Lower gears, transfer case questions...

[REZARF]

Howdy,

I am not hardcore but thought I would post up here to get a few opinions.

I rode with a friend yesterday on a few trails here in Colorado who installed some transfer case gears in his 4runner. I think the xcase gears were around 4.9ish? Anyhow, the crawling was amazing. Around 90:1 with 4.88's

What are similar options for the fj40? This is a daily driver and tranny swaps are not in the cards, I like my butter smooth shifter.

I am stock 2f and 76 fj40 xcase. Just thought I would ask, I like the on road gearing for now, but slowing up the slow range would be cool.

Thanks!

Rezarf <><

 

[dacicci]

2nd t case is nice on when you want it off when you don't but get out your check book nothing about gearing is cheap. i think marlin makes the best stuff but for a 40 it aint cheap.

 

[BeaterToyota]

i think marlin makes the best stuff but for a 40 it aint cheap.

x2

http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/transfercase/toy_box.htm




I have a dual case setup in my pickup, each case with stock gears, and it is awesome. I still have stock low range when using one case (2.28:1) and then I have about 5.2:1 when both cases are in low.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I don't think there are any options available to change gearing in a stock FJ40 t-case.

Which leaves you with a second t-case, Orion t-case or a SM420.

Second t-case means removeing/relocating the rear cross member. Adding a transmission mount. And shortening the rear drive line/lengthening the front. Fairly expensive.

The Orion case is 4:1 which is kind of slow for many conditions. And not a cheap option.

I've never driven a 40 with a sm420 but I've driven a lot of work trucks with them.
You just drive it like a three speed on the street, 2 - 4 are syncro so a good working SM420 should shift as easy as a stock Toyota 4 speed. NOS SM420's are available, and the adaptor plates can be found new or used. This is probably the cheapest option.

 

[REZARF]

x2

http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/transfercase/toy_box.htm




I have a dual case setup in my pickup, each case with stock gears, and it is awesome. I still have stock low range when using one case (2.28:1) and then I have about 5.2:1 when both cases are in low.

Wow, that costs a bit more than I was expecting. Are there options if I swapped to a split case?

Two cases would start to give me drivetrain length issues for sure wouldn't it?

Rezarf <><

 

[AlaskanWheeler]

There are lower gears for the split case; man-a-fre is the only vender that I know of that sells them. About 1600.00 for a set; they aren't cheap either.

 

[2badfjs]

hey drew.
do some research on what it would take to put a ten spline sm465 in your rig
all i know is you would at least need a three speed bell housing (easy enough to find)
but i dont know abour what adapter you would need for the t-case.

reason i bring this up is, i have a good working sm465 sitting in my garage.
if you can go that route, let me know.
i'll hook you up!

jim

you would still have to do some driveline mods for sure.

 

[bustanutley]

if you go sm420 from a toyota 4 speed you can get away without driveshaft mods...

Personally I love my sm420, I still think it is the best thing I have done to my cruiser, note that it was the first thing I did.

That said i'm thinking about going dual cases in the future, either h42/toybox/splitcase, h42/toybox/minitruck, or all mini truck running gear. My 420 is almost low enough for about everything, but a 80-100:1 option would be really nice. Tighter gears on the street would be nice, especially for driving up mt. passes, dropping to third really is a drag with the 420. Maybe a turbo would be a good solution Orion is too deep all the time IMO, running in sand or snow wouldn't be very fun, so a middle range is good to have.

Oh and the super deep marlin gears are 4.7:1

 

[Poser]

Howdy,

I am not hardcore but thought I would post up here to get a few opinions.

I rode with a friend yesterday on a few trails here in Colorado who installed some transfer case gears in his 4runner. I think the xcase gears were around 4.9ish? Anyhow, the crawling was amazing. Around 90:1 with 4.88's

What are similar options for the fj40? This is a daily driver and tranny swaps are not in the cards, I like my butter smooth shifter.

I am stock 2f and 76 fj40 xcase. Just thought I would ask, I like the on road gearing for now, but slowing up the slow range would be cool.

Thanks!

Rezarf <><

Install a 4:1 Orion and be done with it.


That alone will take you from 27:1 low range to 57:1 and you will not need any other modifications.


You are not going to be out pounding big rocks, it will give you a far better low range, and leave your transmission that you like so much in place changing nothing about your street driving.



Good luck!


-Steve

 

[REZARF]

Thanks guys,

I need to get behind a sm420 and see how it shifts, seems like a popular option.

Steve, I have heard a lot of bad things with the orion (mostly here on mud) have they worked all the bugs out?

Thanks-

Rezarf <><

 

[rusty_tlc]

Thanks guys,

I need to get behind a sm420 and see how it shifts, seems like a popular option.

Steve, I have heard a lot of bad things with the orion (mostly here on mud) have they worked all the bugs out?

Thanks-

Rezarf <><

I have the Orion/Toy box option.

I wish I had done the SM420/465 route first. Not because of anything wrong with the Orion. But because I would been back wheeling a lot faster.

I didn't want just the Orion because, as bustanutley mentioned, I felt the gearing was way to low for a lot of the trails and conditions I drive. The Toy box with 2.28:1 gears are close enough to stock for me. I could have gone with the standard T-case/Toy box but had a moment of weakness and told me if I was in there I might as well do it all. I think she has started to regret that decision.

 

[bustanutley]

Advanced Adapters has worked the bugs out of the Orion and it is a good option, just not the option I want to take. It is pretty much the second cheepest option next to a sm420 or sm465. It is definitely the most straight foward, one could be easily be installed in a day.

Drew you are welcome to drive my cruiser when it is back together, hopfully a week....?

 

[Tigerstripe40]

I DD an SM420 driven FJ40.
On the street it's just fine.

The only time I really miss the H42 is when I drive over the mountain pass on the freeway. the spread between 3rd and 4th is a little wide, but it's liveable considering what the SM420 does and how little I spent on the swap...

Also, I put in a NEW old stock SM420.
Shifts really nicely, and you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between it and an H42.

 

[VETTE60]

toy box...

 

[Advent]

There's a 3:1 Orion now.

 

[Poser]

There's a 3:1 Orion now.

A lot of work and money for a 1.1 gain....





He seemed to be wanting to keep the H42, and unless he was really going to go out and start pounding rocks with the truck and install some 37"+ tires, there is no reason for a 420/465 or the exspense and involvement of a toybox...


I completly agree that bang for the buck, you cannot beat a 420/465, as after 4WD brakes and PS, the 420 was installed in my Red truck, but again, if you want a clean, quality unit, there is nothing out there other than the Orion case that can even touch it.


Drew-


What is your planned use for this truck I think is a far better question...

 

[Tapage]

Really deep rock crawling ..

3.08:1 Marks Low Gear set .. and Orion 4:1 with 4.88 =

 

[Poser]

Really deep rock crawling ..

3.08:1 Marks Low Gear set .. and Orion 4:1 with 4.88 =

WTF are you talking about?


In what case?


How are you going to mate a split case to a one-piece case?

 

[Tapage]

WTF are you talking about?

Toy tranny + some $$$$ burns in Orion ( Klune V ) + Split case with more $$$ burned in Marks low gear set ..

my dream !

 

[bustanutley]

Toy tranny + some $$$$ burns in Orion ( Klune V ) + Split case with more $$$ burned in Marks low gear set ..

my dream !

That makes even less sense

h42 or h41/toybox/split case with marks gears; This is a real option. I would take a toybox over a klune V anyday.