paul dinapoli - H55 swap thread

[RevISK]

Great write up @Paul DiNapoli. Thank you for taking the time to do it.

I’m embarking upon this same essential swap as well. Some great tech in this thread.

Ian

 

[Urb008]

Also want to say thanks for this thread. It was a big help. Just had my maiden voyage with my ‘89 FJ62 with her new H55F this morning. So fun!! Got most of my parts from Georg at Valley Hybrids in Stockton CA. Also got some odds and ends at SOR in LA, eBay and Cruiser Matt’s. Thanks to all of them too. Total spent, doing all of the work myself in my driveway… over $8,000. 2025 prices!

For anyone doing this, I will say that Cruiser Matt’s pedal bucket weld-on kit worked great with my stock FJ62 pedal bucket. Didn’t have to pull the dash. His clutch master cylinder kit worked well for me too. Saved me a lot of time.

I got my “plug and play” wiring harness for Valley Hybrids. Reading all of the electrical/wiring stuff here is intimidating. The harness made it easy. Really only fits one way. Cruiser Matt has one also that I assume is the same.

Hi-Lo split transfer case linkage: Keep the shifter, all linkage parts and pivot bolt off of your automatic. I just cut the forward part of the linkage bar about an inch or so past the bend, then used my belt sander to hone it down to about a 9.7mm diameter. Then threaded that short end with a 10mm x 1.25 thread pitch dye. Bolt the front link back on and hook it up. Fits and works perfectly.

 

[RevISK]

Great job.
I cut and welded my linkage but had one to build to.

 

[orangefj45]

Also want to say thanks for this thread. It was a big help. Just had my maiden voyage with my ‘89 FJ62 with her new H55F this morning. So fun!! Got most of my parts from Georg at Valley Hybrids in Stockton CA. Also got some odds and ends at SOR in LA, eBay and Cruiser Matt’s. Thanks to all of them too. Total spent, doing all of the work myself in my driveway… over $8,000. 2025 prices!

For anyone doing this, I will say that Cruiser Matt’s pedal bucket weld-on kit worked great with my stock FJ62 pedal bucket. Didn’t have to pull the dash. His clutch master cylinder kit worked well for me too. Saved me a lot of time.

I got my “plug and play” wiring harness for Valley Hybrids. Reading all of the electrical/wiring stuff here is intimidating. The harness made it easy. Really only fits one way. Cruiser Matt has one also that I assume is the same.

Hi-Lo split transfer case linkage: Keep the shifter, all linkage parts and pivot bolt off of your automatic. I just cut the forward part of the linkage bar about an inch or so past the bend, then used my belt sander to hone it down to about a 9.7mm diameter. Then threaded that short end with a 10mm x 1.25 thread pitch dye. Bolt the front link back on and hook it up. Fits and works perfectly.

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Thanks for the honorable mention.

We actually offer the shortened linkage as well; we cut and weld them in a jig we made years ago.
I do like your idea and execution for shortening the link.

Happy to help.

Georg @ Valley Hybrids
Shop 209-475-8808
Sales@valleyhybrids.com

 

[cruisermatt]

Also want to say thanks for this thread. It was a big help. Just had my maiden voyage with my ‘89 FJ62 with her new H55F this morning. So fun!! Got most of my parts from Georg at Valley Hybrids in Stockton CA. Also got some odds and ends at SOR in LA, eBay and Cruiser Matt’s. Thanks to all of them too. Total spent, doing all of the work myself in my driveway… over $8,000. 2025 prices!

For anyone doing this, I will say that Cruiser Matt’s pedal bucket weld-on kit worked great with my stock FJ62 pedal bucket. Didn’t have to pull the dash. His clutch master cylinder kit worked well for me too. Saved me a lot of time.

I got my “plug and play” wiring harness for Valley Hybrids. Reading all of the electrical/wiring stuff here is intimidating. The harness made it easy. Really only fits one way. Cruiser Matt has one also that I assume is the same.

Hi-Lo split transfer case linkage: Keep the shifter, all linkage parts and pivot bolt off of your automatic. I just cut the forward part of the linkage bar about an inch or so past the bend, then used my belt sander to hone it down to about a 9.7mm diameter. Then threaded that short end with a 10mm x 1.25 thread pitch dye. Bolt the front link back on and hook it up. Fits and works perfectly.

Thanks for the mention and the order!
Enjoy your ride!

 

[MWM1]

Welcome to the H55F crowd! It's such a great upgrade! CM did mine as well as the transfer case upgrade. Now it's smooth driving tractor!

 

[cruisermatt]

Another “H55F swap in a box” heading out.
To @Hammer45

 

[Hammer45]

Another “H55F swap in a box” heading out.
To @Hammer45
View attachment 3900583

Looking forward to getting my hands on the goods! Thanks @cruisermatt!

 

[zeeklafreek]

PL

Looking forward to getting my hands on the goods! Thanks @cruisermatt!

Please advise your wife to hide all of your big hammers.

 

[Hammer45]

PL

Please advise your wife to hide all of your big hammers.

“The evil men do lives long after them” I seem to recall from sophomore English class.

 

[Spook50]

“The evil men do lives long after them” I seem to recall from sophomore English class.

"The evil that men do lives on and on...."

- Bruce Dickinson


You'll absolutely love your H55F. I drove mine for almost exactly 5 years (out of the 27 I've owned and driven my 62) before last week's wreck. But it's such a joy to drive that old rig with the 5-spd that I'm praying I'll be able to resurrect it and get it on the road again (fully armored this time around).

 

[Hammer45]

"The evil that men do lives on and on...."

- Bruce Dickinson


You'll absolutely love your H55F. I drove mine for almost exactly 5 years (out of the 27 I've owned and driven my 62) before last week's wreck. But it's such a joy to drive that old rig with the 5-spd that I'm praying I'll be able to resurrect it and get it on the road again (fully armored this time around).

WHAT?! You waited like 10 years to finally get that H55 in there! Man I’m sorry. The quote was actually from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Thought everyone had to memorize that speech. Funny how often I think of it.

 

[Spook50]

WHAT?! You waited like 10 years to finally get that H55 in there! Man I’m sorry. The quote was actually from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Thought everyone had to memorize that speech. Funny how often I think of it.

Indeed it was. I just love Iron Maiden and it's one of my favorite songs so I always associate it with them.

But yes I sat on it for ten damn years before finally having the money in place to have the swap done at @torfab in Everett, WA. Even at today's cost though it's worth every penny to convert instead of rebuilding the A440F or the H42.

 

[Hammer45]

Indeed it was. I just love Iron Maiden and it's one of my favorite songs so I always associate it with them.

But yes I sat on it for ten damn years before finally having the money in place to have the swap done at @torfab in Everett, WA. Even at today's cost though it's worth every penny to convert instead of rebuilding the A440F or the H42.

Having stalked your many years on here, I feel the pain man. Hope you had some of that stated value antique auto insurance.

 

[Spook50]

Having stalked your many years on here, I feel the pain man. Hope you had some of that stated value antique auto insurance.

Unfortunately just my USAA coverage, but I lawyered up yesterday even though her insurance is full coverage and has already accepted 100% liability for the collision.

End goal is to have a daily insured on my regular insurance, then once the 62 is resurrected get it covered under Haggerty if it's not cost prohibitive. And that's IF I can even hold on to the 62.

 

[Hammer45]

Unfortunately just my USAA coverage, but I lawyered up yesterday even though her insurance is full coverage and has already accepted 100% liability for the collision.

End goal is to have a daily insured on my regular insurance, then once the 62 is resurrected get it covered under Haggerty if it's not cost prohibitive. And that's IF I can even hold on to the 62.

Sorry for the brief hijack but Spook deserves it! USAA referred me to American Collectors insurance and it wasn’t terribly expensive.

 

[zeeklafreek]

Sorry for the brief hijack but Spook deserves it! USAA referred me to American Collectors insurance and it wasn’t terribly expensive.

They referred me to American Collectors as well.