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Subject: 78 FJ40 LAND CRUISER

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filthydirty User is Offline

Bone Stock
Posts:1

11/26/2009 9:38 PM
I am putting a small block Chevy into my LC, Any advice on transmission, Standard or Automatic???

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Rock Star
Posts:2375

11/27/2009 9:50 AM
Hey dirty - well, your FJ is long enough for even the biggest automatic transmissions so options are abound. I have a '74 with a 383 stroker and a Turbo 350 transmission, which has a manual valve body in it. Personally, I think this is the best of all worlds. I have to shift it like a manual transmission, but I get the convenience of loading up the torque converter when I want to crawl something super nasty. I don't have to ever worry about adjusting a clutch or smoking a clutch, nor do I have to worry about rolling backwards when I'm climbing something super technical either. I'll leave driving a stick shift to my daily driver, and have an automatic in my rock crawler / 4x4 any day of the week. Also, I don't know of any pro-rock crawler or rock-racer that runs a manual, for those same reasons. For what it's worth, I love driving a stick shift, but when it comes to my 4x4, I much prefer running an automatic. Rick

Rick Webster Editor, 4X4REVIEW.COM - A Tork Media, Inc. Publication - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - '74 FJ40 Land Cruiser "Measure once, cut twice"

Bone Stock
Posts:46

11/29/2009 10:17 PM
Wat he said. I have driven a Stick shift in my 87 toyota pickup for 5 years now and yes 5 years of wheeling. Stick shifts are ok for a once in awhile romp in the mud. But if you ever decide to do anything trail riding rock crawling you gotta have a auto. I just switched my entire drive line in my toyota truck. From the 4cyl 5spd and original tcase. To a 4.3 700r4 manual valve body, and Dana 300. In my own opinion you can chose your own motor but if you are going to put anykind of auto in you might as well fallow it up with a Dana 300 Tcase just my .02 cents do it right now and you wont have to fix it in the future.

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Whiskeytango27 User is Offline

Bone Stock
Posts:4

01/27/2012 12:01 AM
The automatic wins hands down with crawling... I will agree with you guys there. The only way to do it with a manual is with crawling gears or a splitter. I have always preferred manual transmissions myself, and I don't do any true hard-core rock crawling (maybe that's why). I have an 81 FJ40 with a 350, and stock 4spd and axles. I have 35" tires and have put this truck to the test. I have never heard of any problems using a toyota tranny/drivetrain with a small block, or even a big block for that matter. Definitely not the case for Jeeps Some day I plan on putting a 5 speed in there, maybe with a splitter. Another option I have entertained is pulling the transfer case and swapping out the low range gear for something more suitable for crawling. Bottom line- it depends on your preference and what you plan on doing with the truck.

Whiskeytango27 User is Offline

Bone Stock
Posts:4

01/27/2012 12:03 AM
Woah... I just checked the dates on those posts! I was a bit late on that one. Haha! How's the truck come out? Which tranny did you choose? Happy wheelin'!

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