Gears for my 40

[(¯`·._.·[xtr3m3]·._.·´¯)]

I need a little more crawling power from my 79 fj40. I have 33 x 12.50s with stock gears. When going up steep obsticals I run low on power and have to slide my clutch. Since I have not been able to find a flavored clutch , I thought I would look for gears. Would 4.56s give me what I'm looking for? Would it be crazy to go to 4.88s? I do drive to the trail but I don't drive it over 60mph.

 

[wesintl]

dare I say it... orion

 

[lfd270ben]

As soon as I get paid in go the 5.29's. Does anyone know where I can get them cryod I recall hearing about someoe in the area but I cant find the thread?

 

[nuclearlemon]

I need a little more crawling power from my 79 fj40. I have 33 x 12.50s with stock gears. .

79 was stock with 3.73s, but 4.11s were optional. you should first find out what you have. if you want to go 60mph, you definitely don't want to go 4.88s and probably don't want to go 4.56. i have 36s and 4.56s and i can't cruise at much more than 60.

 

[bustanutley]

simple solution => sm420

 

[Uncle Ben]

As soon as I get paid in go the 5.29's. Does anyone know where I can get them cryod I recall hearing about someoe in the area but I cant find the thread?

Talk to Bill at Mountain High Performance in Arvada.
303-420-6218.
Be sure to tell him Kevin referred you! Bill and Pat are awesome and they love Cruisers too!
I am actually having most of my 1FZ short block cryoed as we speak!

 

[Shark Bait]

I am actually having most of my 1FZ short block cryoed as we speak!

Why? Is this so Ted Williams can have an 80?

 

[FJBen]

simple solution => sm420

that is a pretty good solution, although in the 40 that I had, I didn't like that SM420 for a DD...but I guess thats to be expected.

The H41 I have now is too low geared with 29" tires...but should be really nice with 33's.

H41 = $500-$700
SM420=$100-$150 plus adapter
Orion=$1,400ish


Hmmm...what to do...

 

[wesintl]

The H41 I have now is too low geared with 29" tires...but should be really nice with 33's.

H41 = $500-$700
SM420=$100-$150 plus adapter
Orion=$1,400ish


Hmmm...what to do...

I really doubt it's too low off road with 29 inch tires. Believe me with 33's you'll want it lower.

The reason (at least to me) that the orion is best is that you get a sick crawl ratio and have stock gears otherwise for street driving and it strengthens one of the weak links in a tcase. Also it's alot easier to find a 4.11 chunk than it is a 4.56 or 4.88 if something breaks, also you don't have to pay somone to set 4.88's if you don't know how. I would probably lean to a sm420 for a cheap crawl solution over an h41. With an orion or marlin box I doubt i'd consider the former anymore....

JMHO

 

[Shark Bait]

Hulk got some lower low-range transfer case gears from Mark's. His is a later model FJ40 like yours. It would be easy to swap in some 4.11s which are fairly common. You probably have 3.73 R&P. Between those two things, it's probably the least radical. You might even find someone who would trade you 3rd members.

Talk to Matt Farr about how he likes the setup in his 40.

 

[Hulk]

It's pretty nice, but it's still only 3:1 compared to 4:1 for the Orion. The price is almost as much as an Orion. I got them at Man-A-Fre. Here's a direct link.

The later model "split case" isn't as much of a weak point as earlier transfer cases, so upgrading the gears is a pretty cool mod. Like the Orion, you can continue to use your stock tranny, or to be completely coo, get an H55.

I'm still running the 3.73s in the diffs -- I'll probably go to 4.11s in the future, or 4.88s if I get bigger tires (and who doesn't want bigger tires, I ask you?)

 

[Uncle Ben]

Why? Is this so Ted Williams can have an 80?

Exactly!

 

[FJBen]

I really doubt it's too low off road with 29 inch tires. Believe me with 33's you'll want it lower.
JMHO

true...I just know with my FJ55 on 35's and stock drivetrain...i bogged down just like he was saying. This low range is MUCH better than US stock range...and the diesel really helps...

I would go with the Orion (and thats what I was going to do before ) I was going with H41/Orion....so now all I need is the orion lol

I'm currently at 40.4ish on the crawl ratio...much better than the stock US 28.8:1

with orion I'd be at 80:1....should be beyond what I'd ever do in that HJ...

I still vote for Orion

 

[(¯`·._.·[xtr3m3]·._.·´¯)]

By the way my cruiser acts on the trail I would guess I have 3.73. How would I verify that?

How would the sm420 compare to my stock tranny (on/off road)?

Where should I look to get the parts?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Uncle Ben]

By the way my cruiser acts on the trail I would guess I have 3.73. How would I verify that?

How would the sm420 compare to my stock tranny (on/off road)?

Where should I look to get the parts?

Thanks for the help.

What is the production date? If it's before 6/78 it will be 4:11's and after that will be 3:73's.

420 2nd through 4th is very similer to the 3 speed Cruiser tranny gear spacing with the added option of a 7:05 fist gear (grandpa). A 465 has better gear spacibg but you still end up with a three speed and a granny gear first. 420's appeal is Granny gear first and an easy swap.

 

[nuclearlemon]

jack up. turn tires, count revolutions of driveshaft vs. revolutions of tire.

or

take off rear diff cover and look on the edge of the ring gear...it should be stamped on there. you can count r&p teeth also, but it will be hard to count teeth with it all together.

 

[corsair23]

By the way my cruiser acts on the trail I would guess I have 3.73. How would I verify that?

How would the sm420 compare to my stock tranny (on/off road)?

Where should I look to get the parts?

Thanks for the help.

Leif,

If you'd like to drive a FJ40 with a SM420 and 4:11 gears (per my lift the rear and spin the tires test ) you're more than welcome to come by sometime and test drive mine. I even have 33x12.5 tires and although my 40 is a '74 it is a 12/74 production date so it is really (I think) a '75 when it comes to the drivetrain (except for the SM420) and probably close to what you would end up with if you went with a SM420.

Maybe the weather will warm up here so you could try it out. I'm a wuss and don't let it out in the snow

PM me if you are interested...I'm down in the Ranch.

 

[(¯`·._.·[xtr3m3]·._.·´¯)]

The production date is 01/79. Where can I find the stock specs?

 

[FJBen]

What is the production date? If it's before 6/98 it will be 4:11's and after that will be 3:73's.

Wow, an FJ40 from 6/98? Where do I get one, sign me up!!!

 

[wesintl]

3.73 came on fj40's from 79 up and fj60's til 87. 88-90 had 4.11's the fj and fzj80's I have no idea

Look at the code on the firewall tag and tell us axle code... k05 is 3.7's and 08 is 4.11's it's a 99% that you have 3.73's