Motor Swap?

[Brock]

Have a 84 FJ60....original paint..no rust....light mods such as body lift, tires, new Warn hubs, etc....but mostly stock.

I never drive it and it has been at my dads place in a nice garage for a while...it was his before then mine...but thinking it is going to be his again. I dont have the room or the time to drive it...and frankly enjoy my FJ Cruiser.

If he starts driving it a lot....he wants to put a V8 in it...I tried to talk him into a diesel but if he is paying for the swap who am i to argue. as it will come back to me unless he wrecks it sooner or later. LOL

I got him talked into a small block v8, automatic tranny as he cant push a clutch a lot with his legs...diabetes. So told him he is going to need to spend some money to make it work and reliable.

Any good combinations you guys know of like the vortec chevy v8 with a 700 tranny. What is easiest and most reliable swap for drivetrain...any big considerations..

finally, he wont do it himself...he does not have energy to do it....so would pay someone to do it. Are there any good shops near Upstate of South Carolina (North Georgia, Western NC, Upstate) that do Toyota work like this for him to go to?

I really wanted to get it down here to Charleston and make it a expedition rig but my FJ is almost there now......plus I dont have the room in drive or garage with my motorcycle...wifes car...daughters car...etc. when she gets out of college in another couple years and off on her own...then I can consider it. But he gave it to me...so me giving it back for him to enjoy is only fair. Thanks for any comments up front.....

 

[RockDoc]

Do a search on threads started by Iaintscared1969. That's a suggestion for learning what combos work, and also for who you might consider to do the deed.

 

[Downey]

The late model Vortec engines seem to be the most popular swapping bait, but keep in mind that tranny choice may well be dictated by engine choice. The 1985-92'ish engines will use a 700R4, but their ECU will not support a 4L60E tranny. The 1993-newer engines will use a 4L60E tranny because the older 700R4 will not support the newer engine's ECU (unless you can do some reprogramming to match the electronic engine with a non-electronic tranny).

 

[fowldarr]

I second what rockdoc said, iain'tscared has done some really clean work, I think he is in Tx, but if you want it done right...

 

[MANUCHAO]

That is one sweet looking truck you got there eh....

It has the PERFECTO color if you as me

Check out the FAQ section and you will find lots of info on engine swaps... and yes Randy is the man to go to if you dont have the will to do it yahself..

Did I mentioned what a bitchen rig yah go there ???
Oh and I was referring to the FJ60

Good luck to yah !!

 

[Brock]

Thanks.... anybody got feedback on the Man-a-fre performance rebuild kit...or their work in general. Might just do the performance rebuild to their specs....to refresh and put the 2F on viagra.....and then see what I (we) want after that is done.

Thanks for the PMs and help to everyone...

 

[lehiguy]

Thanks.... anybody got feedback on the Man-a-fre performance rebuild kit...or their work in general. Might just do the performance rebuild to their specs....to refresh and put the 2F on viagra.....and then see what I (we) want after that is done.

Thanks for the PMs and help to everyone...

I'm more than a bit soured on MAF. I have spent too much money on their products that turned out to be junk and ruined more expensive parts on the way, like thier lifters; too soft and undersized resulting in mushrooming and the destruction of my camshaft. I haven't given them a dime since all that stupidity.

Anyway, about Chevy power. You can get a Vortec 350 ('96 to '99) and an ECU for a motor with a manual trans and then mate that to a 700R4 without the complications that come from using a PCM from a rig that had an automatic. Or to keep it even more simple and less expensive, check out www.tbichips.com and take a look at some of the project vehicles and the power that they can make on a TBI system. These are about a dime a dozen in wrecking yards, they are super simple and most came mated to 700R4s anyway.