Opinions sought on F engine build.

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trainbufftony

Joined
Dec 30, 2022
Threads
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Messages
698
Location
Chico California
As some of you all may have noted from my classified Ad, I spun a rod bearing in my green FJ55.
Unfortunate, but not unheard of in a 54 year old engine. I was able to secure a core engine to rebuild, also with a spun rod bearing from @Tomba.
I actually drove down and helped him stuff a clutch in his 55 in exchange for the long block last weekend. I got it home, tire it down and it definitely spun a rod bearing. It didn't however ruin the crank.


My thoughts are to build out the F engine to try and squeeze a little more performance out of it. I know its been done before and I know many of you will recommend against it. Im a stickler for keeping things original or close to it, so im going to build out an FMotor...
Thats what's happening.
Now im asking you all for advice on what's available and what works. Also point ne to your favorite F motor technical threads if you could please. I somewhat remember someone here getting custom pistons for theirs bit cant find that thread.
Please share your thoughts on the following:
Overbore pistons
Rv cams
Oversize valves
Balancing
Raising the compression ratio
Engine paint color.

Basically if you have any thoughts about what would make an F motor run better, id love to hear them!
Thanks and have a nice day!
 
Good luck, my 74 came to me with a 75 2F so I’ve never even touched one.
 
How do you feel about your oil pump? Does it need to be original? You could go with a 2F style oil pump, albeit with some modifications. @Lifelong40Fan has done that as well as a rocker assembly modification. He also put an upgraded 2F rocker on his F.

Lifelong40Fan

Post in thread '2F rocker arm shaft on a 1F'

Gotcha. And then drill through the top of pedestal 3. That make connecting the oil tube easier, if there's enough clearance under the valve cover. Another great idea. Thanks for the help!
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trainbufftony said:
Overbore pistons
Rv cams
Oversize valves
Balancing
Raising the compression ratio
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I am in favor of all the above. I got all that on my current engine, which is a mash-up 2F based engine. You'll want the best machine shop in town. Pistons may be hard to find, I think Jim C. occasionally has a run of oversize pistons made, but those may be for 2F. Maybe check with @OGBeno on availability of OEM oversize F engine pistons. Maybe check the forklift engine builders. Probably no but you gotta ask. Chevy valves has been done forever and solves the problem of not finding stock valve stem seals. I think balancing is very helpful. It's cheap too. Delta has the good cams and lifters and they're almost local.
Many years ago, Mark Whatley wrote an article for Toyota Trails about adding an external oil cooler to an F, which I thought was a good idea
 
Pretty sure @ClemsonCruiser has sold off all his hot rod F motor parts but there was the dual side draft offenhauser manifold mod plus header that might get you a few ponies but def some bling points. Think he had coupled them with a few other bits n pieces.

Edit: guess I missed the date range and assume yours is newer than that.

Older info
ClemsonCruiser

For Sale Thread 'Early F 58-67 Hot Rod package'

I have here a "hot rod" upgrade pacakge for the early F engines from '58-'67
DSC_0624.webp

DSC_0625.webp

This is an Offenhauser Dual Carb Intake and a 6 into 1 ceramic coated header, these items are guaranteed to turn your old F into a fire breathing dragon :hillbilly:. The price is $300 for the combo. or $165 a peice. The items are located zip at 29841 shipping is on your dime. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Here is a little more info. on the set-up: https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/437342-1965-fj40-offenhauser.html

Thanks for...
 
trainbufftony said:
Please share your thoughts on the following:
Overbore pistons
Rv cams
Oversize valves
Balancing
Raising the compression ratio
Click to expand...
I've read plenty of your comments about guys going with non toyota parts and how simple stock stuff is, so I have to ask and wonder why, how much are you going to gain and how much are going to spend on the built and not so simple motor. Aftermarket pistons are going to set you back way more than two junkyard 5.3 chevy motors cost and by the time you really buy all those new parts and pay to have things balanced , etc., you could easily buy four or more junkyard 5.3s. Compare fuel milage, performance, reliability, cost and finding new parts easily, not counting down time while you wait for a machine shop to screw you. Doesn't make sense to me, maybe it's time to swallow that " I'm a true toyota guy" stuff and just put in something that works, but it's not my 10 grand being wasted. Just my opinion, carry on.
 
scrapdaddy said:
I've read plenty of your comments about guys going with non toyota parts and how simple stock stuff is, so I have to ask and wonder why, how much are you going to gain and how much are going to spend on the built and not so simple motor. Aftermarket pistons are going to set you back way more than two junkyard 5.3 chevy motors cost and by the time you really buy all those new parts and pay to have things balanced , etc., you could easily buy four or more junkyard 5.3s. Compare fuel milage, performance, reliability, cost and finding new parts easily, not counting down time while you wait for a machine shop to screw you. Doesn't make sense to me, maybe it's time to swallow that " I'm a true toyota guy" stuff and just put in something that works, but it's not my 10 grand being wasted. Just my opinion, carry on.
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Difference between me and you is that i know several local machine shops that can do the work and they price it affordably. Its important to me to retain the character of my beloved landcruiser. Its important to me to have an original engine. If I wanted a Chevy in my garage, well I could have one but ive been blessed with this beautiful old landcruiser that works extremely well for what it was designed for, 4 wheeling. Ive found a set of OEM overbore pistons. Can have an OEM cam ground to increase lift and duration, i can deck the head to bump up compression and while its apart id be a damn fool not to get everything balanced.

I just dont think that a Chevy V8 is the right choice for me personally. If Money were the deciding factor, frankly the fj55 platform is just would not work.

Im ok shoveling Benjamins at this one because its an extremely solid truck and ive grown to really love it over the past 24 years....

With that said there's one engine i would consider thats not a toyota product.
I believe its called an OM617.
Mercedes 5 cylinder turbo diesel.
Ive got a friend with 2 of them in his yard and he'd probably sell the whole car for a grand.
 
trainbufftony said:
My thoughts are to build out the F engine to try and squeeze a little more performance out of it.
Click to expand...
You asked so here we go...
The Toyota F engine is great for all the reasons you continually talk about..

But it is way under powered by today’s standards if we’re driving out and about with modern vehicles, if you plan to keep in on back roads or off road then it will do everything that needs doing.

You’re not going to take a 100HP engine and turn it into a 125HP beast for a couple hundred dollars, the Toyota nerds are spending thousands on that old junk to get a couple extra HP’s and wear it like a badge of honor. Like Scraps said for under 2K you can slap an LS engine in there and do everything better but I know that’s not what you want to hear..

I’m here rooting for you and hope you find that perfect balance between cost, performance and originality.:cheers:
 
J Mack said:
I’m here rooting for you and hope you find that perfect balance between cost, performance and originality.:cheers:
Click to expand...
I like that, it’s all personal choices 🍻
 
J Mack said:
Toyota nerds are spending thousands on that old junk to get a couple extra HP’s and wear it like a badge of honor
Click to expand...
Yes I do, ty for noticing. But it's more than an HP you get, you get a better F all around. I'm not going to slap an LS in my Pig, I'm going to curate the engine I have. I like the 6 and I like knowing how to fix it if need be. I can pop the top off the carb and clean out a sticky needle valve in about 15 minutes. I do not trust senders and ECUs to always get me home. I've got 22 years on this engine, 2 years since the valve job, 40 years with this carb. I've heard all the v8 arguments forever and how things look on paper, but I know what I like and like what I know. A bare-naked F is a thing of beauty

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Pighead said:
but I know what I like and like what I know.
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And you are 100% right 100% of the time about that.

And for all the same reasons as you I have flathead Ford, Old School Hemi and first Gen SBC in all my hotrods, not because they are better engines but because they are better engines for the cars they are in.
I arguably put the least popular engine in my pig that on paper makes zero sense, my pig is un-sellable to anyone that reads the internet and knows you'll need to wear ear plugs when your riding in it plus the engine shakes so bad it will literally rattle your teeth loose..
And that is why the Ford vs Chevy, stock vs modified car guy arguments are so great, long before us and long after us guys will crapp on each others cars while laughing and enjoying a cold beer.. :beer::beer:
 
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Pighead said:
Yes I do, ty for noticing. But it's more than an HP you get, you get a better F all around. I'm not going to slap an LS in my Pig, I'm going to curate the engine I have. I like the 6 and I like knowing how to fix it if need be. I can pop the top off the carb and clean out a sticky needle valve in about 15 minutes. I do not trust senders and ECUs to always get me home. I've got 22 years on this engine, 2 years since the valve job, 40 years with this carb. I've heard all the v8 arguments forever and how things look on paper, but I know what I like and like what I know. A bare-naked F is a thing of beauty

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Amen
 
Bought a brand new FJ40 in 1973. Picked it up in Lakewood CO and headed west to our abode in the mountains outside Evergreen. About three miles into ownership, struggling uphill on I-70, I realized why SBC swaps were popular, even way back then. My mantra was "Best off road vehicle I've ever owned. Worst highway vehicle I ever owned." That included a '31 Model A with a four banger and a '48 CJ. At least I didn't expect more out of them.
 
riderjgs said:
Bought a brand new FJ40 in 1973. Picked it up in Lakewood CO and headed west to our abode in the mountains outside Evergreen. About three miles into ownership, struggling uphill on I-70, I realized why SBC swaps were popular, even way back then. My mantra was "Best off road vehicle I've ever owned. Worst highway vehicle I ever owned." That included a '31 Model A with a four banger and a '48 CJ. At least I didn't expect more out of them.
Click to expand...
My dad and uncle had a 327 in “mom’s” 71 Pig by 74…the F didn’t last long.
 
You do you when it comes to your Cruiser. If your willing to pay the price maybe your willing to travel for a 2F HO. There is one for sale in my Region. Freshly rebuilt. Dude is changing direction. Would be a weekend trip for you, No Machine shops, easy swap, and all Toyota.

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