low range options help!!!????

[jnzol69]

OK Here we go, a question thats been probably asked a million times here and replied to but I don't have enough tabs or browser windows to read everything...
Heres what I have

1969 fj40 2f h42 trans, original 3speed transfer case, 4.11 gears and 35 toyos. for everyday driving and light 4wd is great but crawling stinks. I dont have the means to spend a fortune on some kind of box with tons of sticks sticking out j/k..

I figure right now I have the following ratio: 1st 3.55:1, 2.31 low and 4.11= 33.70:1 I am no scientist but thats not that low and lately been burning the clutch or stalling to crawl.

what are my options???
I am considering a sm420 for the 7:1 granny to give me a ratio with the transfer case I have of 66.85:1 much better. right now seems least expensive due to cost of a 420 and either a plate or A/A adapter and clutch accessories.

the orion box a little spendy would get me to 58:1

now I just recently looked at marlins website and found 4.70:1 Gear Kit for your 1979-1995 Toyota gear drive transfer case for $550.. I can get a split case from a friend for little to nothing but dont know how its adapted to my 4 speed and can i keep my parking brake somehow. I called them today and they seemed not to know what I was talking about or I was asking the wrong questions and the sales guy was saying I need a 1800 dollar toybox with the split case behind it.

and now I find downey has a 5:1 gear set for that mini case no price given but that would get me down to 72.95:1 sounds pretty impressive and if and when I need a new tranny I might opt for the non usa h55 or h41 to get down to 98.6:1 WOW.

Help my mind is gonna blow up
the mini truck transfer case with marlins or downeys gear set seems to be the ticket but is it? anybody done it, is it possible even to adapt it to the 4 speed I have. please shoot me some ideas or some advil. thanks in advance... Curt

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

None of that mini-truck stuff is gonna work on your rig (sorry!)

The only "bolt-on" low gearing option for your FJ40 is the Orion 4 to 1 t-case from AA (Advance Adapters.)

Yes, there are other deep gearing options. Such as swapping in lower differential gears (4.56, 4.88. 5.29) but your street/highway driving will suffer.

Swapping in lower-geared transmission, such as a Toyota H41 or H55F, or the Saginaw-Muncie 420 or 465, or even the New Process 435 will not affect your highway driving but will be helpful while trail running. These will most likely require adapters and drive shaft modifications.

Good luck!

Alan

 

[BELMONT148]

Mini truck stuff is out for you right now. It is costly, unavailable and requires a lot of modifications. Save up for the Orion, or get an H41 now and live with 47:1 until you can add an Orion later and bump it up to 82:1. Both if these will be the cheapest, and best bang for your buck. They will simply bolt in with no other driveline or crossmember modifications. When you are dreaming up a plan, don't forget all the little extras that add up. An H41 and/or Orion has virtually no "extras" to have to consider.

Jeremy

 

[jnzol69]

thanks for the reply's I guess reading about the Toyota stuff I just assumed it should fit somehow. about the Orion some years ago I was riding in a friends rig going down Cadillac hill and his new Orion popped out of gear into neutral I can't believe nothing broke as he recovered and mashed the brake pedal all I needed was a clean pair of shorts. Any body still having problems like this? I swore I wouldn't add that to my list at the time... Any of the granny gear boxes complaints about gearing is that off road or on road. Is it just like driving a loaded dump truck and having to downshift on hills and such? thanks

 

[jnzol69]

I dont suppose the orions come up used ever, I guess once you have one you keep it for good... gold like

 

[jnzol69]

so to your knowledge nobody out there makes a adapter for a a mini truck transfer case to stock toyota tranny h42 or h55. I came across a site OTT Industries - the originals and it looks like they made an adapter from a sm420/465 to mini case. Am I missing something as to why nobody has come up with a plat or housing adapter, and focusing mor on the orion and toybox?? Is it because of the centered rear driveshaft?

 

[bkfj40]

Marlin makes an adapter for you but it isn't cheap. I have the Sm465 in my 55 with 36s and a 2f. It works good for wheeling and isn't bad on the street. I think it is the best low buck option.

 

[jnzol69]

you wouldn't have a part number or can i find it on their site somewhere, how do you feel about the 465 gearing spread pita or not a big deal? thanks

 

[HunterMcC1]

You won't be disappointed with the Muncie420 if you swap one in. It is a very painless install actually. Get your hands on the 3 speed bellhousing, a hydraulic clutch set-up from an older cruiser (3sp) (or CCOT), and then you can find the adapter plate that marries the 3speed t-case to the tranny for a couple hundred bucks on the high end. The driveshafts are going to be the big $$$ assuming you drive yours on the street. On mine we used wagon springs in the rear (FJ55), so the rear driveline I am running now is my old front driveline uncut, and my front driveline is cut down from a wagon rear driveline, your slip yokes interchange from large flange to small flange. Best bang for the buck for sure, and it is a days worth of work. That and trail riding I have noticed is mainly 3rd low, 2nd gear low range wil get you through almost any hole and 1st gear hanrdly ever gets used. I am running 39.5" Boggers and 4.88's with a 1F. Careful though, all the extra torque will break some serious parts when you stuff the tires into holes

 

[bkfj40]

I was disappointed with the 420 that I drove. The 465 is much nicer to drive on the street

 

[HunterMcC1]

what's the difference in gears on the 465?? I know the 420 there are big gaps between the gears... that is the only downside so far

 

[4x4Poet]

I think you're like me when it comes to upgrading my cruiser. If it ain't going on like stock OEM, I have a million questions. Take another look at this advice:

... Save up for the Orion, or get an H41 now and live with 47:1 until you can add an Orion later and bump it up to 82:1. Both if these will be the cheapest, and best bang for your buck. They will simply bolt in with no other driveline or crossmember modifications. When you are dreaming up a plan, don't forget all the little extras that add up. An H41 and/or Orion has virtually no "extras" to have to consider...Jeremy

An low mileage H41 costs about $600. Maybe more. Definitely less than $1000.

And that's it. No other surprises unless the H41 arrives in need of a rebuild which should be a remote possibility if purchased through a reputable source.

The only remaining concern is the task of swapping the H42 for the H41. All other questions and concerns go away. Even the rev limits of an unbalanced 2F are a minor issue with the H41 compared to SM420/465s.

A final crawl ratio of 47:1 is more than liveable. Its close to a new J**p Rubicon. Besides, IIRC, Advance Adapters has put off making Orions for a while which gives you time to save up.

Unless you know something you're not telling us, easy seems better for you.

 

[jnzol69]

heres another idea out there- the drive trane out of my 73 chevy 1ton- sm465 to lomax 3:1 np205, great combo on the chevy which has thrown a rod... what about the center output could a driveshaft be run at an offset like that? better with cardan joint? not really looking to swap rear end enless something fits pretty easily

 

[EWheeler]

You would want to run a centered rear axle. You could swap in a mini-truck rear axle or build a hybrid centered Landcriser axle to keep the larger ring gear.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

For the low buck, effective, great solution: get an SM420. Really it's a great set up in a 40, and is all the gearing you need for almost anything. If you still want more, you can always do an Orion combined with the SM420.

For just a bit more money, an Orion with what you have now would be awesome.

 

[Eric_S]

When I had 33s, I thought the 2F-SM420 was a good combo and was not too bad to drive on the street. It was not like a stock tranny, but it was fairly good. Like Lil'John said, there is a lag between gears so do not plan on racing anyone or sticking your nose out in traffic and expect to go somewhere fast.

However, with 38s and 5.13s, the 2F-SM420 is real dog, but I am OK with it since it is just a TOY and not a daily driver.

 

[jnzol69]

yea that seems to be the way Im leaning twards cheaped bang for the buck and if its not enough can always add orion later and maybe Ed MaCman will finally come by and give me the big check and I can get custom 60's under this beast and a diesel. ha ha