I've begun a complete restoration on a 1965 Fj45
Short Box. I've read just about all I can find on
the subjects of engines, trannies, adapters,
brakes and axles. My intent is to go with a 350
and auto tranny. My questions to the experts are:
If this were your project,
how would you go about updating to disk brakes (
front only), which tranny and rear end would you
use. I kinda need someone to talk slow on these
subjects as this is all very new to me. Thanks, DH
Mack

I am just finishing the same thing. If I were to do it all over again here is how it would go. I would buy a NEW $1250 GM crate motor. It has more than enough power! I would skip the rebuild. I would buy the 700R4 and three speed case that is mated to it in the for sale section. I t would bolt right to the back of your 350 without any problems or adapters. You should have plenty of room for your drivelines.

I went the rebuilt 350, SM420, late 3 speed route.

Good luck!

im starting a longbed fj45 soon and will build it much differently than my fj40...im going fuel injected 350 dont know TBI or TPI, i'll use a front mini truck axle and either a mini rear end or a 6 lug 60(custom sort of thing like dogwalker's)...i have an auto in my fj40 but will be going to an NV4500 for the fj45...if you go auto, i'd go w/ a rebuilt 700r4...speaking of which, i have a extra 700r4 adatper but it goes to a later 4 speed case

Thanks for the replies. This type of practical application is what I'm looking for and makes it easier to come to decisions. DH Mack

It all depends on what you are going to do with it. I have three Fj45s
1- 1963 short bed built for off road but trying to keep the toyota running gear 250 horse 6 Toyota axles 488s with arbs, full floater rear, birfield elem kit front, disk front and rear. High steer, Spring over with 38 inch swampers 1200lb warn front Toyota pto rear going to run sm465-203- toyota 3 speed case.
2- 1965 long bed completly stock 6 cylinder 3 speed on the tree
I use this one to ride around town and get parts
3- 1965(long bed) thanks to Mike gong to use as a tow rig for the 63 will be running dana 60 front and 14 bolt rear 350 sm465-205
So it all boils down to what you want. If you want to keep you Toyota axles then change to mini truck knuckles this way if you want to do high steer you are ready. I would also do rear disk and get rid of the drums you will have a lot better stopping power if you run big tires. Good luck have fun

so here's my $.02 worth.
engine: 350 for sure, tbi works great and is easy to set up and maintain. carbs suck! tpi is more difficult and expensive to set up.

tranny: for manuals, i'd go with the 465. they are a little bigger and stronger than the 420. the 420 is geared lower (slightly) and is slightly shorter but in a 45 you have more room than you need for the rear drive line so trans length is not really a factor. some 420 parts are not that easy to find any more and the 465 is the newer of the 2. parts for the 465 are readily available. 465's are synchronized better than the 420.

for autos you've got 3 choices. th350, 400 and 700.
once again, size should not be a concern and once you bolt up the adapter thay all end up about the same; 700 being the longest.
the 350 is inexpensive to obtain and rebuilt. for a mild motored, not too wild vehicle (under 35" tires) it'll be reliable for years.
the 400 would be the strongest choice.
gearing in the 350 and 400 are similar, however with the torque converter's torque multiplication and proper driving it does not matter what your gearing is.(that's right!)
the 700 offers a couple of advantages: lowest gearing of any auto and a 4th gear (overdrive) to boot. this however comes at a price because it's the most expensive one of the 3 to buy, build and make work. it's also the weakes in the bunch.
pm me if you have any trans questions, i've installed and run them all. 800-991-0117 georg

PS: you've got less than 6 months to complete that project so you can make it to the 45 run in late august!:D

almost forgot::flipoff2: ! newbie.
welcome to the club.......