If you had a 40 series which way would you go to get an overdrive: a Toyota H55 5 speed or an AA Ranger overdrive with an SM 465? I would like to keep LC transfer case (H55 comes with one) and axles. I would like to hear all points of view here and if it helps I am not sure to go with a 2F of 350 yet.

well the ranger is cool cause it splits all the gears and for street you can just leave it in overdrive. but my personal pref would be to get the H55 and split case, specially on a 40 keeping the 2F. the ranger would be good to act as the adapter for a 350 swap, but it doesnt lower your first gear like the 5 spd would.

I chose 35" overdrive. :)

Morgan (55 has 1:1 high gear)

Get a 3B or 2H diesel, H55F, use Mark's Adapters 1.08/3.05 transfer case gears to compensate for big tires. Ultimate gearing will be ~61-62:1. Not fantastic but low enough for most. If you have 10.4" in the drivetrain you can add a NP203 doubler. Or 3.6er with Wagoner's gears.
Charlie

You don't really say what you plan to use the truck for. On an overall-use Land Cruiser, I would choose the H55F, but keep in mind that is only a 17% overdrive. If you plan to wheel hard, the 4.95 first in the H55F can't compare to the 6.5 first of the SM465.

The overdrive to me is less crucial because, as Morgan points out, you can use tire size to compensate for it.

Just my $0.02...

If you plan to wheel hard, the 4.95 first in the H55F can't compare to the 6.5 first of the SM465.

With the availability of doublers (admittedly a problem with a SWB) and lower split TC gearing, the 4.843 1st in the H55F is less of a problem; and it's useful on the street, unlike 1st in a 465 or 420.
Charlie

My original intention with my cruiser was to use it for camping and the occasional butt kicking on Jeeps. But like any other project that has evolved into a summer cruiser that will be used for a little of everything (ie towing the boat, occasional road trip and some wheeling). The rest of the cruiser is set up with a rear locker (which will soon change to front and back) and some 4.10 rolling on some 33" tires. I am kind of leaning towards keeping the 2F with some mods: the Pertronix kit, header and fuel injection. But then again a lot of you guys have went through the same thing and found the cruiser being better with a 350. At any speed ,I will either have a H55 of Ranger overdrive (for an SM 465) shortly once I make up my mind, anybody interested?

I will jump in line for the H55 if you decide to sell it.

email me direct wngrog@aol.com

I'm running a 350 chevy with an H55f and a split transfer with 2.8 gears in it. My diffs are 4:11 and the tires are 35" Dick Cepaks. At 2200 rpm's I'm doing 65 mph.

I have the Ranger O/D and it makes for a nice option with a SM420. I originally got it when I did the V8 conversion - allowed the use of the stock 4speed tranny, t-case, and driveshafts.

With the SM420, I can use 3rd/hi for around town and still have adequate power. It's also nice for the highway - adds fuel economy for the drives to and from the trail. Only downside is the length of the unit - 8" with the adapter plate to mate to the tranny of choice.