***Make my FJ40 more of a daily driver???

[FJsnoozer]

Hmm. My fiancé's old TJ used to handle like it was on rails with 33x12.5s wrangler MTs and a nice little left. It was god awful in the rain however and would regularly skid up to lights because of the abs.

Wide tires will definitely track badly and will show weak spots in the steering an suspension.

 

[Pighead]

I have a 1968 FJ40 i want to be able to cruise at 65-75 mph

You need either an attitude adjustment or another car.

 

[Mace]

40's go 65-75 easily.

No reason at all that they can't.

 

[MicahMan]

P.S. I love my Jetta TDI. Average over 40 mpg.

As for the 40 65-70 is where it sits until I hit spanish fork canyon to Moab

 

[shelfboy1]

fj40s were my dds for 41 years dont know how i did it.geuss i didnt know any better since it was my first vehicle.now i drive a bobber and a 42 gmc 6x6 makes the cruiser feel like a rocket when i drive it.

 

[onemanarmy]

I don't know how you all are getting 2F rigs to 60-70 mph. My 55 does 50 mph at 2500 rpm and does not like it. You'd have to be close to redline

 

[Weber Sarge]

Mine with stock 4.10's , 33" tires will easily run right at 80mph before it sounds like the engine is gonna fly apart - mind you the rest of the vehicle may be comfortable with that speed , but it's doable...
Sarge

 

[1911]

I don't know how you all are getting 2F rigs to 60-70 mph. My 55 does 50 mph at 2500 rpm and does not like it. You'd have to be close to redline

My 1980 with stock 3.70 diffs and 33" tires (and a tach) is pulling 2500 rpm to go 65, and 2650 rpm to go 70. It will do that all day no problem.

 

[AdamKFarmer]

My 1980 with stock 3.70 diffs and 33" tires (and a tach) is pulling 2500 rpm to go 65, and 2650 rpm to go 70. It will do that all day no problem.

I 2nd this, my '82 does this no sweat, same setup.

 

[onemanarmy]

Well that is why I have 3.70 thirds to go in my 55, and 33s in the near future...good to know

 

[Poser]

Sell the L/C and buy a Jetta

Best advice yet.

 

[Poser]

I bet that 99% of the folks that are bothered by the screaming of their engines at hwy speeds don't have fan clutches.

Fan clutch was not a factory piece on 1976 and earlier trucks.





Do you have a fan/fan clutch application for a F engine fan/water pump combination?





.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

Before I went to 4.88's I used to run 70-75 down the freeway (on flat ground) with the motor turning about 3200 rpms. (truck is riding 35" MTR's). After the 4.88s 60-65 is about the fastest I can go now (32--3400 rpms). But on the trail the 4.88's put a big grin on my face

In your situation, I will echo previous comments and suggest swapping in an H55f. You would also want to swap in a rear end from a early 80s FJ40 so you can have a parking brake.

 

[907FJ]

Some day soon I am going to do a build thread on this whole idea of turning a FJ40 into a daily driver that is just as comfy on the highway as it is on the trail. This is what I set out to to for my wife when we bought ours two years ago. It is a 75.

I have not done the thread yet because I am embarrassed by my naive assumptions at the onset of this undertaking. Anyway, I am running a 2F with ceramic tuned headers and HEI ignition, so maybe a very mild increase over stock power. We converted to an H55F, 35x12.5 tires, kept the stock gears and did an SOA with spring flips, hoping to gain some perception of increase stability with the longer wheel base (justification but it sure sounds good).

We converted to mini-truck power steering at first, and I hated it. Seeking the ultimate steering, recently went to a saginaw conversion with full PSC ram assist components.

This is stupid expensive and well beyond where I thought I would be at this point in the build. But.....the rig steers with one finger (but I use both hands) and the steering is very tight and smooth on the road. Stop to stop without the slightest resistance parked on dry pavement. The engine purrs smoothly at 65 mph. On steep hills, that's what fourth is for as mentioned earlier in this thread. I had thought about going the the later 3.70 gears but I am sure glad I avoided that mistake, since the rig is a bit under-geared with this combination currently.

Add in a tilt steering column and smaller wheel, and many other creature comforts to be covered later and, well, she's a pretty decent DD for a fast tractor! I am still in pursuit of the ultimate on / off road FJ40 combination. The bottom line is that this goal is a deep rabbit hole indeed.

The punch line here is that I would never want to drive it over 65 on the highway. It does so without the slightest complaint and up the hills as well. But just can't argue with geometry and gravity now can you? But, I never planned on needing or wanting to drive over 65 so this part is not frustrating at all. So, you can make one a lot smoother, quieter and easier to drive but I share the opinions of others here who would question excessive speed as part of that goal.


Rob

 

[animalk]

53 mpg?!

Good advice! I got 1963 fj40 in pieces being rebuilt, and 2000 Jetta Tdi making 53 mpg
Fj is getting 241 Hemi, 4 speed, with ranger over drive Jetta just don't do trails

Hey Tdi363,

I currently have a FJ40 with a 383 stroker sbc and sm420 tranny. I want the most fuel efficient build for my fj40..you mentioned you got 53mpg with a jetta tdi or am I not understanding what you're saying haha? Could you give me some advice on a possible conversion? That's amazing! Must be an amazing rig. What are the pros and cons to your build? Any help would be greatly appreciated

Cheers,
Kay

 

[SC Forester]

I know this is an old thread but I have to ask, how the heck are you driving your FJ’s 70 mph?! Mine pulls right, then pulls left, then straightens out, then pulls left, then pulls right, and if the road has any potholes or cracks in it, it starts wobbling. I can’t go 40 mph in it safely. Is this normal? I’d like to be able to drive it a little more on the road but it’s dangerous as $&@!.
It’s a 1974 with no lift. Is running 32x11.50x15 tires. Three speed transmission. When you get over 40 mph it is like a hammock swinging back and forth. Btw, I had a 1973 that was basically the same and it didn’t drive any better. I just figured an FJ40 had to be driven at a max of 35-40 mph. Am I wrong? Have I owned two with bad front end issues?

 

[brian]

I know this is an old thread but I have to ask, how the heck are you driving your FJ’s 70 mph?! Mine pulls right, then pulls left, then straightens out, then pulls left, then pulls right, and if the road has any potholes or cracks in it, it starts wobbling. I can’t go 40 mph in it safely. Is this normal? I’d like to be able to drive it a little more on the road but it’s dangerous as $&@!.
It’s a 1974 with no lift. Is running 32x11.50x15 tires. Three speed transmission. When you get over 40 mph it is like a hammock swinging back and forth. Btw, I had a 1973 that was basically the same and it didn’t drive any better. I just figured an FJ40 had to be driven at a max of 35-40 mph. Am I wrong? Have I owned two with bad front end issues?

fix your junk, of course that is not "normal".

 

[White Stripe]

No not normal. Most cruisers by now have lots of steering and suspension components that are worn out. You you to diagnose and repair those.

 

[franklin40]

yep you’ve got something not right. check that you’ve got radial tires not bias ply. then check your steering links and steering box. check your suspension bushings. check your trunion bearings. all of those things can cause steering wander. you should’ve able to drive highway speed safely. you definitely have some problems!!

 

[gericurl]

I know this is an old thread but I have to ask, how the heck are you driving your FJ’s 70 mph?! Mine pulls right, then pulls left, then straightens out, then pulls left, then pulls right, and if the road has any potholes or cracks in it, it starts wobbling. I can’t go 40 mph in it safely. Is this normal? I’d like to be able to drive it a little more on the road but it’s dangerous as $&@!.
It’s a 1974 with no lift. Is running 32x11.50x15 tires. Three speed transmission. When you get over 40 mph it is like a hammock swinging back and forth. Btw, I had a 1973 that was basically the same and it didn’t drive any better. I just figured an FJ40 had to be driven at a max of 35-40 mph. Am I wrong? Have I owned two with bad front end issues?

'74 would be a 4 speed? at least mine is.