Project wifes '75 FJ-40

[Ruari]

I picked up a very clean cruiser to be my wifes Rubicon rig.  It is bone stock with 75,000 original miles on it.  It has the 4 speed t-case with the PTO winch up front.  She wants it to be an automatic soooo.....

I am thinking Chevy V8 with TH400 tranny and a tits toybox.

Any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions here?

Thanks in advance to you all.

[Shoyrtt]

 
The reason I say that is due to the fact your 75 might be worth big $ to the Cruiser crowd. I saw a really clean, stock 78 FJ driving around town with a for sale sign on it. I figured it was going to be in the 7 to 8K range, not knowing much at all about their worth. It was listed for 14K 

[MiniSimp]

I am thinking Chevy V8 with TH400 tranny and a tits toybox.

Any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions here?

If you're gonna go chevy, 350/SM420/Toybox

[Hammerhead]

If she needs an auto you might look at a 700r4.  It has a lower 1st gear and overdrive.  The th400 is an overrated power sucking turd...

You might look into an FJ60 auto trans with splitcase.

If she can handle a clutch you might want to go with an SM465 instead of the sm420.  Both are excellent trannys but the 465 is easier to get parts for and are more common that the 420.

[Ruari]

I believe that this Cruiser is worth more than $4,500.00 I paid for it.  I will get some pics up.

If she needs an auto you might look at a 700r4.  It has a lower 1st gear and overdrive.  The th400 is an overrated power sucking turd...

You might look into an FJ60 auto trans with splitcase.

If she can handle a clutch you might want to go with an SM465 instead of the sm420.  Both are excellent trannys but the 465 is easier to get parts for and are more common that the 420.

She can drive a stick but refuses to unless it is an emergency and thats all there is to drive.  So it will have to be automatic.  What engines can I use with the 700r4?
How much should I expect to pay for a 700r4 or an Fj60 Auto?
The only reason I am thinking Chevy 350 and th400 is that I already have them.  I believe I also have a th350 already.

Thanks and keep the ideas coming.

[AaronB]

If she needs an auto you might look at a 700r4.  It has a lower 1st gear and overdrive.  The th400 is an overrated power sucking turd...

You might look into an FJ60 auto trans with splitcase.

If she can handle a clutch you might want to go with an SM465 instead of the sm420.  Both are excellent trannys but the 465 is easier to get parts for and are more common that the 420.

x2

[Ruari]

I am finding built 700r4 tranny's for around $1200.00.  Is it really that good compared to a free th350 or th400?

[red]

heres a little rundown on gm auto tranny's

th350-1/2 ton 3 speed with no overdrive (as you probably know) that isnt bad to use but not the best choice. reliably can handle about 350ft/lbs of torque in a offroad vehicle or a vehicle that tows.

700r4-1/2 ton 4 speed auto with overdrive and the lowest 1st gear at a little over 3:1. can be built to handle around 500ft/lbs of torque reliably (but this is upgraded, stock figure 350ft/lbs of torque).

th400-sucks up power mostly because it does not have a locking torque converter. most heavy duty of the 80's era tranny's but has no overdrive and a lousy 1st gear of a little over 2.3:1.

with any of these tranny's get a tranny cooler and you should be fine. if thise rig is gonna see highway speeds i'd highly recommend the 700r4 because of the overdrive. if you can find a 4L80E with a stand alone computer (or a gm 350 powered truck or suv that is 3/4-1 ton with the auto, 1992+) then go for that. its basicly the upgraded th400. overdrive added, and a locking torque converter as well.

the 350 will bolt to any of these tranny's with no problem. other motors that will bolt up are:
4.3L v6
all the gm small block v8's
the gm inline 6 (same motor toyota used but gm dropped it in the early 80's)
6.2L diesel
6.5L diesel
if you can find the bellhousing (look for a box truck like a fedex truck or a bread truck with the auto) then the cummins 3.9L 4bt or the 5.9L 6bt will work.

[MiniSimp]

SM420 Low Range Ratio - 7.06:1 (manual)
SM465 Low Range Ratio - 6.54:1 (manual)
NP435 First Gear Ratio - 6.68:1 (manual)
NV4500 First Gear Ratio - 6.5:1 (manual)
or NV4500 Frist Gear Ratio - 5.61:1 (manual)
R151F Turbo First Gear Ratio - 5.15 (manual)(Marlin Built)
700R4 First Gear Ratio - 3.06:1 (automatic)
TH350 First Gear Ratio - 2.52:1 (automatic)
TH400 First Gear Ratio - 2.48:1 (automatic)

You're using this for crawling right? Which one would you pick...

[red]

nv4500 has 2 differant models. one with 6.5:1 and the other with 5.61:1 (dont ask me why they did that but they did.)

[MiniSimp]

nv4500 has 2 differant models. one with 6.5:1 and the other with 5.61:1 (dont ask me why they did that but they did.)

Fixed.

[megolfer]

With a auto and a toybox you are going to have a very short rear driveline unless you stretch the wheelbase.  I am running a 350, sm465, toybos to a splitcase and mine is pretty short. n I did stretch my wheelbase arouns 6".

[Ruari]

What does your rear driveline measure?
Does any one out there have the Chevy 350 with the 700r4 and the ToyBox setup in a cruiser?

Here are pictures...

[brc]

I have built up several cruisers and you will be stretching the wheel base ALOT to get the 700r4 and toy box in.  I built one for my father about 5yrs ago with 383 700r4 and 3spd case and it had a short rear driveline. and i ran it S/O with flipped springs to lengthen the wheel base about 7-8in.  I would run a mini case and centered mini rear axle if I was going to build another one with 700r4- just my 2Cents

[Hammerhead]

If you use a 4.3 V6 you can shove it forward about 6 inches (compared to SBC) to help out with drivetrain length.

I agree with brc... a 700r/Mini-case w/centered rear diff would be a sweet drivetrain especially with a 4.7 Marlin Gearset.

Centered rear diff is easier than you would think if you can fabricate or are willing to use 9" ford from an EB.

My favorite centered rear is a Cruiser/Mini hybrid...

[Ruari]

Does any one know the width of the axles on the cruiser compared to the mini axles?  I would actually like to put the TRD e-lockers in the cruiser anyway.

[Hammerhead]

These are approximate dimensions:

FJ40 = 55"
FJ60 = 58"
SA mini = 55"
IFS mini = 58"

Mini looks good when you compare the overall width of 55" but the third is located differently so the mini is not a "bolt-in" in a 40.

As I mentioned above you can do some neat hybrid stuff if you can fabricate.

Also you might look into an FJ80 E-locker for the FJ axles.  I've read that it can be done...

I would go with an ARB if it were me.  Easier than a TRD...

[Hammerhead]

Oh, and nice Cruiser, by the way...

[Ruari]

Is the problem with mini front axle that the spring perches are too wide?
I have no problem with fab work.  I made my own spring hangers for my orbit eyes and fabbed my own rear bumper and nerf bars.

The cruiser will get orbit eyes as well, so there is the possibility that I could just move the springs in or out as needed to make the mini axle fit... or just go with FJ80.  I have done a lot of e-locker conversions so it is no prob to do that.

How is the 4.3 V6 for pulling hills at highway speeds in the cruisers?

[Ruari]

It looks like the cruiser front springs are about 1.5" closer together so I would just need to spread the front springs to make the mini axle work in the front on the cruiser.  No biggie since I have to do the shackle reversal and the spring hangers for the orbit eyes.

Definately going with the mini axles then unless there are other issues I do not know about.

[red]

depends on which 4.3 you get. the tbi should maintain 60-65mph in the long steep climbs, the vortec will have more power (but requires a computer). there's also alot of power upgrades available for it, unlike most v6 motors.

[CTENG in KS]

Couldn't you find a toyota auto that came behind the 6 cyl in the FJ-62?

I like the toy 6cyl...nice and stout...I would keep that.  v8's are too common.

[Ruari]

I don't think that that is a bad engine.  I was, until now, unaware that they made an auto for the FJ's.  Would that still be too long though?

New idea.... how about the new fj cruiser engine tranny and transfer case?

[red]

dont know about the fj cruiser but i do know that if you go with an auto make sure its one from a 90's era cruiser. the earlier ones suck up so MUCH power.

[Shoyrtt]

I don't think that that is a bad engine.  I was, until now, unaware that they made an auto for the FJ's.  Would that still be too long though?

New idea.... how about the new fj cruiser engine tranny and transfer case?

FJ Cruiser drivetrain is basically the same as the Tacoma and probably too long.

Without getting too exotic maybe consider the 4.3 to 700r4 to an Atlas t-case. Fairly short set up and dependable (used a lot in the Jeep crowd) and the wife can do front digs.

You may also try asking about set ups on IH8MUD http://forum.ih8mud.com/index.php

[Yoat Goat]

Nice 40 man! I love the looks of them.

[Ruari]

I can't believe that nobody has caught the 16" Tacoma rims from the picture.

Thanks for all of your input.  Feel free to keep posting ideas as the cruiser project won't start for another 6-12 months but I will start collecting parts I will need.

[brc]

I have a cruiser in the shop right now I am building for myself.  I am running mini axles and I outboarded the spring mounts as you refereed to.  In the rear I am running IFS axle I just removed the old spring perches and installed new ones in the correct location.  I flipped my springs andmounted them spring over with shackle reversal in the front.

The drivetrain you are talking about w/4.3 I didn't even think about pushing motor forward but the only ones I have done have V-8's.  I am running the 3RZ in mine with R151 tranny and a 4.7 mini case.  I ended up with plenty of rear drive shaft length.  I don't see why you could not run 3RZ w/auto and push the motor forward I did it on mine I have 1 3/4 in between the radiator and the pulley on the water pump.  I am running an aluminum 4 core with a 1700 cfm pusher in the front.

Another thought is your steering I used a FJ 60 box on this one and like it alot better than running the Saginaw in front.  I am also running 5.29's with Detroit in the rear and arb in front with longfields.  It turns the 37in tires real well.  I actually pulled my boat to the lake this year a few times before I put it back in the shop to put on the aluminum tub. 

If you want I can take some pictures and send them to you.

brc

[Ruari]

I would definately like to see pictures.

The only problem I am having with using a mini t-case and rear axle is that I won't be able to keep and use the PTO winch.   Unless I can find a mini PTO case like Marlin's.    Where can you find those? 
I have seen some people use the mini rear axle with Cruiser transfer case.  I don't know how that driveline would work driving at highway speeds.

Any thoughts on this?