Restoring 1983 FJ40 Esmeralda. Who has an H55F and please comment on how they like it

[CHAS404]

I am restoring a 1983 FJ40 in Colombia now and found access to a used H55F to install.

Truck has the H41 currently which works fine.

trying to put 33 inchers on it (worse case 31).

interested in ...

1. how much better it drives

2. resale worth the upgrade

3. does the cutting of the top plate etc alter the truck too much/

Thanks!

 

[centerlineseal]

I have both an h55f and an NV4500 (5 speed tranny) in two separate FJ40s.

The h55f is behind a 350 Ramjet and runs 35" superswampers on the stock 4.10 gears. In our experience, you must use 1st gear to initiate rolling forward. Its a great tranny, but somewhat of an additional shift need.

The NV4500 is behind a '99 GMC 350, fuel injected (probably 50-75 hp less than the Ramjet) and runs 33" Toyo M55s on the stock gears (I think, which are probably 4.10s). No need to use 1st gear (granny) on the takeoff. I am very pleased with this tranny, little slower from gear to gear, but so far, very tough.

Both get upwards of 15 mpg and both are at about 2,200 rpm at 65 mph. I would highly recommend either 5 speed, just for the on-highway drivability.

The h55f was new in 2007 at about $1,800. NV4500 was installed by P.O. No idea of cost.

If I had to do a five speed conversion again, I'd go for the NV4500 as the first two gears seem a little deeper.

 

[Bear]

Chas,

As you've read, the H55F that's found on FJ60s, etc, has its shifter sit rearward of the 4 speed hole in the trans tunnel. Re-cutting that hole can be omitted when using a 5.7L (350) V-8 conversion, but not when keeping the 2F engine.

There was a rare H55F that came on a few, mostly Australian, FJ40s that had a different top cover that allowed the 5-speed shifter to exit thru the original 4-speed hole.

Some buyers get concerned when they see welded-up holes and things in non-original positions; other buyers don't care.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

I am looking for a 4/80 FJ40 that is mostly stock (I was born 4/80) to do a resto on.
Though, I wouldn't do a 100% stock resto. I would do a few mods for better driveability.

The H55 is at the top of the list.

I think that if you're doing a restoration and your plan is to keep everything stock or as stock as possible, the H55 would be a better value adder (or at least not diminish the value) than an NV4500.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Bret]

I have the H55 behind a SBC in mine with 36s and I find it pretty easy to start in 2nd, 1st is really low for street use. With 33s I would think starting would be easy. It is pretty flat here though. Your welcome to swing by and take a spin if you want. PM me if interested, I also know of a stockish 40 with a H55 to compare as well.

 

[Living in the Past]

Chas,

As you've read, the H55F that's found on FJ60s, etc, has its shifter sit rearward of the 4 speed hole in the trans tunnel. Re-cutting that hole can be omitted when using a 5.7L (350) V-8 conversion, but not when keeping the 2F engine.

There was a rare H55F that came on a few, mostly Australian, FJ40s that had a different top cover that allowed the 5-speed shifter to exit thru the original 4-speed hole.

Some buyers get concerned when they see welded-up holes and things in non-original positions; other buyers don't care.

The hole location is only thing from me putting a H55F in my FJ45. I will be running a 3FE or 2FE. I don't want shifter further back then stock. I believe the OP plans on keeping the original 2F so the V8 correcting the location won't happen.

Besides Australia I believe in the Middle East the 4X series came with the H55F. Not sure does the BJ42 have the correct top plate? I know the input shaft is wrong just wondering about the top plate. Also unless I'm mistaken the transfer case is different on the H55F. Something to do with oiling on the transmission output shaft.

 

[CHAS404]

Thanks guys I really appreciate it. I am trying to keep this one stock and it has a good H41 in it now. So in order to keep it stock and keep the costs down I will keep the 4 speed. The next one around I hope to do a 2F with an H55F. I only drove mine in the mountains the the 4 speed was fine. but in flat Florida I think the 5 speed would really make a difference.

 

[DSRTRDR]

stay tuned for how my H55 turns out . . .

 

[sadam_husain]

if its got a vacuum operated transfercase you have to notch out the inside of the frame rail for the diaphragm housing to locate slightly inside the frame, I've smashed a couple of diaphrams off when I've had hard gearbox hits

other than that it worked out good in my 40, the H55 is longer than the H4x series gearboxes coz of the 5th gear housing so my gearbox has been shifted forward keeping both driveshafts stock length and its given better firewall clearance for the sbc, not sure what model cruiser my gearbox came out of but the shifter comes up through the standard hole there wasn't any cutting to get it to fit

 

[cmiller114]

Love my H55f behind SBC.

 

[73tlcv8]

I'm running an H55F behind the 3FE, 4:11, 31" tires. I use my truck as a daily driver, mostly driving around town. I never use first and rarely use fifth gear, so I essentally use it as a three speed. For me, the 4 speed (or even the 3 speed) would have been fine. If you are driving at highway speeds a lot, go with the 5 speed for the OD.

Another issue is figuring out what to do with the E brake since it is not normally included on the back of the split case, and if added, the length becomes an issue with the cross member and DS angle.

If you are worried about cutting a hole in the floor, get a spare trans cover and save your original. Mine was pretty hacked up from the PO V8 install so it didn't really matter.

 

[pappy]

I have the H55F behind a 2fe in a 1969 FJ40. Body lift required. My tranny tunnel is different than yours and required fabrication to fit the shifter.

I like the tranny. I have 4.11 in the diffs, Mark's gears in the tc (under drive in high range), 35" tires. I turn 2600 rpm on the freeway. Hardly use 1st gear off the line.

 

[CHAS404]

nice thanks pappy. i have the H41 and yes the 1st gear is a granny. the h55f is lower still.

how much body lift? I wonder if an inch or two makes it all easier.

 

[pappy]

nice thanks pappy. i have the H41 and yes the 1st gear is a granny. the h55f is lower still.

how much body lift? I wonder if an inch or two makes it all easier.

I have a 1 inch body lift which clears the tranny case from the body. The shifter tower was another story.

 

[Bret]

nice thanks pappy. i have the H41 and yes the 1st gear is a granny. the h55f is lower still.

how much body lift? I wonder if an inch or two makes it all easier.

The 55 and 41 should have the same 1st gear IIRC. But if your not on the hiway a lot it is a lot of work for not a lot of use.

 

[pappy]

I use 5th gear all the time around town. In fact, the gear I use the least is 4th because I usually shift from 3th to 5th.

 

[Chamba]

The hole location is only thing from me putting a H55F in my FJ45. I will be running a 3FE or 2FE. I don't want shifter further back then stock. I believe the OP plans on keeping the original 2F so the V8 correcting the location won't happen.

Besides Australia I believe in the Middle East the 4X series came with the H55F. Not sure does the BJ42 have the correct top plate? I know the input shaft is wrong just wondering about the top plate. Also unless I'm mistaken the transfer case is different on the H55F. Something to do with oiling on the transmission output shaft.

The top plate on a bj42 works as does the top plate from an fj40 with 5 speed....the trick is in finding either.

 

[DSRTRDR]

The shifter tower was another story.

care to elaborate or post a link ?

thanks

my body lift in anticipation of the H55 is just under an inch

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Thanks guys I really appreciate it. I am trying to keep this one stock and it has a good H41 in it now. So in order to keep it stock and keep the costs down I will keep the 4 speed. The next one around I hope to do a 2F with an H55F. I only drove mine in the mountains the the 4 speed was fine. but in flat Florida I think the 5 speed would really make a difference.

You do realize that an H55f is basically an H41 with an overdrive? The gearing is the same. The 5th gear only comes into play on the highway, and then, at speeds higher than an FJ40 should really go.

If you really have an H41 (which is unlikely but possible), you have already, the best tranny for this truck. Maybe detail how your tuck came to have an H41. USA FJ40s came with an H42.

An H55f is a nice tranny, but it's wasted in an FJ40. There are much better places to spend your money.

 

[Chamba]

care to elaborate or post a link ?

thanks

my body lift in anticipation of the H55 is just under an inch

In '81 the Tranny tunnel inspection cover was made about an inch high to clear the top loader on the 5 speed (an option starting in'81 in many markets) which is about an inch higher than the top loader on an h42/h41.

I feel the 2f can handle the h55 well so long as it is strong. I also think the h55 is one of the best additions one can make: especially if yours came with the h42.