HELP

[ponbert]

I’m looking for some guidance from the Land Cruiser community. My FJ was in storage for several years. I recently took it to a shop in Houston to get it back on the road, and they’ve told me the engine needs a rebuild. After further inspection, they now say the engine is missing internal parts.

The body was fully restored about five years ago, so I’d really like to resolve the drivetrain properly rather than cut corners. The shop mentioned they have a 2nd-generation F2 engine available, but they’re unsure how (or if) it can be correctly mated to my older FJ.

I’m hoping someone here with experience can advise on the best path forward—whether rebuilding the original engine, adapting an F2, or another proven solution. Any insight, references, or recommended specialists would be greatly appreciated.

 

[AussieHJCruza]

A 2F is one of the most straightforward swaps you can do. Without knowing what parts are missing it's difficult to give advice, but if your shop isn't across the fitment of a 2F into a 40 that presumably had an F or F.5, probably find a new shop.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Missing what internal parts - did it run before it went to the body shop and when they got done with it? A used engine with no history is near worthless. Labor to install a crap engine is money down the toilet. A F or 2F will fit in the same place. Bell housing for a 3 speed is different that the 4 speed, both will fit F or 2F as far as I know.

You need to find a better shop IMHO.

BTW I got a bridge for sale, low traffic count and never overloaded!

 

[Pighead]

Pictures might help

 

[charliemeyer007]

See if there is landcruiser club near you. Post your city and see if anyone recommends a local shop.
+1 for pic's - share the pain!

 

[Adarcy]

I've been gone from Houston since 2018, but I remember a lot of guys took their Toyota's to a service shop called Duggy's. They did F/2F work frequently.

Mechanic Near Me in Houston - Duggy's Garage - https://duggysgarage.com/

 

[JohnnyC]

“they’ve told me the engine needs a rebuild.”

Why did they say it needed it?

“After further inspection, they now say the engine is missing internal parts”

What internal parts?


Was it running before storage?

Imho sounds sketch… but… I think lack of information doesn’t help that

 

[Ditcherman]

Curious to know what you have, the story on how parts came to be missing and all the backstory, and will second the notion that if your shop doesn't know that a 2F will fit right in where an F was you need a new shop.

 

[ponbert]

Missing what internal parts - did it run before it went to the body shop and when they got done with it? A used engine with no history is near worthless. Labor to install a crap engine is money down the toilet. A F or 2F will fit in the same place. Bell housing for a 3 speed is different that the 4 speed, both will fit F or 2F as far as I know.

You need to find a better shop IMHO.

BTW I got a bridge for sale, low traffic count and never overloaded!

A 2F is one of the most straightforward swaps you can do. Without knowing what parts are missing it's difficult to give advice, but if your shop isn't across the fitment of a 2F into a 40 that presumably had an F or F.5, probably find a new shop.

I'm in Houston, TX, please recommend a shop that does honest work.

 

[ponbert]

Missing what internal parts - did it run before it went to the body shop and when they got done with it? A used engine with no history is near worthless. Labor to install a crap engine is money down the toilet. A F or 2F will fit in the same place. Bell housing for a 3 speed is different that the 4 speed, both will fit F or 2F as far as I know.

You need to find a better shop IMHO.

BTW I got a bridge for sale, low traffic count and never overloaded!

Yes, I need to find a better shop, can you recommend one?

 

[ponbert]

Pictures might help

I'll go and take some pictures.

 

[ponbert]

See if there is landcruiser club near you. Post your city and see if anyone recommends a local shop.
+1 for pic's - share the pain!

I'm in Houston, TX.

 

[ponbert]

The shop (in West Houston) said it's the intake and some electrical "things" the shop is having problem for the swap. I'll go to the shop when I can and take some pictures. Thanks to you all for the kind reply.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Thus is the Austin chapter from the clubhouse button. There might be more under Resources or Vendors. There is also a bad merchant list in the classifieds and maybe a bad shop list.

TX- Lone Star Land Cruisers - Austin Chapter

Browse TX- Lone Star Land Cruisers - Austin Chapter - 1,977 discussions on IH8MUD.com Forum | Toyota, Lexus & Off-Road Community Discussions

forum.ih8mud.com

I do my own work - the reason to own/operate a tractor (old FJ40) not a Ferrari or a 917S Porsche

 

[ponbert]

Curious to know what you have, the story on how parts came to be missing and all the backstory, and will second the notion that if your shop doesn't know that a 2F will fit right in where an F was you need a new shop.

It's a long story. Like the saying: "Truth is stranger than fiction." I'm in a hole right now and I just want to get the FJ running so I can sell it.

 

[ponbert]

Thus is the Austin chapter from the clubhouse button. There might be more under Resources or Vendors. There is also a bad merchant list in the classifieds and maybe a bad shop list.

TX- Lone Star Land Cruisers - Austin Chapter

Browse TX- Lone Star Land Cruisers - Austin Chapter - 1,977 discussions on IH8MUD.com Forum | Toyota, Lexus & Off-Road Community Discussions

forum.ih8mud.com

I do my own work - the reason to own/operate a tractor (old FJ40) not a Ferrari or a 917S Porsche

I hear you...

 

[Ditcherman]

The shop (in West Houston) said it's the intake and some electrical "things" the shop is having problem for the swap. I'll go to the shop when I can and take some pictures. Thanks to you all for the kind reply.

Was it running before?
Get pictures of what they say is missing, read up, ask around in here and in the meantime we’ll all hope the shop is making more out of it than what it really is and you can get it running easily.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Well if you just want to sell it why spend money to fix it. Lots of DIY people can't pay the $200+/hr shop rate you will pay to fix it - they might bid/buy if the price is right in the as is condition. Good luck

 

[JohnnyC]

But what is wrong with YOUR engine? What internal parts could be missing ?

Was it running before storage?

 

[Adarcy]

I've been gone from Houston since 2018, but I remember a lot of guys took their Toyota's to a service shop called Duggy's. They did F/2F work frequently.

Mechanic Near Me in Houston - Duggy's Garage - https://duggysgarage.com/

Take it here. In Houston.