Anyone running a V6 Vortec in ther FJ40? Got pics? What tranny and t-case did you run?

I think it is too light for a FJ-40...especially after going from a HEAVY 2F.

George from CV Unlimited had one at CM2001 and it was pretty nice.

I think if you are going to swap into a heavy ass Cruiser...get some POWER while you are at it ;)

Vortec 4300 V6
Horsepower 200
Torque 250

Toyota F-Motor
Horsepower 125
Torque 209

The Vortec V6 has more than enough power for a 40...I'm running stock t-case and axles...Everyone that I know that is running a V8 with stock running gear usually breaks something eventually...The V6 will give me all the power I want and will be less apt to breakage, will get better mileage than both the V8 and the F motor...Nolan, you have beefy running gear, so a V8 goes well with your scenario, I have no plans on changing out my axles...will probably change out my t-case eventually...I think people are swapping in V8's because everyone else is doing it...It's really a matter of personal preference...:flipoff2::smokin:

I say go for it!
nolen is just all V-8 happy now...

If it was me, i would run the 4.3, then 700r4, and move the V-6 as far forward as you can to make room for the long tranny. With the stock axles and case behind that you will have decent crawl(about double what it is now) and stout enuff drivetrain for 35's or so...

Good Luck!

I agree...Nolan is V8 happy right now! Can't blame him though...his rig is going to be sweet after all of the current mods are done...he better not lose patience on the trail or :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: LOL!
I have decided...4.3 and a SM420 or SM465 or 4L60E
Anyone need an 73 Running F-Motor or a 2F?

Dave:

Go for it! Butch Lewis in Napa has one and is quite happy with it. Several people have 4.3's. The 465 and 420 bellhousings bolt right up - I would probably go with the 465 and long AA adapter so as to keep your tcase in a stockish location.

Andy

BigDave
Wheeler

Registered: Feb 2002
Location: Lost in Lodi again!
Member #9950
Posts: 108

BTW Dave - I thought it was "stuck in Lodi again"


:rasta:

Andy...OOPS! your right...I better change it quick!:rasta:

Originally posted by wngrog
I think it is too light for a FJ-40...especially after going from a HEAVY 2F.

The POWER comment was made tongue in cheek, but the real reason I would not do it is the loss of the weight on the frontend.

Where we wheel, there are lots of steep loose hill climbs with ledges at the top and I have ALWAYS been able to do better than most due to the weight on the front of my Cruiser.

I expect to lose a great deal of this weight going to the Aluminum Head LT-1, but I am not willing to go as far as lopping off 2 more cylinders with the 4.3.

Trust me, if I were to start over with a competition rig, a 4.3 or smaller would top my list.

I think they are EXCELLENT motors for light rigs.

I think it all depends on what kind of wheeling you do, but if you think you can deal with the featherlight front...giddy up and don't look back!!

We have 2 completed 4.3s in our club.

One is a TBI and he has retrofitted a TB off of 350 on it. He's run it for 5 years or so. Some of you may have seen him at Rubithon 2000. Little green 40 with Mr. Yuk on the plates. Everyone called him Pee Wee. He was running 32x11.50s at the time. I guess he was the smallest rig there. Anyway, at that time he ran 26mpg on the highway. Which is great as we all drive to the trails here. He is now running some 33x14.50 or so Boggers and I guess his mileage is down to 22 mpg. He runs a SM465 and 3 speed case. I have never seen him have any weight issues on the trail.

The other one is a newer CPI 4.3. He basically is running everything stock besides the motor and I guess he added a suspension lift recently, but I haven't seen it yet. He was running high 20s for MPG and it had tons of power. He was running small tires the last time I saw him.

The neat thing about these motors is you can stuff them further forward than a V8 and play with more gears etc... and still end up with reasonable driveshaft lengths.

We have two more in the works. One is a 40 with a SM465/203/3speed case and I believe that is a TBI model. The other is in a mini with a NV4500 and dual Marlin Crawlers.

If I had a 40 with a screwed up 2F I would definitely consider this swap as the motors are cheap when compared to the V8 siblings and better MPG. And more options for gears, autos with a doubler????

Still building, so no functional testing yet, but I am putting an old style NV4500 behind a 4.3 vortec in my 70 fj40. I havent decided on a transfercase yet, but am looking towards a np241 hd or something similar. Will keep the board updated with progress and pics.

HEY 4.3 GUYS!

Please HELP ME!

I bought a truck for parts about 4 weeks ago, and with it came a 4.3 vortec from a 94 blazer, trouble is I have no idea how to put in my 1980 40. Wiring diagrams, pics, advice??? I'm thinking of even selling it because I have no Idea what to do.

The plan...

94 4.3 vortec with sm420 and 3 spd case.

Again HELP!