Replaces Toyota Part # 31479-60030 Made in USA

cruisermatts.com

This picture tells the story!
Thanks!

 

[Living in the Past]

I plan on keeping the bellhousing mounts and using the propeller-style mount off the back of the split case.
I think that will be the least amount of brain damage...

Not sure of the motor mounts off the bellhousing in between front and back motor mounts as far a restricting frame flex.

Those pictures tell a great story!
I can see how the middle, skinnier skid plate works with the crossmember.
What I can't picture is how the 5-speed skid plate integrates with the x-member?

It mounts just like the four, up against the crossmember. It's just longer. Look at holes used to mount it to the frame. Will see the front is the same as the four speed. Large area at the back did not have any bolts.

 

[PabloCruise]

Not sure of the motor mounts off the bellhousing in between front and back motor mounts as far a restricting frame flex.

Hold on here, AFAIK, the mounts on the bellhousing are the rear motor mounts, eh?
There are no back motor mounts separate from the bellhousing mounts for an F/2F in a '74 Pig.
Maybe when they dropped the bellhousing mounts in '80 something changed?

 

[POPO AGIE]

The 2F bell housing has the motor mounts and were deleted on the 3F housing. The 3F also clocks the transmission so that it lowers the outputs of the transfer case.
The 2F bell housing will make the switch to the H55F and split transfer case easier using a crossmember to support the transmission. Clearancing the The bell housing for the bearing cover on the front of the H55F only took a few minutes.

When I did the Cummins swap I used the 2F mounts to support the rear of the block/bell housing so that I could install the new crossmember I got from Overland Cruisers in MT. Once I had the crossmember installed I did not need the rear motor mounts on the bell housing and the one on the driver's side would not bolt up because of the adapter plate between the Cummins and the bell housing.

I have a crossmember I bought from Man a Fre that can be modified for a FJ55 that was made for a FJ60.

The split transfer case is a lot heaver than the 3 or 4 speed transfer case and is a good idea to have it under the transmission.

 

[PabloCruise]

The 2F bell housing has the motor mounts and were deleted on the 3F housing. The 3F also clocks the transmission so that it lowers the outputs of the transfer case.
The 2F bell housing will make the switch to the H55F and split transfer case easier using a crossmember to support the transmission. Clearancing the The bell housing for the bearing cover on the front of the H55F only took a few minutes.

When I did the Cummins swap I used the 2F mounts to support the rear of the block/bell housing so that I could install the new crossmember I got from Overland Cruisers in MT. Once I had the crossmember installed I did not need the rear motor mounts on the bell housing and the one on the driver's side would not bolt up because of the adapter plate between the Cummins and the bell housing.

I have a crossmember I bought from Man a Fre that can be modified for a FJ55 that was made for a FJ60.

The split transfer case is a lot heaver than the 3 or 4 speed transfer case and is a good idea to have it under the transmission.

I think this is the part where I say I am interested in the crossmember you speak of, and ask if you are using it...

PM inbound.

 

[PabloCruise]

The 2F bell housing has the motor mounts and were deleted on the 3F housing. The 3F also clocks the transmission so that it lowers the outputs of the transfer case.
The 2F bell housing will make the switch to the H55F and split transfer case easier using a crossmember to support the transmission. Clearancing the The bell housing for the bearing cover on the front of the H55F only took a few minutes.

When I did the Cummins swap I used the 2F mounts to support the rear of the block/bell housing so that I could install the new crossmember I got from Overland Cruisers in MT. Once I had the crossmember installed I did not need the rear motor mounts on the bell housing and the one on the driver's side would not bolt up because of the adapter plate between the Cummins and the bell housing.

I have a crossmember I bought from Man a Fre that can be modified for a FJ55 that was made for a FJ60.

The split transfer case is a lot heaver than the 3 or 4 speed transfer case and is a good idea to have it under the transmission.

When you say "2F bell housing", is it safe to say that applies to the bell housing that would have come w/ my F.5 Pig?

I don't know if there are any significant differences between F/2F bell housings.

 

[Living in the Past]

Hold on here, AFAIK, the mounts on the bellhousing are the rear motor mounts, eh?
There are no back motor mounts separate from the bellhousing mounts for an F/2F in a '74 Pig.
Maybe when they dropped the bellhousing mounts in '80 something changed?

Bellhousing motor mounts were dropped 8/80. The crossmember under the transmission replaced it. They were never used together.

 

[POPO AGIE]

Correct because the 3F bellhousing does not have motor mounts. I have both and did not use the 3F bellhousing because it was harder to support until the crossmember can take the load. You can use the motor mounts on the 2F bellhousing to support the drive train until the crossmember is installed.

With help it can be pulled off but I work alone on my project so I had to find the simplest and safest solution so the slight modification to the 2F bellhousing made the most sense.

 

[FJBen]

@PabloCruise as you know my bj74 is h55f/split. It’s mounted by crossmember only, no bellhousing mounts. Only time it’s goofy is dropping the tranny. I support the tcase with a jack to remove crossmember, then put transmission jack under the transmission.

Then I support the back of the engine with a strap/board across fenders and jack/flat board under oil pan.

Works good

 

[POPO AGIE]

I had removed the fenders and hood because of damage from the wreck and the 155F motor was comply seized up and being replaced by the Cummins R2.8 and H55f and split transfer case. So it made more sense to pull everything together to do the swap.

 

[Living in the Past]

Correct because the 3F bellhousing does not have motor mounts. I have both and did not use the 3F bellhousing because it was harder to support until the crossmember can take the load. You can use the motor mounts on the 2F bellhousing to support the drive train until the crossmember is installed.

With help it can be pulled off but I work alone on my project so I had to find the simplest and safest solution so the slight modification to the 2F bellhousing made the most sense.

We use the term motor mounts but really a drive trains mounts. I just questioned adding mount between the front and rear mount. Adding a mount on the back of the transfer case makes the bellhousing mounts the center mounts. Mount bolted to the back transfer case will have isolator at the frame. That makes six places along the drive train is attached to the frame. If the never flexed would be no problem. Just think adding two to the center might complicate thinks. I say might because I have zero experience with this. How much and where the frame will flex is the unknown.

8/80 when Toyota added the crossmember it reduced the number if isolators from four to three. Not sure going from four to six is a good thing.

 

[POPO AGIE]

I only used the mounts on the bellhousing for temporary location and support until the crossmember was welded and bolted. Then I removed the two mounts on the bellhousing and tack welded everything. Then attached the engine hoist., unbolted the mounts and crossmember and removed the drivetrain to weld everything. Then put the drivetrain back in bolted the pangender side mount of the bellhousing for support until I got the crossmember installed. Then removed the bellhousing mound complexly.

The drivers side mount was useless because it clashed with my adapter plate between the block and bellhousing so I only had 3 points of support before installing the crossmember. Now i have only the new motor mounts on the block and the crossmember supporting the assembly,

 

[Living in the Past]

I plan on keeping the bellhousing mounts and using the propeller-style mount off the back of the split case.
I think that will be the least amount of brain damage...

Really curious on your opinion about doing how PabloCruise plans on doing it? I am personally all for the crossmember under the transmission. I have two FJ40/BJ42 crossmember with L brackets. Then one for the FJ45. The 45 L brackets are shorter because the frame is narrower in that location.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

My 40 has been running the bellhousing mounts AND the cradle under the H55F for over 20 years. Zero issues and I’m still on my original mounts. I think it preserves all mounts including the front motor mounts. We did many 5 speed swaps into 40’s and 55’s with that method back in the day, I’ve never heard of an issue.

Circa 2001 when I first installed the H55F

She’s still out and about on the road

 

[POPO AGIE]

My 40 has been running the bellhousing mounts AND the cradle under the H55F for over 20 years. Zero issues and I’m still on my original mounts. I think it preserves all mounts including the front motor mounts. We did many 5 speed swaps into 40’s and 55’s with that method back in the day, I’ve never heard of an issue.

View attachment 3716428

I have been wondering about doing this since I started working on my project.

I just may modify my drivers side mount and reinstall both sides with new isolators for added support.

 

[PabloCruise]

Really curious on your opinion about doing how PabloCruise plans on doing it? I am personally all for the crossmember under the transmission. I have two FJ40/BJ42 crossmember with L brackets. Then one for the FJ45. The 45 L brackets are shorter because the frame is narrower in that location.

I bet this will work just fine, as Kurt can vouch for below.

Does anyone have any experience running the propeller mount off the back of the split case?

I am pretty sure running the cross member under the H55 will require me to modify exhaust on the driver side, and a hard line running inside the frame rail on the passenger side. I’d rather leave both of those alone.