I have a question about a V-8 conversion in a FJ40 I found. The owner is a mechanic and said this about his conversion to a 283 V8:

The conversion adapter is a simple bell housing that accomodates the Chevy engine and the Toyota transmission. The stock Toyota transmission input shaft splines directly into a standard Chevy 11" clutch disk and uses the stock Toyota throwout bearing. The only tricky part of this conversion is that the pressure plate must be coil spring type. It cannot be a diaphram type, according to Downy offroad, makers of Chevota conversion kits. These plates are not hard to find. NAPA carries a 1959 Dodge pickup coil spring pressure plate that will bolt directly to the standard Chevy 11" flywheeel. The conversion is amazingly simple. There are also many aftermarket suppliers of specially made Chevota conversion parts. I believe Borg Warner used to make a 5500lbs. race grade coil spring pressure plate just for Chevota conversions.

it this a common conversion??? I'm gunshy since I've seen MANY Franken-Cruisers with junk yard motors and redneck engineering
:D

Your thoughts PLEASE!!!!

Nothing wrong with the 283, its just an older motor. I purchased a 1977 "franken-cruiser" as my first...had a toyota throwout bearing, Chrysler 3-finger pressure plate, and chevy disc in it. Lasted 3 months. Since I knew no better, I had a mechanic replace it with identical parts. Lasted another 2-3 months. (No warranty on it, since it was morphed together....figgers) During that time, I joined TLCA (1989, BTW) and learned about the Centerforce option. Replaced it the 2nd time with the Centerforce and never had another problem, and sold the tranny/bellhousing/clutch assembly to a guy who runs it to this day.

Yours sounds exactly like what I junked twice in 6 months. IMO, budget in a replacement.

ADD: Oh yeah, it was a 305 V8 with a stock 4-speed.

Originally posted by woody
I purchased a 1977 "franken-cruiser" as my first...had a toyota throwout bearing, Chrysler 3-finger pressure plate, and chevy disc in it. Lasted 3 months. Since I knew no better, I had a mechanic replace it with identical parts. Lasted another 2-3 months. (No warranty on it, since it was morphed together....figgers) During that time, I joined TLCA (1989, BTW) and learned about the Centerforce option. Replaced it the 2nd time with the Centerforce and never had another problem, and sold the tranny/bellhousing/clutch assembly to a guy who runs it to this day.

Yours sounds exactly like what I junked twice in 6 months. IMO, budget in a replacement.


Ahhh Franken-Cruisers… I love it. Yup that was my first cruiser as well at age 17 (my first vehicle of any kind) My 1965’ish FJ-40 $1200, topless sitting on bald bias ply tires w/ split rims, no seat belts, w/ the Chevy truck bench seat LAG BOLTED to wood 4x4’s painted black (had no idea this was this way, entail after my first accident and the whole seat ripped up and sheered my seat belt! Got the scar to prove it too!) . This rig had a 67’ 327 with a hermaphrodite clutch set up inside a 57’ bell housing, a flame cut spacer plate and a 3 on the floor trany. The motor was crammed into the fire wall so the dude could get away with out cutting the drive lines… it went on and on.

Short of it, the same clutch set up disintegrated and I bought my Centerforce set up. This set up lasted two motors, three accidents (one street roll), one electrical fire and two frames/tubs and was still strong when I sold the rig. (Disclaimer look I had the rig from age 17-21 any truck that can survive those years… whoh!)

I would do just as wise man Woody say’s and budget for a clutch! Good luck with your new rig if you pick it up!

Thanks Woody and Helo, I've pretty much worn out the rest of the TLC crowd with my questions and FJ40 shopping ;) but I have learned a ton about wrenching and L.C. history, plus I really do enjoy tracking them down and hearing stories from the owners.

After shopping and looking for more than a year I have seen some horrible, cut up, rusted out pieces of crap and not ONE running FJ40 under $3,000:rolleyes: of all the trucks I went to look at I only bothered to drive 2 because I knew when I pulled in the driveway that I had found yet another TURD:mad:

Thank you ALL for your straight advice and for keeping me from buying the wrong truck, from the wrong people. If I would have settled for the first one I came across I would have had to sell it and start over again by now.

I'm down with the cruiser sickness :rasta: