H55f and 3FE into '86 FJ60?

[4Cruisers]

I'm planning another project and would like some input.

Last Saturday I picked up a rust free '86 FJ60, complete, but with bad engine. 120K miles. I was thinking of installing a 3FE and H55f, also, the 4.11 axles from an FJ62 donor vehicle. I'd run 30X9.50 ATs. I know I'll lose some low end torque (over a 2F), but will the H55f lower 1st gearing and 4.11s compensate for this at all on the trail? This is one area I'm not well versed on.

My other option is to stick with a similar set-up to my '84 FJ60, stock w/33X9.50 ATs.

Any opinions/comments?

Thanks in advance.

John

[cruiserbrett]

I doubt you will loose too much bottom end torque... With a manual behind the 3Fe they do alot better... and the H55F/4.11 should make up any difference on the trail, not to mention the smoothness of EFI...

-Brett

[dieselcruiserhead]

See Jim Godwin's article, it is probably on the net somewhere. I know there is a trails article and I think it's in 4 Wheeler too....

He put a 3FE in a FJ60 and it was kind of a bitch but it worked... I think it's also well covered in LCML archives at www.birfield.com/archives

[roscoFJ73]

John my stock 73 series has 4.11 diffs and h55f gearbox with a 3F(not efi) and 33x10.5 and certainly does not suffer from lack of low end torque. 1st gear on a h55f is so low I rarely use it on or off road. I think 1st on the auto box is similar to 2nd on the manual.
I went from 31x10.5 and hardly noticed the difference.

[chef]

You need to ask that question at the 3fe list, it's been done there recent;y as well...

[4Cruisers]

Thanks for the responses so far! I bought the issue of Four Wheeler with the 3FE swap when the magazine came out a few years ago - thought it might come in handy some day. I'll also take a look at the LCML archives and the 3FE site.

I spent a few minutes today looking through the Haynes 1980-1996 FJ6*/FJ80/FZJ80 manual. Between this information, the magazine, LCML, and a little studying of the SOR catalog diagrams/price lists I should be able to figure exactly how much to strip out of the FJ60 to get it ready for the swap.

I'll let you know what route I decide to go.

John

[4Cruisers]

From 9/9/01 3FE list:

In the FJ60 I'm running a 3FE coupled to the H42 manual tranny (1:1 4th gear), 4.11's and 33's. I swapped the diffs about a year ago; previously having 3.7's. The gearing change was noticeable but not dramatic. With the 4.11's the 3FE pulls hills and trailers much better. The gearing change put the engine back into a better area of the powerband when cruising the highway. I would think that with the overdrive of the auto tranny, the 4.11's, that 33's would be way too much tire.

Jim Godwin

This got me to thinking of a different way to go - a later overseas H41 low-ratio 4-speed from an *J60 (same first gear ratio as the H55f), 4.11s, and 33X9.50s (for overdrive effect and ground clearance).

Come to think of it, I recently put an H41/3-speed transfer case in my 2F '76 FJ40, with 4.11s and 33X9.50s. I imagine I could take it for a spin on the highway and see how I like it - the 3-speed transfer case is 2.313 and the FJ60 split transfer case is 2.276 - less than 2% difference. It hasn't left the side yard since I moved it from the garage over two months ago.

John