Regearing Transmission

[Raya514]

Hey there,
I have a 1989 FJ62 and my transmission is slipping.
I was considering doing an engine swap but it’s seems crazy expensive.
I’m curious what is the best way ahead to get as much power out of the original engine without switching to a manual?
I don’t do any crawling nor am I a big off-road guy. Most off-road I’d do is on a beach to reach a surf spot….SO, I’m curious what’s the best option to keep the 4x4 but regear for highway driving or is there a completely different transmission I could put on to the 3FE engine?? From what I read it sounds like I need to regear it &….add overdrive?
I’m new to all this. I appreciate the help. I’m in San Diego, so if anyone knows a fairly close enough shop?(im retired military so vehicle is not registered in Cali)
Cheers!

 

[BGarcia88FJ62]

No real easy answer. Either have your A440F rebuilt, Buy a rebuilt Unit or find a used unit you can trust and swap it out.
Least expensive way is find a used unit. There's no cheap easy way to go. 3FE parts are hard to find or Unobtainium and will just get harder as time goes on.
I have an FJ62 as well with 293K on it. My A440F is on it's way out. I will either put in a manual or replace the drivetrain completely when the time comes.

 

[LA Z]

Hey there,
I have a 1989 FJ62 and my transmission is slipping.
I was considering doing an engine swap but it’s seems crazy expensive.
I’m curious what is the best way ahead to get as much power out of the original engine without switching to a manual?
I don’t do any crawling nor am I a big off-road guy. Most off-road I’d do is on a beach to reach a surf spot….SO, I’m curious what’s the best option to keep the 4x4 but regear for highway driving or is there a completely different transmission I could put on to the 3FE engine?? From what I read it sounds like I need to regear it &….add overdrive?
I’m new to all this. I appreciate the help. I’m in San Diego, so if anyone knows a fairly close enough shop?(im retired military so vehicle is not registered in Cali)
Cheers!

You could swap out your third members from the OEM 4:10 to 3:73 from an Fj60, that would give you 10% overdrive.
There are some gear options for the transfer case also, talk to Georg at Valley Hybrids.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

Hey there,
I have a 1989 FJ62 and my transmission is slipping.
I was considering doing an engine swap but it’s seems crazy expensive.
I’m curious what is the best way ahead to get as much power out of the original engine without switching to a manual?
I don’t do any crawling nor am I a big off-road guy. Most off-road I’d do is on a beach to reach a surf spot….SO, I’m curious what’s the best option to keep the 4x4 but regear for highway driving or is there a completely different transmission I could put on to the 3FE engine?? From what I read it sounds like I need to regear it &….add overdrive?
I’m new to all this. I appreciate the help. I’m in San Diego, so if anyone knows a fairly close enough shop?(im retired military so vehicle is not registered in Cali)
Cheers!

You need a transmission not gears.

 

[dbbowen]

youre not going to get any more power out of that thing, it was designed to be slow unfortunately. You can tweak your powerband with gearing to get it to drive better in a certain situation that you want by using diff gearing or transfer case gearing though.

If you want it to feel like its got more power from a redlight, you can throw 4.88 gears in the diffs (if you have 4.10s now) and it will FEEL like its got more power, but the other side of that coin is your highway rpms will be higher.

If you threw 3.73s into your diffs, you would feel much slower starting at a redlight but your highway rpms would be much lower and youd jump in and out of overdrive probably a lot more.

You can keep your current 4.10s and either have georg or kurt machine your transfer case and put 3:1 low range gears in your Tcase and it will also give you 10% under drive in high range, basically giving you a similar result as putting 4.10s in your diffs.


definitely sounds like you need to rebuild your trans though

 

[Raya514]

youre not going to get any more power out of that thing, it was designed to be slow unfortunately. You can tweak your powerband with gearing to get it to drive better in a certain situation that you want by using diff gearing or transfer case gearing though.

If you want it to feel like its got more power from a redlight, you can throw 4.88 gears in the diffs (if you have 4.10s now) and it will FEEL like its got more power, but the other side of that coin is your highway rpms will be higher.

If you threw 3.73s into your diffs, you would feel much slower starting at a redlight but your highway rpms would be much lower and youd jump in and out of overdrive probably a lot more.

You can keep your current 4.10s and either have georg or kurt machine your transfer case and put 3:1 low range gears in your Tcase and it will also give you 10% under drive in high range, basically giving you a similar result as putting 4.10s in your diffs.


definitely sounds like you need to rebuild your trans though

I greatly appreciate your thoughts on this as I’m new to all this and trying to understand the lingo. I’ve never focused on a vehicle before, just thought of it as a means of transportation. But this beast has me wanting to learn and thus making it a project. Thanks & cheers!!

 

[dbbowen]

I greatly appreciate your thoughts on this as I’m new to all this and trying to understand the lingo. I’ve never focused on a vehicle before, just thought of it as a means of transportation. But this beast has me wanting to learn and thus making it a project. Thanks & cheers!!

Dude nice! It’s. Really fun hobby to get into. Wish you all the luck!

 

[toy_tek]

I agree w dbbowen here, just get yours rebuilt for starters.

What I think is a bit confusing in your original post is it sounds to us like you're requesting two opposite things:

1. more power
2. re-gear for highway driving.

The 3FE and A440 trans is basically a gutless combination by todays standards. If you want more "power" with the stock drivetrain, you can gear down at the differentials (go from 4.11 to 4.56 or 4.88). This of course will result in higher RPMs at highway cruising speed. Not really a bad thing if you aren't doing a lot of highway. But keep in mind this means you need to get 2 differentials rebuilt with new gears. That can cost anywhere from $1000-$2000 depending on how much work you do yourself. But, chances are your diffs might be at the age/mileage where a rebuild is needed anyway... plus you can also gear based on your preferred tire size.

Gearing up (going from 4.11 to 3.73) is going to get you lower RPM at cruise... but... I've gotta imagine an almost undriveable FJ62 in otherwise stock configuration. I can't imagine a scenario where I'd be considering this with a 3FE & auto trans.

 

[Raya514]

I agree w dbbowen here, just get yours rebuilt for starters.

What I think is a bit confusing in your original post is it sounds to us like you're requesting two opposite things:

1. more power
2. re-gear for highway driving.

The 3FE and A440 trans is basically a gutless combination by todays standards. If you want more "power" with the stock drivetrain, you can gear down at the differentials (go from 4.11 to 4.56 or 4.88). This of course will result in higher RPMs at highway cruising speed. Not really a bad thing if you aren't doing a lot of highway. But keep in mind this means you need to get 2 differentials rebuilt with new gears. That can cost anywhere from $1000-$2000 depending on how much work you do yourself. But, chances are your diffs might be at the age/mileage where a rebuild is needed anyway... plus you can also gear based on your preferred tire size.

Gearing up (going from 4.11 to 3.73) is going to get you lower RPM at cruise... but... I've gotta imagine an almost undriveable FJ62 in otherwise stock configuration. I can't imagine a scenario where I'd be considering this with a 3FE & auto trans.

Ok, thanks for that, very well explained!! I’m talking with Georg now! Thanks a lot guys!!

 

[franklin40]

swap it to an h55. better power transfer than the auto and gives it the fun factor of a standard (unless you’re really set against a manual). probably won’t be much different than rebuilding the auto cost wise i’d think.

 

[Raya514]

swap it to an h55. better power transfer than the auto and gives it the fun factor of a standard (unless you’re really set against a manual). probably won’t be much different than rebuilding the auto cost wise i’d think.

Thanks Franklin, yeah I don’t want a manual. I want to see what this rig feels like with a good transmission and regearing. Next option is an engine swap. I appreciate you chiming in man!! I’ll get it figured out!!

 

[franklin40]

i did the h55 and it’s a world of difference but i get it. not everyone wants standard. good luck. if you were closer i’d give you my old a440. it shifted well when i took it out. i just wanted the standard.

 

[Raya514]

i did the h55 and it’s a world of difference but i get it. not everyone wants standard. good luck. if you were closer i’d give you my old a440. it shifted well when i took it out. i just wanted the standard.

Thanks man, that’s a very nice gesture! I think I’m going to fix it and see if o like it…if I don’t it’ll be an engine swap!

 

[2mbb]

Nobody asked this question but what size tires do you have? Tires do affect your overall gear ratio and larger tires will make the power feel less and lower highway RPMs. If you have 33” or larger tires regearing the differentials may get you back to stock overall gear ratio.

 

[Raya514]

Nobody asked this question but what size tires do you have? Tires do affect your overall gear ratio and larger tires will make the power feel less and lower highway RPMs. If you have 33” or larger tires regearing the differentials may get you back to stock overall gear ratio.

I have 33’s, I think if I fix the tranny, it’ll be good enough. If I get sick of the lack of power, I visit doing an engine swap down the line!

 

[cruisermatt]

or just put 30” tires on it.

 

[franklin40]

if you do keep the 33s then make sure you have a good tranny cooler added in.

 

[bj70bc]

with 33's you should prob be at 4.56 in the diffs or so i think

 

[franklin40]

i went to 4.56s with 33s and it ran pretty well. went back to 4.11 with the h55

 

[Raya514]

if you do keep the 33s then make sure you have a good tranny cooler added in.

Yes! Already confirmed it with Georg at Valley Hybrids! Thanks!
Yeah, he recommended keeping stock even for hwy driving. We discussed OD and regearing and he recommended away from that, and add an oil cooler.