My frame off is coming to the point where it's time to decide what to do with my cruiser engine tranny needs. Here's where it stands. Starting weld up of new Pacoline body (to be powder coated), and just put 1st zinc primer powder coating on frame. I plan on using this as a casual driver on weekends and fishing get away machine. It is a 79 and I am keeping the AC system, PS and PB on it. I am leaning hard toward a 5.3 or 6.0 GM set up and have been looking at an advance adapter setup to use my stock toyota 4 speed and transfer case, but I'm afraid it won't last too long with so much extra power. I would prefer a 5 speed but am not dead set against an auto trans. Transfer case ( both mounting on pass. side and push button versus shifter) and axle alignment have me worried. I have yet to find a manual trans with 4x4 in a gen 3 motor online (which seems to be the most straight forward approach). Any opinions or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Bryan
New FJ40 Power Train Advise Needed Please
- Thread starter riverrock
- Start date
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casual driver and weekend fishing? keep the 2F.. why would you need to change the drive train?
good call with the zinc primer btw
good call with the zinc primer btw
- Thread starter
- #4
By the time I buy the 2f rebuild kit, carb rebuild, machining, rebuild labor and new radiator, it will be about the same cost as a swap including adapters. I'm sure I've left something out though. Thanks for the thoughts everone.
350 is a common conversion, I have a 79 2f and a 74 350 sbc. havent driven the 2f in 2 months. Love the 350.
I may have missed it in an earlier post by you... but whats wrong with the 2F right now? why does it need a rebuild?
- Thread starter
- #7
Nothing is wrong with the 2f as far as I know other than 30 years old and X79,000 miles. I don't think it would make sense to do a frame off nut and bolt and a new body without freshening the engine. Also, I will doing the motor/ tranny installation. I guess the reason that I am looking to do a modern powertrain conversion is I have done 5 original type restorations with vettes and chris craft boats and I never get to spend much time using them - only working on them. This time I would like to build something nice to use and enjoy.
I DO see where you are coming from.. i've technically only heard my motor run for like 30 sec and im also doing a frame off.. but when the motor fired up and purred without a choke and when i took the oil pan off and it looked very clean inside with no metal shavings in the pan.. I decided to save myself the trouble and $$$ and just run it. I didn't have the means to do a compression test even though i should have. but i'll adjust the valves and call it a day once it gets going again. this was also 'faster' for me too so I can get the truck back together the way it came apart - you sound like you have A LOT more experience than me so it would be much less difficult for you then me to do an engine swap
EDIT: i was just questioning why not use the 2f?? because all of the local cruiser heads when i first started this project brought the question to me
EDIT: i was just questioning why not use the 2f?? because all of the local cruiser heads when i first started this project brought the question to me
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