South's FJ40 "Rebuild"

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No doubt!!!!..gearing before front locker all day long!!!!
 
jrob said:
No doubt!!!!..gearing before front locker all day long!!!!
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The only reason I stretched mine is because a had a splitcase, cannot install an Orion behind a splitcase. to get the toybox in I had to move the rear axle.
 
I think I got $125 plus the ride for my old case.
 
southff4 said:
Orion it is! After 80 is gone:(. I hope to crank it up tonight. Going to napa for hopefully the last time to swap belts out AGAIN! Then begins the sanding....
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you won't regret it.
 
Almost! Now if you want to build it it could be less but I let Georg build mine so I would know it was "right". Smart money in my opinion.
 
Todd if you plan on wheeling AND spending the cash the lower range tcase is the way to go. Just really depends on how much ya want to spend right out the box.

As long as the motor is running and the tranny is good , since you already have a rear locker the tcase is the best bang for the buck. Longfields run a very close 2nd . If you don't want to spend the coin I would get the longs.
That Way you can clean and paint the INSIDE Of the axle ; p

If you did the lower range tcase ( Orion, atlas whatever) & longs you will be happy. If the coin is there ger the lower tcase . If not get the longs for now so you ain't wrenching on the trail.

I'd rather be watching then wrenching on the trail ; )
 
Jordan... You would need a different tranny and non-offset rear axle. Huge can of worms to do an Atlas with 2f. Ask me how I know. You also need a high pinion rear unless you really stretch it.

I say there won't be any trails worthy of breaking a birf with stock gears and 37's. It won't hardly climb a curb....
 
wngrog said:
Jordan... You would need a different tranny and non-offset rear axle. Huge can of worms to do an Atlas with 2f. Ask me how I know. You also need a high pinion rear unless you really stretch it.

I say there won't be any trails worthy of breaking a birf with stock gears and 37's. It won't hardly climb a curb....
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Nolen, that's the answer I need. Thanks!

If you were to put an Atlas behind a 2F, what transmission would work and what would you need? Just curious...

Sounds like the Orion is your best bet, Todd!

EDIT: Nevermind on the transmission swap question. I'll quit clogging up the thread... :sorry:
 
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It is a legit question and an option for Todd to consider actually.

Back in the day before Orions, the only way to get lower gears into a Cruiser was to swap out the transmission with a low geared tranny.

SM420's have a 7:1 first gear and basically bolt right up to a early 2F bellhousing. All the Cruiser places used to have an SM420 to early Landcruiser Tcase adapter. It gets you about the same gearing as an Orion at about 1/10th the cost.

Downside is the SM420 shifts like hell and is really just a 3 speed transmission on the road. On the trail, it is great unless you need to "grab second" as the sift range is huge between 1st and 2nd.

I has an SM465 in mine....it is roughly 6.5:1 and a bit newer and easier to find. Downside is/was, not many SM465 to Cruiser Tcase adapters. Cost was higher but the road manners were slightly improved.

The other was the NV4500 swap. There were 2 models, one with a 6:1 first gear and OD and one with 5:5:1 (rough numbers) and OD. The tranny is hard to find cheap and adapter cost was higher.

The easiest option BY FAR is the Orion. You have to pay to play though :D
 
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