The 6 cyl doesn't have enough power to overcome the parasitic loss of the auto. Autos are easier on other drivetrain parts if you have the power (V8) to back it up.
manual v. automatic
- Thread starter djwolf43
- Start date
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I had a 91 FJ80 with the 3FE and auto setup. Yeah, I know this is the 60's section - but our trucks have the same heart.
The 3FE was sluggish with the 33's, so regeared up one step to 4:88's which helped a lot, felt like stock again. I had a slow-shifting transmission with 230k on it - so it wasn't in the best of shape in general. Overheating was really common for me in Colorado climbing up the passes and wheeling at +10K feet above sea level.
Then I wanted to really wheel it - so since the 3FE is the same block as the 2F it was pretty easy to mate up a 4-speed bellhousing to it and get lower gearing from the manual tranny. I installed an H41 - Aussie 4-speed for the lower 1st gear. This matched with the 4.88's was a little steep - meaning I rarely started in 1st gear. Made me want bigger tires - or drop the gearing back....but I just kept it as is. I was able to find a Marlin ToyBox for the H41-Split-case setup...and this brought my overall crawl ratio to 300+:1 - which was great in the rocks.
Going with the manual set-up, the fuel mileage increased and I was around 16mpg in the city and 18 hwy. This was on a lifted FJ80 - which was pretty good and about the same as a 60.
If you're not looking to spend the $$ regearing, go with the H42 setup from a junk yard....clean it up and toss it in there. You'll have more than just the tranny to swap though - gotta put a clutch assy in there, clutch master cyl and such....so it's best to find a FJ60 at a junk yard and scavange all ya can off of what's left!
Post up some pics of your truck once ya get it!
The 3FE was sluggish with the 33's, so regeared up one step to 4:88's which helped a lot, felt like stock again. I had a slow-shifting transmission with 230k on it - so it wasn't in the best of shape in general. Overheating was really common for me in Colorado climbing up the passes and wheeling at +10K feet above sea level.
Then I wanted to really wheel it - so since the 3FE is the same block as the 2F it was pretty easy to mate up a 4-speed bellhousing to it and get lower gearing from the manual tranny. I installed an H41 - Aussie 4-speed for the lower 1st gear. This matched with the 4.88's was a little steep - meaning I rarely started in 1st gear. Made me want bigger tires - or drop the gearing back....but I just kept it as is. I was able to find a Marlin ToyBox for the H41-Split-case setup...and this brought my overall crawl ratio to 300+:1 - which was great in the rocks.
Going with the manual set-up, the fuel mileage increased and I was around 16mpg in the city and 18 hwy. This was on a lifted FJ80 - which was pretty good and about the same as a 60.
If you're not looking to spend the $$ regearing, go with the H42 setup from a junk yard....clean it up and toss it in there. You'll have more than just the tranny to swap though - gotta put a clutch assy in there, clutch master cyl and such....so it's best to find a FJ60 at a junk yard and scavange all ya can off of what's left!
Post up some pics of your truck once ya get it!
- Thread starter
- #23
I've always been a manual type guy. But the fact that you have to order a $2500 granny is making lean towards the automatic. This will be my daily driver, and I will be traveling on the freeway often (55-65 is the speed limit here in Oregon) so I think the auto is the best choice. But the loss of power that the auto sucks out, has me leaning towards the manual.
Is the a way to mount a SBC to the ti's automatic transfer? Maybe with an adapter plate or something?
Is the a way to mount a SBC to the ti's automatic transfer? Maybe with an adapter plate or something?
If you swap in a new engine you might as well swap in the same transmission that went with it.
My truck is on 35's with regeared 4.88 diffs and I have no trouble going 70 mph on the highway. I drive aggressively and get between 10 mpg and 12 mpg.
If you're not planning on offroading this truck and working on it yourself then there are better vehicles out there more suited for your purpose as a DD and weekend camping vehicle.
These trucks get pretty bad gas mileage. You might want to run some numbers and calculate how much a landcruiser will cost you in gas per month and then you may realize you can buy a newer SUV style camping vehicle that gets better mileage.
Have you looked at 4Runners, Tacomas, or the smaller older style tundra with the v8?
My truck is on 35's with regeared 4.88 diffs and I have no trouble going 70 mph on the highway. I drive aggressively and get between 10 mpg and 12 mpg.
If you're not planning on offroading this truck and working on it yourself then there are better vehicles out there more suited for your purpose as a DD and weekend camping vehicle.
These trucks get pretty bad gas mileage. You might want to run some numbers and calculate how much a landcruiser will cost you in gas per month and then you may realize you can buy a newer SUV style camping vehicle that gets better mileage.
Have you looked at 4Runners, Tacomas, or the smaller older style tundra with the v8?
Three out four of my manuals are 4 speeds so I don't really miss fifth that much. I'm not sure how much I could even use fifth in the mountainous area I live in, maybe down hill with a tail wind.
I couldn't imagine losing anymore power with an automatic. Automatics are only good for stop and go commuting, not a Cruiser strong point anyway.
I couldn't imagine losing anymore power with an automatic. Automatics are only good for stop and go commuting, not a Cruiser strong point anyway.
As has already been mentioned if you are swapping the engine just swap the engine, transmission, and mate it to the transfer case. There are dozens of threads explaining this process. I love my fuel injected v8 60. It has a 4l60e and can cruise at 85mph if I want or crawl as slow as I need to off road all while getting 13-14 around town and 17mpg on the highway if I keep it around 70. It would probably be even better if it weren't for the 6" lift and 35s.
Trust me from experience the 2f and 4spd steps you far enough back into time that the vehicle really doesn't perform well enough to use as your main car if you have frequent higher speed travel to deal with. Yes I could make my 2f scream and get up to speed but it is not happy and its sucks more fuel then a big block doing it. Any type of grade and your struggling to keep it in 3rd. If you are driving it once and a while and like the nostalgic feel it is a great vehicle but it was designed in the days of 55mph speed limits. For me its hard to rationalize a 2500$ transmission swap to a 5 spd only to mate it to a 115hp motor with one of the most complex smog systems I have ever seen. If a manual is your thing you would be miles a head to buy a 62, drive it until the transmission blows or decide you can't stand an auto and swap a h55f in to it.
I considered my options with the 60 but in the end it cost me 3k (500$ more than a h55 swap) and I had a smog legal v8 cruiser with A/C and a rebuilt/upgraded 4l60e. Best 3k I ever spent on a car hands down.
Personally if it doesn't have over 400hp and weigh under 4000lbs I have no need for a manual.
Trust me from experience the 2f and 4spd steps you far enough back into time that the vehicle really doesn't perform well enough to use as your main car if you have frequent higher speed travel to deal with. Yes I could make my 2f scream and get up to speed but it is not happy and its sucks more fuel then a big block doing it. Any type of grade and your struggling to keep it in 3rd. If you are driving it once and a while and like the nostalgic feel it is a great vehicle but it was designed in the days of 55mph speed limits. For me its hard to rationalize a 2500$ transmission swap to a 5 spd only to mate it to a 115hp motor with one of the most complex smog systems I have ever seen. If a manual is your thing you would be miles a head to buy a 62, drive it until the transmission blows or decide you can't stand an auto and swap a h55f in to it.
I considered my options with the 60 but in the end it cost me 3k (500$ more than a h55 swap) and I had a smog legal v8 cruiser with A/C and a rebuilt/upgraded 4l60e. Best 3k I ever spent on a car hands down.
Personally if it doesn't have over 400hp and weigh under 4000lbs I have no need for a manual.