The FJ25s came with either a 4-speed, non-synchromesh compound low transmission, or a 3-speed transmission. Maybe that's what the 5.299 first gear was in?

Yeah this is true, but of all the FJ-25's I've seen, I'm yet to see one with the 4spd tranny in it. I've only seen ones with three spd trannies and the old cast iron transfercases (center rear output) and centered rear diffs, but that was just one. All the others had a 3spd tranny, alluminum 3 spd case (offset) with the centered rear axle.

Jeff