What to do? engine/transmission swap questions

[3pits]

I have my 88 62 in pieces.

I installed a 2.5" ome lift on it in 2000, rebuilt the brakes and axles a few years ago installing a lockright up front. I installed stainless steel braided brake lines back then too.. Rebuilt the power steering box and installed a new water pump/radiator/hoses etc... custom made battery and ground cables, new windshield, LED lights inside for feet and overhead, storage box/platform in the back, custom rear bumper, (planning on swingout) working on a custom front bumper to hold a winch (maybe the m12000).. upgraded headlight harness, new injectors and seals, new TPS and pulse dampener, new wires/plugs/cap/rotor, new exhaust, desmogged,new hood and lift gate shocks, new shock bushings, new ujoints, newish steering stabilizer, locks and window mods... probably more I cannot think of.. was planning on sway bar disconnects, it does have some body damage, but nothing significant other than the roof leaks onto the drivers knee, oh yea it needs new front seats.

The biggest problems: the transmission started to slip in first gear and reverse upon take off,
transmission was leaking on to the ground and leaking into the transfer case
oil leaks everywhere from the engine, as in 1 qt a week, and most was ending up in the engine compartment soiling everything..
the key way in the crankshaft is wallered out, the last time I had to do anything with it in 2000, I barely got the harmonic balancer/pulley to mount properly.

I will probably move the lockright to the rear and install an ARB in the front, along with a york compressor and heat shroud for the alternator, dual batteries etc..

Ive got the engine out and separated from the transmission..
I found a donor rebuilt auto transmission-but it may be gone by now
I have a 2f laying around..
I have a great deal on an h55 and have a few 4 speeds laying around too,,, I also have some of the ancillary parts needed to install a manual transmission

Once I build it I may sell it after driving it for a year or less, (I could sell the 40 or 80) I may wheel it, or keep it and use it as my camping/expedition vehicle....it is the one vehicle I have that I do not really care about the body.... I do not want to trash the 40 or 80 yet.

The compression on the 3fe last year was 150 psi across the board, cold. I believe it has been rebuilt before I bought it in 2000 with 250k on it, now 343k on it. I have driven this vehicle since 2000. In the last 2 years I have driven a new engined 60 and the 80, I think I will be disappointed in the 3fe/a440 combo...

A diesel is not in the cards due to cost.

So here are the potential options:

A: fix the oil leaks reinstall the 3fe (cheapest and quickest option)
B: build a 2FE

C: install a new h55
D: install a used 4 speed (cheapest and quickest option)
E: install a donor A440

F: install some other combo such as a vortec

I am leaning towards the 2FE and H55, but I don't know how much power I will see from all the work building a 2FE... and I am a cheapskate not wanting to dump $2000 into the new H55/shifter/knob etc... but could. (yes I have got that kind of deal on a new H55... )

for the manual transmissions I would need a flywheel, bolts, master and slave cylinders, pedal bucket and flexible line....

So what do you guys vote for?

 

[the gimpey one]

Fix it option a

 

[NCFJ]

I am finishing up a 5.3L Vortec/4L60E into a FJ62 currently, it's at the exhaust shop. To do it right, meaning replacing the fuel lines, new radiator etc (some use old stuff and wonder why they have fuel issues and it overheats) you are looking at $7K and up depending on what you buy.

You can get the motor and harness for the price of a total rebuild on the 3FE and the trans for less than the H55, the rest is for items like radiator,fuel system, exhaust,power steering lines,AC lines, trans cooling lines, motor mounts,intake system lots of hardware and a bunch of other little items. Your SIG line applies here.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

I vote stick with the 3FE and drop the H55 in behind hind it, I think that swap has the most upside with the least amout of time investment. Also I wouldn't waste my time with the 2FE I think your gains would be marginal to the money and time spent.

Either way good luck

 

[jleeFJ62]

3fe and 4 speed. 5 speed would be nice, but if you plan on selling down the road, id stick with the 4spd.

2FE and H55f into the 40

 

[3pits]

okay, good input... I might go 3fe/4speed and if I find I need the 5th gear, the conversion at that point would be VERY easy.. relocating the cross member and shortening the drive shaft would be the worst things...

 

[3pits]

I love being able to go to my bucket of bolts and find the correct bolt to replace a previous owner mistake bolt...

I have removed most of the gaskets and associated parts from the 3fe engine.

The exhaust/intake manifolds are still connected and I plan on replacing the gasket even though it only has 30k miles on it.

The head is still attached and I will replace the gasket even though it only has 90k on it. I can inspect the cylinder walls when I remove it too.


When I removed the oil pan two of the 8 main bearing bolts were in the bottom of the oil pan...

The biggest problem so far is, is there is SOOO much gunk on the internal parts I am afraid it is going to get between the bearings and crank or cam and end up siezing up. There was around 1/8"-3/16" of black tar on the inside of the side cover ... that same gunk is on the inside of the block, on the oil pump, on the crank, push rods, lifter rods, oil pan, top of head, valve train... and anything else you can think of that is inside the engine. I am temped to take it to a shop, have them measure the crank/cam etc and dip the thing, replace the rings and bearings and put it back together.

The pcv and valve cover breather were so caked full of this tar I think I was building up pressure and it was blowing the oil out of the lower seals. The front seal is about half blown out and it was replaced 80k miles ago. It was installed properly, cause I did it...

Since this engine was leaking from many places there is oil and dirt caked all over the inside of the engine compartment, so I am taking many parts, hoses and wires off to clean it thoroughly...

I am getting rid of the auto transmission so I will wrap and tape up the wiring that goes to it.

I am going to find a good place to insert an aftermarket water temperature sensor and add that, probably take over a stock hole in the thermostat housing since I have desmogged it and am not using all the vsv s in there.

I am getting rid of the push button 4wd and solenoids (the electronic switch (and a back up switch I have on the shelf) will be for sale soon) and go to manual shifting, also allowing for 4 hi, 4 lo, 2 hi and 2 low with the gate mod. iirc

more plans:
under hood LED with hood button from land rover
york air compressor
alternator heat shield
rerouting the oil pressure sensor
mercedes pusher fan with temp sensor and manual override
mercedes horns
maybe rerouting the power steering cooler through the automatic transmission cooler on the bottom of the radiator.

What else would you add? or do to this to make it better than stock..

I am going either 4 speed or 5 speed.. still undecided which one