Here is what I have now...

1969 FJ-40 with 1974 2F engine with 72,000 miles, weber 38mm carb, headers. Stock gears in axles front and rear, locked both w/ 3 speed tranny/3 speed transfer case. SPUA w/33" mud terrain tires on a 4" spring lift. Not sure on the 3d member gearing.

I am going to start my buildup within about 2 weeks. SPOA, Cut/Turn Knuckles, Full cage, wheelbase extended. 38" swampers. Chevy distributer, Camo Paint. Basic mid winter bordom project.

Will the 2f Be enough to turn the 38" tires? The truck will be mainly used in the mud and probably trailered to most places. Will It still be able to pull 55/65 in High Range or is it going to be a real pooch?

Took it out and played in the mud before it got cold here in december. It had everything done except for the 38mm weber. It seemed to turn the 33"s just fine in high and low in the mud and I was actually pretty impressed with it (I am used to toyota trucks, 1st cruiser that I actually got in the mud).

Reason I ask, is I have a 400 chevy small block with a 4 speed stick/NP transfer case and full size chevy axles, D44/GM rear from a suburban, just beggin to be put in something.

I would prefer to stick with the Cruiser axles/ 2f engine combo, but I will swap to the chevy pwr plant it is going to be a guttless wonder.... The 2f just seems to run too good to pull out. Another thing is the lockers in the axles. I am trying to keep the Garage time, $$$ spending as low as possible. I am not worried about the Birfs

Any indeas/comments are welcome

To make it okay you will have to regear the axles. The 4.11's and 38.5's will be doggy in the mud..
Driving around town should be fine though.

I run the 2f with 38.5's and kinda like it actually. Highway speed is not really a concern for me...


What rear axle is it? I don't really think the 44 front is much of an upgrade. It is very easy to fit the 400 SB in front of the stock LC 3 speed tranny. Although I would put a different tranny in it. Like the 420 or a 465...
Cheap and easy....

Jason

Any pics of yours on the 38's? Stock toyota axles I take it? What gears? 4.88's Any mods to the 2f. I could definatly tell a huge improvement going from the stock carb to the 38mm weber on mine

The rear axle is the standard out of a GM suburban. 12/10 bolt... I think....

I personally think the toyota axle with the birfs are just as strong as a 44. I think that the birfs that break are due to the type of driving/lack of maintance/High power, crawl raito. I have my stops turned out my 89 xtend cab and also on the cruiser now and haven't had any problems yet. I am not light on the pedal either. (4.3 in the 89) The only gains I see with the 44 is a stornger ring and pinion and some more width.

Toyota Ring and pinions are a whole diff story.... ( Been throught 2 front third members ) :)

If I where to put the 400block in, I would probably run the 4-speed chevy to the NP case only for the fact that I am a cheap ass and don't feel like spending the $$ on the adapters/clutch when I have it already.

I want to keep this as cheap as possible, but you know how that goes....

So either buy/regear my axles... Hope for the best
or
Implant the chevy powertrain, Hope the birfs hold up...
or
Implant the chevy powertrain/axles, buy a locker for the front, weld the rear.

Nolen runs a 2F with 38.5s....

You have to regear the axles, and you really need lower tranny gears too.

Even with chevy power, unless you have granny gears in the tranny you will need to regear the axles.

Cheapest way to go would be Chevy 350 + SM465 - you could then get away with the 38.5s offroad, and on road they would give you a nice OD effect.

You don't have to break birfields because you add a Chevy, but going to 38.5s will definitely increase the chances. Its all in how you drive and how much you Get It!

Jim

I run 4.88's and a 2F with 38.5 SX's.

It is awesome off road, but on road it definately leaves something to be desired.

Does it work?

Sure, I can confortably cruise at 60-65 per my GPS, which is perfectly fine with me, but the acceleration sucks as does my mileage.

SBC is in my future, but I am still trying to pay off axles.

Here is a sample picture, go to the site in my signature for many more...

Originally posted by weigellj
Jason

Any pics of yours on the 38's? Stock toyota axles I take it? What gears? 4.88's Any mods to the 2f. I could definatly tell a huge improvement going from the stock carb to the 38mm weber on mine

The rear axle is the standard out of a GM suburban. 12/10 bolt... I think....

I personally think the toyota axle with the birfs are just as strong as a 44. I think that the birfs that break are due to the type of driving/lack of maintance/High power, crawl raito. I have my stops turned out my 89 xtend cab and also on the cruiser now and haven't had any problems yet. I am not light on the pedal either. (4.3 in the 89) The only gains I see with the 44 is a stornger ring and pinion and some more width.

Toyota Ring and pinions are a whole diff story.... ( Been throught 2 front third members ) :)

If I where to put the 400block in, I would probably run the 4-speed chevy to the NP case only for the fact that I am a cheap ass and don't feel like spending the $$ on the adapters/clutch when I have it already.

I want to keep this as cheap as possible, but you know how that goes....

So either buy/regear my axles... Hope for the best
or
Implant the chevy powertrain, Hope the birfs hold up...
or
Implant the chevy powertrain/axles, buy a locker for the front, weld the rear.

I have stock 40 axles in mine right now. But will soon be going to FJ60 axles in the rear and possibly a hybrid for the front. Not really sure. My motor is fairly stock with a Holley 350 carb and the Tri-Y header with a flowmaster and a 2.5" exhaust. Plus I am running a Mallory hyfire ignition... But my rig runs on propane as well as gasoline...

The GM 10/12 bolt IMHO is a weaker axle compared to the LC unit. Unless you really want the width I would stay away from it. Front 44's seem to be weaker in a straight line and slightly stronger in a max turn than the BF. Not enough of a benefit.. Unless you really want wide... 44 Ring and pinions are NOT stronger than the LC fine splined ring gear and pinion... (which you will have to goto when you do the gear ratio change.)

You will spend a lot of time making those axles fit in your LC and you should not have a hard time finding a 465/420 for cheap and it will more than likely use everything you already have. 465/420 to the stock three speed case is also cheap...

Other than your birfields I would say the stock LC axles are better than the others you have... Regear them and see how you like it! or just put the 38's on and go from there! Hell, when you regear the stock axles you could weld the rear, sell the locker and you would be pretty much done!


And yeah it is a poser driveway shot... But heck at least it is a dirt driveway!!!

Stock internals 2F, 2bbl aisin, non-usa distributor, 2 piece header, sm420 - 3spd case, 4:11's. SR 4" Skyjackers, stock axles and 38x12.5x15's. Only problem is mud and wheel speed under power.

Mike "SpaceGhost" Smythe

i run 38 with a stock 3f, its pretty doggy on the highway but does allrite on the trail. i have 5.29 gears and that put it back to stock on the speedo. but its a dog in the mud with a auto just don't have the hp to spin them. but i find that it goes through a lot of stuff just because of the tire size. and its on stock fj 62 axles.

I think for now I am just going to try the 2f and see what happens. If it is a pooch with the 38's I will drop down to 35 boggers until I can get the funds/parts together to do the v8 swap.... Axle swapping I probably will not do unless it is d60 for the front. I didn't really think about the breaks/steering that much either on doing the swap and now thinking about it the d44 isn't that big of an improvement to start messing with the breaks/steering/new locker/driveshafts. If I am going to go through all that, it might as well be for a d60.

4.88 is the lowest gear set that you can go with in a cruiser axle, correct?

If one where to go with, v8-sm4XX 4 speed tranny (not sure which I have) then adapter to my toyota 3 speed transfer case. How much would the adapter cost? Would the transfer case have to be relocated or would it stay in the same spot? I saw the Spaceghost one.... Looks good, any other writeups out there on this? Any other ones out there? I assume the 3 speed case will hold up fine? or Not? I know that a traction bar for the rear should be made to eliminate the axle hop.

Looking at woodys site, I am pretty sure I have a SM420, if this makes things easier