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Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: X-Force on May 14, 2022, 08:58:45 PM

Title: 1978 FJ40
Post by: X-Force on May 14, 2022, 08:58:45 PM: My old man recently purchased an FJ40. 350 Chevy and a 4 speed manual. We would like to change it to an automatic. Is there any easy drop in options? Is a TH350 the easiest option? What problems will I run into.
Title: Re: 1978 FJ40
Post by: ALLTERRAIN on May 14, 2022, 10:11:25 PM: Depends on what you want to call easy. The biggest issue you’re going to run into is front drive line clearance on the trans pan. Couple of guys I know have had to notch the pan for clearance. 350 on one and 700r4 on the other.
Title: 1978 FJ40
Post by: jackelope on May 15, 2022, 10:58:40 AM: It’ll involve a transmission, transfer case, custom front and rear drivelines. Existing T case I don’t think will mate with different trans. Maybe that goes without saying. I’m sure there is tons of info on this on YouTube. The Chevy swap is a pretty popular conversion.
Title: Re: 1978 FJ40
Post by: jeffro on May 15, 2022, 02:53:36 PM: 4 wheel drives are best with manual transmissions.
Why go automatic, seems like a waste of a good machine, in my opinion.
If you have to have an auto, buy/ trade for what you want,
Other wise, use it as is
And enjoy the ride!
Title: Re: 1978 FJ40
Post by: X-Force on May 15, 2022, 05:27:42 PM: Quote from: jeffro on May 15, 2022, 02:53:36 PM
4 wheel drives are best with manual transmissions.
Why go automatic, seems like a waste of a good machine, in my opinion.
If you have to have an auto, buy/ trade for what you want,
Other wise, use it as is
And enjoy the ride!

He is 75 soon to be 76 and not as flexible as he once was.
Title: Re: 1978 FJ40
Post by: ALLTERRAIN on May 17, 2022, 10:23:13 AM: Quote from: jackelope on May 15, 2022, 10:58:40 AM
It’ll involve a transmission, transfer case, custom front and rear drivelines. Existing T case I don’t think will mate with different trans. Maybe that goes without saying. I’m sure there is tons of info on this on YouTube. The Chevy swap is a pretty popular conversion.
definitely drivelines, both rigs that I now are running adapter to stock t-case but going with mated t-case from chev pickup might be a simpler way and more clearance. Plenty of these have been done so looking for a fj forum would be a great place to look at what’s needed.
Title: Re: 1978 FJ40
Post by: mountainman on May 27, 2022, 12:33:18 PM: There are adapters to mate TH350. Not sure if Downey is still in business?