Steve Abbott
SILVER Star
Newbie here looking to purchase a clean 1965 FJ40 but I don't have a lot of experience with these things. My attraction to this particular 40 is that is extremely rust free BUT has an existing half-assed 350 and auto tranny swap. If I purchase this, I would really like to swap out the slush box for a 4 or five speed tranny. The existing V8 swap potentially needs redone anyway to solve some clearance issues with the steering column along with a few other small issues. It looks like the current brake booster is installed where the old clutch master cylinder might have been. The 40 also has had a GM tilt steering column hacked into the firewall.
Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time to research some of these things as thoroughly as i would like due to the pending sale, so I'm posting here to hopefully speed up the research. I'm trying to figure out how feasible and costly these changes will be before I buy this 40. So, the questions are as follows:
1) What are the best manual trannys to swap in with price and availability taken into consideration? A 5 speed would be my #1 choice but it looks like this might require a different transfer case - maybe a split case of some sort???
2) What are the best adapters to mate the manual up to the SB V8 and the transfer case?
3) What clutch / pressure plate parts are recommended for the V8 power?
4) Is there a good source for clutch pedal/parts, clutch master cylinder, brake master cylinder, etc. so I can get things back to fairly stock in the pedal box and engine compartment areas?
5) The transfer case crossmember & mount looks to be homemade. Where is a good place to source a good TC crossmember to use with the V8 & suggested manual tranny?
6) What is the best fitting tilt steering column for this particular 40?
7) I would like to determine if the current V8 motor mounts are in the correct location and if the engine is mounted at the correct height. Is there a source for measurements for this type of thing?
8) Is there anything else I need to be aware of?
Axle / disc brake upgrades will probably be needed in the future but I'm not too concerned with that right now.
Thanks in advance for your assistance! I'll be doing more research on this site tonight and tomorrow, but have to have the deal done for this 40 on Monday or it will be offered to the masses on Tuesday.
Steve
Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time to research some of these things as thoroughly as i would like due to the pending sale, so I'm posting here to hopefully speed up the research. I'm trying to figure out how feasible and costly these changes will be before I buy this 40. So, the questions are as follows:
1) What are the best manual trannys to swap in with price and availability taken into consideration? A 5 speed would be my #1 choice but it looks like this might require a different transfer case - maybe a split case of some sort???
2) What are the best adapters to mate the manual up to the SB V8 and the transfer case?
3) What clutch / pressure plate parts are recommended for the V8 power?
4) Is there a good source for clutch pedal/parts, clutch master cylinder, brake master cylinder, etc. so I can get things back to fairly stock in the pedal box and engine compartment areas?
5) The transfer case crossmember & mount looks to be homemade. Where is a good place to source a good TC crossmember to use with the V8 & suggested manual tranny?
6) What is the best fitting tilt steering column for this particular 40?
7) I would like to determine if the current V8 motor mounts are in the correct location and if the engine is mounted at the correct height. Is there a source for measurements for this type of thing?
8) Is there anything else I need to be aware of?
Axle / disc brake upgrades will probably be needed in the future but I'm not too concerned with that right now.
Thanks in advance for your assistance! I'll be doing more research on this site tonight and tomorrow, but have to have the deal done for this 40 on Monday or it will be offered to the masses on Tuesday.
Steve