Regearing a three speed transmission

[cruisermatt]

Who is selling those parking brake kits now? Years ago I got the last one from Man-e-fre and Poser called to chastise me

I can sell everything for the OEM drum setups, i believe Georg and Kurt still do as well

For the money it’s not much more cost to go to the later +80 rear drum brakes (which I have a kit for as well), and you get way more benefits with that. So I push that setup a lot harder.

 

[fjwagon]

Great. I could not source them locally the last I worked on them. Not even the toyota dealer had them. Anyhow, There were several places I could them on online when I ordered it but under the circumstances at the time I was hoping to get it lically locally. It is what it is.

 

[matzell]

Cruiser Outfitters is selling new rear housings. They used mine and few others to copy so they could get them right. I think they sell them as a kit with all the parts you need. I run one on mine behind a H55f and have 4:1 gears in the case. Works great.

 

[Mark Jennings]

Are you sure about that?
I know way back in the 30s and 40s that was a thing...but it's been a while since looked in a three spd, but Im sure there were 3 gears in there.

There are actually 4 gears if you count reverse….and the 3 speeds weren’t H30, they were J30. And yes, other than the 5 speed, Toyota 3 speeds and 4 speeds are 1:1 in top gear. The 3 speeds compromise 1st and 2nd to give you a better shift ratio…..2nd gear in 3 speed rigs IMO gives great gearing for light off road, fire trails, etc…

As far as changing final drive ratio of the J30, you would need to change the Cluster Gear and the Output Shaft (3rd gear teeth are cut into that shaft). In the 60s and early 70s….column shift 3 speeds were as common as ‘Wonder Bread’…..they were on Chevy’s, Ford’s, Plymouth’s…..everyone recognized it and know how to drive it. I think that’s why Dr. Toyota stuck with it for so long.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

A much more practical (and discussed) overdrive option for the J30/H41/H42 w/1pc case would be OD gears in the t-case. However as mentioned, the 1:1 3rd/4th is already a decent jump from 2nd & 3rd respectively. 5spd trans to 1pc case has been done, it's about aa popular as manual steering conversion kits on an FJ60

5spd to 1pc

 

[fjwagon]

I remember wanting to install an Orion tcase for the 79. I purchased it and it sat for while. I was hoping maybe AA would sell a kit to replace some of worn out items directly as a kit. Eventually they did...I think. Anyhow, you have to reuse some of the components...and if it was worn you quickly find out. Hopefully one day I will install it.

 

[White Stripe]

Anyone who thinks that 3rd gear in a Landcruiser 3 speed is not an integral part of the input shaft has obviously never looked inside one.

And they also don’t comprehend that the countergear is one hunk of metal that has to match the gears above it . New forgings would need to be made for both. The up front costs are obscene, and the return marginal.

What would make a LOT more sense would be to forge a 3speed transfer case input gear that was 19 spline, and pair it with the extension housing of a 77-80 H42. THAT would bolt up to an H55 and keep the parking brake

A much younger me started looking into this 20 years ago, at the same time AA was having gears cut for the Orion. Unfortunately, Sasha’s death took the wind out of my sails. Maybe one of the younger, rising stars will run with this. Several advantages to this.

Who is Sasha?

 

[Living in the Past]

There are actually 4 gears if you count reverse….and the 3 speeds weren’t H30, they were J30. And yes, other than the 5 speed, Toyota 3 speeds and 4 speeds are 1:1 in top gear. The 3 speeds compromise 1st and 2nd to give you a better shift ratio…..2nd gear in 3 speed rigs IMO gives great gearing for light off road, fire trails, etc…

As far as changing final drive ratio of the J30, you would need to change the Cluster Gear and the Output Shaft (3rd gear teeth are cut into that shaft). In the 60s and early 70s….column shift 3 speeds were as common as ‘Wonder Bread’…..they were on Chevy’s, Ford’s, Plymouth’s…..everyone recognized it and know how to drive it. I think that’s why Dr. Toyota stuck with it for so long.

The third gear teeth are not in the counter shaft/cluster gear in the J30. Hub at the front of the output shaft has a collar that when moved forward locks the input and output shafts together. Slide back it's second gear. A gear further back on the output shaft slides forward for first gear. Slide back it to into the reverse idler gear. First and reverse gears are straight cut. Sliding gear in the output shaft parts system calls it a reverse gear when it's actually both. Being non synchronized is why when looking to buy a J30 you want to inspect the front edge of this gear from being forced into first.

A much more practical (and discussed) overdrive option for the J30/H41/H42 w/1pc case would be OD gears in the t-case. However as mentioned, the 1:1 3rd/4th is already a decent jump from 2nd & 3rd respectively. 5spd trans to 1pc case has been done, it's about aa popular as manual steering conversion kits on an FJ60

5spd to 1pc

View attachment 4046762View attachment 4046763

Toyota changed the housing in the 10/82+ split transfer case for a fifth gear oiler. Wonder if they did anything for the one piece case.

Can't imagine why someone would go to the effort of converting a one piece transfer case to fit an H55F. Toyota did in the 45/47 series making it OEM parts to ad one.

 

[lcwizard]

omitting the 1:1 for an overdrive behind an F would mean further hampering performance on hills. You spend every 3% grade in second.

 

[POPO AGIE]

Who is selling those parking brake kits now? Years ago I got the last one from Man-e-fre and Poser called to chastise me

Georg sold me the parts that I did not have for my split case to be able to have the parking brake like the original transfer case.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

I did not know anyone had picked up the kits after MAF tan out. That's cool. Maybe I will do an H55 with a split case again one day. Now back to the regularly scheduled 3 speed stuff.

 

[Mark Jennings]

The third gear teeth are not in the counter shaft/cluster gear in the J30. Hub at the front of the output shaft has a collar that when moved forward locks the input and output shafts together. Slide back it's second gear. A gear further back on the output shaft slides forward for first gear. Slide back it to into the reverse idler gear. First and reverse gears are straight cut. Sliding gear in the output shaft parts system calls it a reverse gear when it's actually both. Being non synchronized is why when looking to buy a J30 you want to inspect the front edge of this gear from being forced into first.




Toyota changed the housing in the 10/82+ split transfer case for a fifth gear oiler. Wonder if they did anything for the one piece case.

Can't imagine why someone would go to the effort of converting a one piece transfer case to fit an H55F. Toyota did in the 45/47 series making it OEM parts to ad one.

You are correct, on the J30 there are only 4 gear sets on the cluster, drive, second 1st and reverse. You would need an extra cluster gear and teeth cut into the output to achieve an overdrive. That’s the point of the original post.

I like the three on the tree, it’s a nostalgia that just can’t be replaced. You can’t speed shift, you have to actually think about traffic, what gear you’re in and to drop to 2nd, the J30 loves a bit of double clutch action. It always reminds me of what driving was all about pre-nany touch screen, seat heater days. And since I’ve added an overdrive (albeit a Bone-O-Drive), it makes it so much more pleasurable for short jaunts at 60, 65. In overdrive 2nd, gives you like a 1:19 ratio for tackling 3% grades on city streets (so as not hold up traffic). In the wild, in 4 wheel drive….the 3 speed in low range has more than enough gearing to satisfy…..unless you’re rock crawling….
If you still sport a 3 speed and can find a Fairey or a Hone that is complete or at least rebuildable, I would recommend the investment.
This is my Hone install. In previous posts, some have asked how short is the drive shaft….it is short…but as long as you pay attention to pinion angle, it isn’t noticeable or troublesome.