So a gear head friend of mine says I'm crazy for putting a B3.3/NV4500 in my '40. He's convinced the diesel belongs in my '62 with an automatic, and an LS should go in the '40 with the 5 speed. He thinks I'll hate the NV4500 behind the diesel, and that an LS engine with its broader operating RPM range would suit that transmission better and make it a much more "fun" vehicle.
Thought I'd solocit comments from the peanut gallery...
After quickly dismissing the idea of "taking" the wife's nice 5 speed 3rd gen 4Runner when it's due for an upgrade here soon, building it and selling my '62...I go back to thinking about the situation.
The 76 '40 has been a project for a few years and I haven't had the benefit of having it "home" with me for a while, but should within the next few months. It's got a new B3.3 with the Phoenix GM adapter, and a rebuilt nv4500 mated to the original case. The B3.3/NV4500 mounts are in, but it still needs a clutch, driveline, fuel system, lots of bodywork, the things a cruiser that's sat for 2 decades needs, etc.
The '62 is my DD. It works well for me in that role. The transmission has however got the "clunk" when shifting between D and R. The engine I'm not worried about..
I could weld up the input gear/spacer/pto gear cluster and quit worrying about the trans while I put the '40 back together... Or put the 40 on hold and pull the B3.3 and attach a 700R4 and drop that in the '62, then find an LQ4 for the '40.
Longer term Plans for each vehicle:
The 40 will get bodywork and paint, I honestly don't even want to lift it - hunting, camping, mild wheeling and just driving it.
The 62 is rough around the edges to the point where I wouldn't mind beating on it wheeling some. It's got bondo in the wheel arches, small holes in the rear quarters, and numerous dents. Frame is 100%, interior is fine for what it is, etc. It's got a 1" body lift now, needs some OME help and 33's... I will have no problem DD'ing it as long as it's moving. It has enough power to get me around and I don't feel the need to spend any money making it faster-but sooner or later the tranny is gonna go. I kinda want to keep it an auto if anything gets swapped in..
I could always pull the whole drivetrain from the 40 and drop it in the 62 if the trans does go out - but I'd be putting a 4 speed case in it...
Thoughts, comments, musings?
Oh, and fuel mileage isn't a concern with either cruiser, and yes there is other junk around to drive immediately if my trans decides to let go soon...
Thought I'd solocit comments from the peanut gallery...
After quickly dismissing the idea of "taking" the wife's nice 5 speed 3rd gen 4Runner when it's due for an upgrade here soon, building it and selling my '62...I go back to thinking about the situation.
The 76 '40 has been a project for a few years and I haven't had the benefit of having it "home" with me for a while, but should within the next few months. It's got a new B3.3 with the Phoenix GM adapter, and a rebuilt nv4500 mated to the original case. The B3.3/NV4500 mounts are in, but it still needs a clutch, driveline, fuel system, lots of bodywork, the things a cruiser that's sat for 2 decades needs, etc.
The '62 is my DD. It works well for me in that role. The transmission has however got the "clunk" when shifting between D and R. The engine I'm not worried about..
I could weld up the input gear/spacer/pto gear cluster and quit worrying about the trans while I put the '40 back together... Or put the 40 on hold and pull the B3.3 and attach a 700R4 and drop that in the '62, then find an LQ4 for the '40.
Longer term Plans for each vehicle:
The 40 will get bodywork and paint, I honestly don't even want to lift it - hunting, camping, mild wheeling and just driving it.
The 62 is rough around the edges to the point where I wouldn't mind beating on it wheeling some. It's got bondo in the wheel arches, small holes in the rear quarters, and numerous dents. Frame is 100%, interior is fine for what it is, etc. It's got a 1" body lift now, needs some OME help and 33's... I will have no problem DD'ing it as long as it's moving. It has enough power to get me around and I don't feel the need to spend any money making it faster-but sooner or later the tranny is gonna go. I kinda want to keep it an auto if anything gets swapped in..
I could always pull the whole drivetrain from the 40 and drop it in the 62 if the trans does go out - but I'd be putting a 4 speed case in it...
Thoughts, comments, musings?
Oh, and fuel mileage isn't a concern with either cruiser, and yes there is other junk around to drive immediately if my trans decides to let go soon...
