Three on the Tree to Floor Conversion

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1

1970Utah

Joined
Nov 10, 2025
Threads
1
Messages
13
Location
Southern California
Hello All,

Noobie here, with what I hope is an easy question for my first post (first FJ40 restoration too). I have a 1970 FJ40 with Three on the Tree, and want to convert it to a floor shift. I'm hoping to remove the vacuum shift for 4 wheel drive and put it on the floor as well. I'm a 'less is more' kind of person. I have stripped the rig to the frame, engine, driveline and axles. I'm in the process of wire wheeling through decades of oil and grease. While it's all open and easy to reach, I want to make the tree-to-floor switch. I've found a 1969 FJ40 parts rig with both shifts on the floor. So finally, the question; will the 1969 parts fit on my 1970 FJ? Do they have to be from a three speed as well? Is it simply a matter of unbolting the top plate and exchanging with the floor mounted shifter? I was hoping to find directions, instructions, or a video, but haven't had any luck yet. Thanks in advance for you advice and direction. I'll take all the help I can get.
 
I think they will fit. You should spend some time looking at build thread here. I'm sure there is at least one good thread on the conversion process for tranny and transfer. Then look in the manuals for part numbers and application. Online catalogs can be very helpful. SOR.com for example has good pictures - there prices tend to be high, but their service is high too.

Free factory service manuals downloads here Land Cruiser Factory Service Manuals (FSMs) - https://www.cruisercult.com/factory-service-manuals

There are other really good vendors plus a classified for parts for sale or wanted.

My 72 was born with both on the floor and I really liked the less stuff for operating the shifters. I have nothing vacuum except the gauge I installed.

Pic's go a long way here. In the 50 years plus PO's have done many things such as your 69 was likely converted
 
Been there, did that in a 1970. The top plate bolted right in and the shift cane lined up with the gates, no problem. My problem was the cane hit the bench seat when pulled back to 1st and 3rd, but heating and bending it more vertical to clear took care of that. The worst part of the job was locating the hole in the tunnel cover. I didn't do the t-case linkage, but I suspect it will be easy enough, too.
 
I converted my first, a 1970 40 to floor shift. As mentioned it all worked mechanically with no issue. Getting hole right would be easy now, but at 16 was nerve wracking!

I left vacuum engage 4wd and underdash hi lo lever. It worked good and was not as used up as column shift linkage was.
 
Paul_A said:
Been there, did that in a 1970. The top plate bolted right in and the shift cane lined up with the gates, no problem. My problem was the cane hit the bench seat when pulled back to 1st and 3rd, but heating and bending it more vertical to clear took care of that. The worst part of the job was locating the hole in the tunnel cover. I didn't do the t-case linkage, but I suspect it will be easy enough, too.
Click to expand...
If it was all stock the shift cane should not have hit the seat. While the US did not see the floor shift until the 72 model it was standard in other markets since the beginning. Is possible the. Parts came off an V8 conversion? Those the shifter would hit the heater and were bent back.

1970Utah said:
Hello All,

Noobie here, with what I hope is an easy question for my first post (first FJ40 restoration too). I have a 1970 FJ40 with Three on the Tree, and want to convert it to a floor shift. I'm hoping to remove the vacuum shift for 4 wheel drive and put it on the floor as well. I'm a 'less is more' kind of person. I have stripped the rig to the frame, engine, driveline and axles. I'm in the process of wire wheeling through decades of oil and grease. While it's all open and easy to reach, I want to make the tree-to-floor switch. I've found a 1969 FJ40 parts rig with both shifts on the floor. So finally, the question; will the 1969 parts fit on my 1970 FJ? Do they have to be from a three speed as well? Is it simply a matter of unbolting the top plate and exchanging with the floor mounted shifter? I was hoping to find directions, instructions, or a video, but haven't had any luck yet. Thanks in advance for you advice and direction. I'll take all the help I can get.
Click to expand...
Would verify the parts on the 69 to be sure their are correct. Most likely was changed from column and dash to the floor at some point.
The transfer case floor shifter is not as simple as the 4/75 and later four speeds. And common for the transfer case shifter to vibrate. I never had a problem with the vacuum shift 4WD on a 40 series. My FJ62 it's take a while to shift especially if it's cold. My conversion was part of a four speed swap. I also cut the dash to install a radio. Wish now I hadn't added the radio and just lengthened the rod going back for the high low shift lever. I now also have a stock 70 that everything works flawlessly. I changed my 68 three speed to a floor shortly after buying back in 1974 but drove tons of three column shift pickups for companies I worked for in the 1970s and 1980s. Debating going back to stock on my 68 mainly because I have too many cruisers and while the 70 is nicer the 68 is my first Land Cruiser.
 
A tool I now have that I didn’t when I converted to floor shift in the early 80’s is a laser level with a plumb bob feature.

Would be simple to install floor shifter onto tranny and mark spot on headliner with piece of masking tape and a marker that is plumb to center of shifter cane tower. Then take off floor shifter, set tunnel cover back in place and mark spot that is plumb to spot on headliner.

Could do the same with string and actual plumb bob if you wanna be a cave man!
 
charliemeyer007 said:
I think they will fit. You should spend some time looking at build thread here. I'm sure there is at least one good thread on the conversion process for tranny and transfer. Then look in the manuals for part numbers and application. Online catalogs can be very helpful. SOR.com for example has good pictures - there prices tend to be high, but their service is high too.

Free factory service manuals downloads here Land Cruiser Factory Service Manuals (FSMs) - https://www.cruisercult.com/factory-service-manuals

There are other really good vendors plus a classified for parts for sale or wanted.

My 72 was born with both on the floor and I really liked the less stuff for operating the shifters. I have nothing vacuum except the gauge I installed.

Pic's go a long way here. In the 50 years plus PO's have done many things such as your 69 was likely converted
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for the link to the service manuals. So, after a bit of closer examination, although the person selling the parts car says it's a 1969, it has both shift canes on the floor, a one piece hood, and a screw in plastic cap for oil on the valve cover, which is making me think it's at least a 1972, or parts of it anyhow. So I guess I have to change my question to: Will the gearbox from a 1972 fit my 1970 for this conversion? I did verify with the seller that it's a 3 speed, so maybe that helps match it with mine. It does have a pretty good looking transmission tunnel, and I'm hoping to look at it tomorrow. Again, thank you so much for your help!
 
So, after a bit of closer examination, although the person selling the parts car says it's a 1969, it has both shift canes on the floor, a one piece hood, and a screw in plastic cap for oil on the valve cover, which is making me think it's at least a 1972, or parts of it anyhow. So I guess I have to change my question to: Will the gearbox from a 1972 fit my 1970 for this conversion? I did verify with the seller that it's a 3 speed, so maybe that helps match it with mine. It does have a pretty good looking transmission tunnel, and I'm hoping to look at it tomorrow. Again, thank you so much for your help!
 
Sorry, forgot to add, I compared the diagrams for the 3 speed transmissions from the 1962-1970 Chassis and Body Repair Manual with the 1972-1974 Chassis and Body Repair Manual (Thank you charliemeyer007), and they sure look similar. I couldn't find a part number for either transmission though. Probably operator error on my part.
 
The tranny and t-case should all just bolt in. Take the tunnel cover, too, just in case. In fact, I would take as many parts as you can grab--needed or not. Shoot for the moon and hope you don't ever need them all.
 
1970Utah said:
Sorry, forgot to add, I compared the diagrams for the 3 speed transmissions from the 1962-1970 Chassis and Body Repair Manual with the 1972-1974 Chassis and Body Repair Manual (Thank you charliemeyer007), and they sure look similar. I couldn't find a part number for either transmission though. Probably operator error on my part.
Click to expand...
The attached pic is from my Toyota microfiche dated 01/81. This shows p/n's for US and Canadian markets for the period from 03/69 to 0780 for the FJ40 series and the FJ55.

20251120_083537.webp
 
timmyisinthewell said:
The attached pic is from my Toyota microfiche dated 01/81. This shows p/n's for US and Canadian markets for the period from 03/69 to 0780 for the FJ40 series and the FJ55.

View attachment 4034100
Click to expand...
That's awesome! Thank you so much. Looks like 33110 for column shift and 33120 for floor shift if I'm reading correctly. Should be able to just swap them out?
 
1970Utah said:
Sounds good! Headed to look at it this morning. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Picked up the transmission, and it came with the rest of the truck. Pulled the transmission today, and it's cleaning up well. Fingers crossed for the switch
1970Utah said:
Sounds good! Headed to look at it this morning. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Picked up the transmission, and it came with the rest of the truck:). Plenty of parts I can use, and some extras too. Pulled the transmission today, and it's cleaning up nicely. Fingers crossed for the switch, but it's looking good.

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Pull the top covers off both and see which has less chips on 1st gear. Put both transfer cases in low range and see which has less wear on the teeth of the high speed gear where the shift collar meshes. Those will be the best indicators of how long you can use them before needing a rebuild.

And if it happens that the best pair is one of each, you should consider swapping them together, which will give you the added benefit of being able to change the transfer input seal, the bane of so many powertrains that people resorted to a bandaid equalizer hose to deal with the failed seal.

If you need seals and/or gaskets, I sell them, and am local to you. And if you want to dig deeper, I stock rebuild kits and offer rebuilding services.

Marks Off Road Home Page - https://marksoffroad.net/index2.html
 
Last edited:
65swb45 said:
Pull the top covers off both and see which has less chips on 1st gear. Put both transfer cases in low range and see which has less wear on the teeth of the high speed gear where the shift collar meshes. Those will be the best indicators of how long you can use them before needing a rebuild.

And if it happens that the best pair is one of each, you should consider swapping them together, which will give you the added benefit of being able to change the transfer input seal, the bane of so many powertrains that people resorted to a bandaid equalizer hose to deal with the failed seal.

If you need seals and/or gaskets, I sell them, and am local to you. And if you want to dig deeper, I stock rebuild kits and offer rebuilding services.

Marks Off Road Home Page - https://marksoffroad.net/index2.html
Click to expand...
Thanks Mark, I really appreciate the advice! It's nice to know you're a local resource.
 
Having a parts rig should almost be mandatory, even if you don’t need parts! Good score! Interesting how they painted the dash over the knobs and everything.

That tunnel doesn’t look too bad from the pics. If that’s the case, you just going to use it since the holes are in it?

And don’t trash those vacuum shift and 3 on the tree parts! Someone will want them.
 
Skreddy said:
Having a parts rig should almost be mandatory, even if you don’t need parts! Good score! Interesting how they painted the dash over the knobs and everything.

That tunnel doesn’t look too bad from the pics. If that’s the case, you just going to use it since the holes are in it?

And don’t trash those vacuum shift and 3 on the tree parts! Someone will want them.
Click to expand...
Thanks Skreddy, yep, thought I'd use the tunnel with the factory holes, and repair the rust around the edge. I'm gonna keep all the remote transmission parts and uncut tunnel so if someone down the road (when I'm long gone) wants to restore it to original, they'll be there. Ya, they weren't shy about spraying the rust inhibitor. There must have been a sale at Home Depot! I'm gonna try to save the knobs, and as much as I can, so after my project, maybe someone else can use them.

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I’m going to take a WAG that there was alcohol involved in that decision-making process.😉
 
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