Need for Speed

[greenbeast]

If i wanna go little faster with the beast (8/76) original 2 f, and I mean more than 55 with sounding like topped out! I have no desire to do much faster but want my daily driver to be somewhat competitive on the highway instead of impedence of traffic! is it just swapping to new tranny with 5 gear? What other items would need to change or swap gearing? Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

 

[Source3]

is it just swapping to new tranny with 5 gear?

Hint: search "tranny swap" or similar terminology. Spend a good three to four hours reading about your options.

If you do not want to swap your tanny perhaps bigger tires or swap differential gear ratio from 4.10 to 3.73.

 

[Ron B]

Source is right, tires and diff,s are the easist but your speedometer is going to be off with bigger tires. Learn to let them pass and wave as they go by.

 

[D'Animal]

Buy a different vehicle if you want to go fast.


Tractors were not built to get speeding tickets.





Before you go with the H55 swap. Look closely at the ratio of 4th gear in the H42 and the 5th gear in the H55. If I recall, you will loose about 300 RPM when doing 60mph between the transmissions.

Search posts by "CruiserDrew" Key Word "H55" or "H55F" for more information than you ever wanted to know.

My 1976 FJ 40 will go faster than I want to drive it. 2F, H42 will do 80 mph + at 3200 rpm on 35's.

 

[Weedhopper]

Mine is tapped out at about 50 - 55. I consider that a safety factor. If I was going 70 and had to evade someone or panic stop it would be all over for me...

 

[nspctr1]

This has been a topic of conversation for a long, long time. There are some on this board who profess that with a good tune up and all of the stars aligned just right , they can go 60 plus mph. In all of the cruisers I've owned I've never been able to achieve that feat. 55 to 60 was about the fastest I could travel without killing the beasts except in my swapped ones. Leave it alone and realize that if you want to go faster you will either end up swapping motors or buying a different vehicle. my .02

PS, I love my sbc 40, it has power when needed, I can find parts anywhere and it's still easy to work on.

 

[uhaider]

I can do 70 mph, easy. Must be the 3.73 gear ratio that helps.

 

[lc69hunter]

I have a 69 FJ40 with stock tranny and rear end. I have 33X9.50 tires on it.

When I built up a 2F out of a 77, I had it balanced. I also have a Downey cam, headers and DUI ignition, and a Holley 2bbl.

I can run 75 all day. However, as mentioned before, do I really want to in a short wheel base vehicle not made for those speeds?

I hunted all last week on the Rim east of Payson AZ. I hauled a trailer from Tucson up there, and ran 60-65 most of the way. And, got 14 mpg doing it.

 

[greenbeast]

Not even looking for 70 - 75, I recognize that there is pretty decent risk associated with that and not very forgiving, she loves to run 50 to 55, Im running 31's, the 35's that were on her when i bought it were punishing in speed and wandering on road ( another issue that is much impr, with smaller tires). I also recognize that i didn't buy a dragster here nor did I want one, just have read in previous posts that I may be able to squeeze a little more speed out of her. The differential may be way to go when it comes down to it. She does still outrun my tractor though!!

 

[Vicm]

Not even looking for 70 - 75, I recognize that there is pretty decent risk associated with that and not very forgiving, she loves to run 50 to 55, Im running 31's, the 35's that were on her when i bought it were punishing in speed and wandering on road ( another issue that is much impr, with smaller tires). I also recognize that i didn't buy a dragster here nor did I want one, just have read in previous posts that I may be able to squeeze a little more speed out of her. The differential may be way to go when it comes down to it. She does still outrun my tractor though!!

I have had, 33s and 31s on mine with 3.7 and h41.
Mainly intown driving and some highway travells. The best compo for me when I swaped H42 and 32" tires. Not as loud , and easier to handle and I can do 90-100 on the highway. KMS that is. On our Canadian Highways , the minimum speed is 80mk/hr unless otherwise posted.
There is never an easy way out when it comes to cruisers ,I find,
when you want to make changes..
I also believe a 40 is not the best candidate for a daily driver. I would rather a 60 .