1972 FJ-40

My 72 FJ-40 presently has a 350 with the stock three speed in it.
Because I often travel long distances on the highway towing a small utility trailer (1500 lbs.) I am looking for the ideal transmission swap.
I am concidering either standard or automatic but I don't want to give up the great off road capabilities of my rig.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. My main goals are better highway capabilities, maintained or improved mileage, and still keep the rugged off road abilities.
Regards Al

You have lots of things to consider here. Do you like the current gearing and using a clutch? Then I would suggest an SM465 conversion. It will give you 4 speeds with a very low 1st gear. You would still shift it like a 3 speed (2nd, 3rd, 4th on the road) but they would all be sincro. 1st would be mainly for off road. If you like an automatic for on road it could be made to work off road too as the torque converter allows it to act like it has lower gearing than it really does. you do loose a little more control of the drivetrain than with a manual tranny (and the argument continues) but if installed right it will last off road. For an automatic a 700R4 gives you a lower 1st gear and an overdrive but is longer and my be harder to install than the 350 would be. If you run large tires the OD may not be necessary with the 700R4. Go to this web page and read about the auto tranny's http://www.ozemail.com.au/~marks4wd/toylc5.html They are an australian adapter co that sells through AA in the USA. I'm not saying they are the way to go but the site has a lot of info on trannys.

Good luck
Kurt

Al, Youy made this statement: "My main goals are better highway capabilities, maintained or improved mileage, and still keep the rugged off road abilities."
If that is the order of priorities you're looking at, and if you're satisfied with the stock gearing for off road; then a Ranger Torque splitter may be what you want. It wont affect the off road gearing, so you'll stay with what you've got now. But it has a 27% overdrive.
That's like having a .73:1 fifth gear. I dont know about you, but I never really used 1st gear on the road, so it was like having a three speed. With the ranger, you can leave it in overdrive for the hiway, and it will make 1st gear usable on the hiway. I dont have one, so I cant say how reliable they are, or what it's like to run one.

Now, the cons:
1) They're about $1300-1500 without shipping. The lowest price I got was from Downey Off-road, at $1300. AA (who makes them) sells them for the highest at $1500.
Also, I still have the stock F, and want to convert to SBC. The Ranger is 7" long and fits between the tranny and bellhousing. That means it will space the V8 forward, but the tranny, T-case, and D-shafts will stay completely stock and in the stock locations. It will make my conversion a lot easier.

2)Now,you say you have the SBC already in there? If so, you may have to rearrange the mounts for everything to make it fit. Also, did you already modify your D-shafts? If so, you might have to go back to stock d-shafts for the Ranger.

Sorry this is long winded, but this might be an option worth looking at. Advance Adapters has all the information you need. I hope someone who already has a Ranger will read this and add anything good or bad that they have experienced.
HTH


Art
Western NY
two stock 88 std cabs
74 FJ40 in the process of a rebuild
TLCA mem.

In my earlier post about the SM465 I meant to add that larger tires would give the same effect as an overdrive on the highway. The extra low would still keep your offroading ability good with the larger tires and allow a greater ground clearance. Also it bolts directly to the chevy engine as that is where it came from. You just need an adapter for the t-case.

Kurt
Minnesota
2 87 4runners
2 72 cruisers (1 diesel project)
TLCA member

Al

I just got back from work and saw your post. I've got a Ranger in my 74 and love it. We don't have any rock crawling around here so it mainly spends its time in the mud or down on the beach. It was my daily driver for about two years with the current setup.....until I had a boo boo in the ice last spring. Since then it's been in my shop for a complete face lift and power upgrade. All in all it's a great way to go.... and you get another lever in the cab for the unknowing to be baffled about.

Best of luck
towboat