navydivedoc
SILVER Star
Mostly a lurker on these boards for a few years. Bought a pristine 1991 FJ80, made plans, got an offer I couldn't refuse, sold it. Bought it back, made some plans, sold it again. Bought a ridiculously clean 285k mile 100 series...offer I couldn't refuse, sold it. Finally just bought a 200 series for wagon and DD duties. That thing is great, but not much in the way of exciting stuff to post...blue ridge gear net, Overland tailor sun visor, General tires don't make for the most engaging postings, so I mostly watch and learn.
I have wanted an FJ40 since I was a kid. I grew up in Maine in the 80s, so they were all rusted out and rotten, even the ones from the 80s. My father hated them with a surprisingly strong passion, so I never did get to own one. I had Jeeps instead, 2 YJ wranglers, a nice original 1957 Willys pickup, and we had a string of old wagoneers as winter beaters. If we only knew then how valuable they wold be now, we would have filled a garage with them and waited.
Flash forward a few years, and I managed to get myself quite deep into a Jeep LJ build. LS swap, 6L80, Dynatracs, Atlas, etc. Won't clutter up a Toyota FJ thread with Heap stuff, but this is going somewhere, I promise. Details here if anyone cares Jeep LS
The Jeep went up for sale, as I had "done that" and wanted to come over to the Toyota side. Specifically, I most wanted an FJ45. Found a few, nothing quite hit. Got in touch with a wheeling buddy of mine and asked if he knew of anyone looking to trade something for a Jeep LJ. Low and behold, he sends me a pic
I haven't even told him I'm looking for a Toyota, let alone an FJ. He's a rover guy, so I figured I might get a shot at a nice series truck or defender. So, I send back "definitely interested".
Deal is struck, and we are definitely on.
It's a Proffitts Stage 3 frame off restoration from a few years ago, back when they were still doing a lot of 4BT conversions. To make room for the Cummins, it is a SOA build. All the usual goodies, plus ARBs front and rear. H55 5 speed and split case. I'm not a huge fan of the roof rack or the current wheel/tire set up, but overall it looks like an interesting new project. Owner gets a jeep that he wants to match a CJ-2a and classic Power wagon project, and I finally get an FJ40. Not a 45, but close enough for a start.
Negotiated into the deal is a Cummins R2.8 repower motor still in the crate. And a broken frame and rotted body BJ40 with decent axles, running motor and good trans/t-case
I've been digging around here for a couple of years, but now have dug in fairly deeply on what I can find about these SOA and 4BT swaps. Seems to be a mixed bag of opinions as always, but they tend toward "it's a farm implement, too loud, too many vibrations you'll hate it" for the Cummins. For the SOA, also a mixed bag. Done properly, which I assume this is, seem to be pretty easy to live with. Just TALL. I do wheel, so the capability is desirable. Will I wheel this particular rig enough to justify a SOA set up vs an OME 2.5 and 33s? doubtful.
3 ways this can go, and I am undecided which is really the best. Opinions welcome.
1. Drive it as it is, accept the compromises of the Cummins and SOA, have a very capable wheeling rig. "Don't fix what isn't broken". This is easy, and is at least how things will start. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit into my garage at home so it may be offsite and some distance from me for now. Not ideal.
2. Plan to put the R2.8 repower into the truck, and do a SUA reversion. Sell the 4BT. I've already spoken with Proffitts about this, and they are the easy answer. I put feelers out to Valley Hybrids and Torfab, but have not heard back from them. My brother and I could do it, not strangers to engine swaps, labor and time vs money. As the H55 and adapter is already there, the re-engineering is somewhat less than usual on a repower. More money and time, but it will be a perfect FJ40 at that point.
3. What I really want is an FJ45LPB. It doesn't really need to be a true frame off like this Stage 3 Proffitts, I'd rather have a clean driver. Do I sell the FJ40 as it sits and find a 45? Maybe easier said than done. If I'm going through the repower and SUA expense and work involved, do it on the truck I want the most. That said, I do really like a FJ40, and the heavy lifting is done on the one I have. This is the most expensive option in all likely reality.
So, those are the options. There isn't really a true perfect answer, I'm just putting out there as my thoughts right up front. We'll see. If there is a unicorn out there who happens to want a 4BT/SOA restored FJ40 and by some miracle has an FJ45 and wants to talk trade, by all means hit me up. Otherwise, time will tell.
From a technical standpoint, I have found many great threads on the R2.8 conversion. A ton of very helpful pics, tips, parts, etc. I won't reinvent the wheel here as I don't have any unanswered specific questions yet.
Less clear is the SOA to SUA conversion. I can't find much about that direction. I assume this had a proper cut and turn. As I am getting the BJ40 with the project, it will have axle housings/full axles I could rehab and use. Some questions I do have:
1. Is there any reason the BJ axles wouldn't work? Will the 3rds, axle shafts, etc work with that housing or do I need to rebuild what is there? How much of PITA would it be to cut and turn the axles back to stock? Any reason this couldn't be done?
2. Are the spring perches modified for an SOA? I haven't found a thread indicating yes, but I can't seem to confirm no. Bottom line, will new springs drop in?
3. Assuming I drop an OME 2.5 kit in, with appropriate axles either re-cut and turn or new, what else will I need to change? Steering components? Knuckles?
Any help appreciated, and I will post more pics and info as I get this ball rolling. Thanks to all for so much useful information and the time that took to get it out there for the rest of us.
I have wanted an FJ40 since I was a kid. I grew up in Maine in the 80s, so they were all rusted out and rotten, even the ones from the 80s. My father hated them with a surprisingly strong passion, so I never did get to own one. I had Jeeps instead, 2 YJ wranglers, a nice original 1957 Willys pickup, and we had a string of old wagoneers as winter beaters. If we only knew then how valuable they wold be now, we would have filled a garage with them and waited.
Flash forward a few years, and I managed to get myself quite deep into a Jeep LJ build. LS swap, 6L80, Dynatracs, Atlas, etc. Won't clutter up a Toyota FJ thread with Heap stuff, but this is going somewhere, I promise. Details here if anyone cares Jeep LS
The Jeep went up for sale, as I had "done that" and wanted to come over to the Toyota side. Specifically, I most wanted an FJ45. Found a few, nothing quite hit. Got in touch with a wheeling buddy of mine and asked if he knew of anyone looking to trade something for a Jeep LJ. Low and behold, he sends me a pic
I haven't even told him I'm looking for a Toyota, let alone an FJ. He's a rover guy, so I figured I might get a shot at a nice series truck or defender. So, I send back "definitely interested".
Deal is struck, and we are definitely on.
It's a Proffitts Stage 3 frame off restoration from a few years ago, back when they were still doing a lot of 4BT conversions. To make room for the Cummins, it is a SOA build. All the usual goodies, plus ARBs front and rear. H55 5 speed and split case. I'm not a huge fan of the roof rack or the current wheel/tire set up, but overall it looks like an interesting new project. Owner gets a jeep that he wants to match a CJ-2a and classic Power wagon project, and I finally get an FJ40. Not a 45, but close enough for a start.
Negotiated into the deal is a Cummins R2.8 repower motor still in the crate. And a broken frame and rotted body BJ40 with decent axles, running motor and good trans/t-case
I've been digging around here for a couple of years, but now have dug in fairly deeply on what I can find about these SOA and 4BT swaps. Seems to be a mixed bag of opinions as always, but they tend toward "it's a farm implement, too loud, too many vibrations you'll hate it" for the Cummins. For the SOA, also a mixed bag. Done properly, which I assume this is, seem to be pretty easy to live with. Just TALL. I do wheel, so the capability is desirable. Will I wheel this particular rig enough to justify a SOA set up vs an OME 2.5 and 33s? doubtful.
3 ways this can go, and I am undecided which is really the best. Opinions welcome.
1. Drive it as it is, accept the compromises of the Cummins and SOA, have a very capable wheeling rig. "Don't fix what isn't broken". This is easy, and is at least how things will start. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit into my garage at home so it may be offsite and some distance from me for now. Not ideal.
2. Plan to put the R2.8 repower into the truck, and do a SUA reversion. Sell the 4BT. I've already spoken with Proffitts about this, and they are the easy answer. I put feelers out to Valley Hybrids and Torfab, but have not heard back from them. My brother and I could do it, not strangers to engine swaps, labor and time vs money. As the H55 and adapter is already there, the re-engineering is somewhat less than usual on a repower. More money and time, but it will be a perfect FJ40 at that point.
3. What I really want is an FJ45LPB. It doesn't really need to be a true frame off like this Stage 3 Proffitts, I'd rather have a clean driver. Do I sell the FJ40 as it sits and find a 45? Maybe easier said than done. If I'm going through the repower and SUA expense and work involved, do it on the truck I want the most. That said, I do really like a FJ40, and the heavy lifting is done on the one I have. This is the most expensive option in all likely reality.
So, those are the options. There isn't really a true perfect answer, I'm just putting out there as my thoughts right up front. We'll see. If there is a unicorn out there who happens to want a 4BT/SOA restored FJ40 and by some miracle has an FJ45 and wants to talk trade, by all means hit me up. Otherwise, time will tell.
From a technical standpoint, I have found many great threads on the R2.8 conversion. A ton of very helpful pics, tips, parts, etc. I won't reinvent the wheel here as I don't have any unanswered specific questions yet.
Less clear is the SOA to SUA conversion. I can't find much about that direction. I assume this had a proper cut and turn. As I am getting the BJ40 with the project, it will have axle housings/full axles I could rehab and use. Some questions I do have:
1. Is there any reason the BJ axles wouldn't work? Will the 3rds, axle shafts, etc work with that housing or do I need to rebuild what is there? How much of PITA would it be to cut and turn the axles back to stock? Any reason this couldn't be done?
2. Are the spring perches modified for an SOA? I haven't found a thread indicating yes, but I can't seem to confirm no. Bottom line, will new springs drop in?
3. Assuming I drop an OME 2.5 kit in, with appropriate axles either re-cut and turn or new, what else will I need to change? Steering components? Knuckles?
Any help appreciated, and I will post more pics and info as I get this ball rolling. Thanks to all for so much useful information and the time that took to get it out there for the rest of us.