1970 FJ40 build over 6 years...

Awesome! Are you goin to keep the manual trans? Lemme know if ya need help with the wiring.
 
jeepn-jason said:
Awesome! Are you goin to keep the manual trans? Lemme know if ya need help with the wiring.
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Thanks Jason, I am gonna call you for some help when I get it all back together. I am weighing my options for what to do about my transmission... That will be my next post.
 
Transmission

First of all, here's what I have going on here... When I planned my build, I wanted to have a 1 ton set up all around for trail riding and crawling, and be able to do highway speeds there and back. So I read and read and thought the NV4500 was what I wanted bc of its 5th gear. I found one for a few hundred bucks, and mated it to an Atlas 2.

Well once I got it all together and running on its own, I am convinced that the 3-4 syncro has gone out, Because I cannot shift into 4th gear with out grinding, unless pausing when coming out of third for a couple seconds. Reading online about the syncros in these NV4500s, you HAVE to use the factory Syntorque oil. I am guessing that the previous owner did not. SO I am thinking it needs to at least have this 3-4 syncro replaced.

In calling around to transmission places to check prices for a rebuild on this thing, I am realizing why the original owner was selling it for so cheap instead of rebuilding it himself. One place even told me that I'd be better off buying a new one than rebuilding the one I have. -Not gonna happen.

In driving my FJ the short time I have had it together, I realize that I really don't need the 5th gear for the highway driving at all... @65 mph my SBC 350 turns just under 2000 RPMs, way low. Great mpg, but...? Asking around, I have had a couple of suggestions for transmission swaps. All have pros and cons.

Keep the NV4500 and dig into it. Pros are: All of my transmission and t-case mounts, skidplates, fabrication work is done for this transmission already.
Cons are: I have NO IDEA how to rebuild a transmission, no tools other than basic hand tools, no press... ect. And best case scenario is that it only needs one syncro, How much will THAT cost me?

Swapping in an SM465. Pros: DIRT! CHEAP! I saw a listing on Craigslist of 2 for $300, and I have heard that they are bombproof, (if you can keep them in gear). If I am not mistaken, the NV4500 is the transmission that replaced the SM465?
Cons: The fun of finding one that is is great condition that I do not have to do anything to, except maybe working on the sloppy shifter they all have.
The output shafts are 10 spline, and the input on my Atlas is 32 spline. I know that there were later 32 spline SM465s, but the shaft is much longer. So, I would have to swap the input on my Atlas. That work is above my head.
The dimensions aren't the same between the NV4500 and the SM465, so I would more than likely need more fab work done.

Putting in a TH400 or TH350... I just simply want this FJ to be manual shift. I have considered these options, but no. If it were a rock rig. yes.

And, if that isn't enough to chew on, I am swapping out motors from my chevy 350, to a 5.3LS. So, that is going to probably be some more fab work in itself.

Any ideas? My brain hurts, and my wallet is about to hurt too, I think.
 
Slushamatic... you can cram gears with a tight auto as well... :) Just sayin..
 
mpistolpj said:
Slushamatic... you can cram gears with a tight auto as well... :) Just sayin..
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Yeah, years ago I had a TH400 I was going to put in it originally, but someone stole it out of the shed. I got my 5.3 ECM thinned and flashed for a manual already... That wouldn't be an issue with the older transmissions though. What autos do you run PJ? It is a consideration to run one. I guess that would be ONE MORE skid plate you could make for me, ha.

Oh, and when I talked to Terry, he gave me the best dog-gone advice I have had on this project. Terry- "Well just take the hood off, bring it to PJ's and we'll build you a buggy."

I'm beginning to think I should just strip out all the the running gear, seats, and go big. :driver:
 
Ill second that opinion... :)
 
...Still alive

It's been a while... I've been away at work, but I am back to working on the FJ. The 5.3 is now in and I fired it today. I have a lot of wiring and tidying up under the hood to do. I'm having trouble uploading my cell phone pics, but I'll get some up soon.
 
pics.

pictures. here's the dash so far, I'm still wiring... and my custom license plate, hehe. (You have to look at it upside down for it to make sense.)
 

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Sounds good, remember the first time I saw this thing, absolutely badass and pics dont do it justice.
 
XJfreakHO said:
Sounds good, remember the first time I saw this thing, absolutely badass and pics dont do it justice.
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Thanks. Yeah the day you saw it was the last time it was running until now, so I've been crazy anxious to get it going. Hopefully I will see you TTJs out again soon.:driver:
 
For sure man, our next meet is actually at a members house in Kernersville May 28th, so alot closer to you than before, not really advertising this meet but would love to have ya come out, especially if the 5.3 FJ is ready to roll.
 
light bar and rad mount

Adjustable light bar and rad mount. Will be getting 5 lights total.
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more

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Holy crap its Bridget (lol)... Cage time or what?
 
pgaloustian said:
idk what your talking about
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Hahaha alright man.

Well I can't wait to see the work being done to Bridget, aswell as to the FJ, seen this FJ one time and it was badass, hopefully the next time I see it is on the trails.
 
lights

All 5 lights are now on, I'm having some wiring help from jeepn-jason to clean my wiring mess up. It's getting close.:driver:
 

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wiring is going pretty good, i moved the painless fuse box to the inside of the firewall, and have most of the underhood wiring cleaned up now. gonna start on the lights and onboard air tom night
 
Jason, you rock.

jeepn-jason said:
wiring is going pretty good, i moved the painless fuse box to the inside of the firewall, and have most of the underhood wiring cleaned up now. gonna start on the lights and onboard air tom night
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Awesome! You know, it's funny, the day I mounted that fuse box where it was, as soon as I ran the wires, I was thinking it should be somewhere else. I guess that was my noob engineering showing off.:flipoff2: Thanks.
 
I'm going to change the name of this thread to "More fury than Fun." The reason this rig has barely been used or worked on is I have been working in the concert touring/live show business, and am gone for about 95% of the year. Literally. So any time I'm home, I'm playing catch up for being gone for 3 months or however long. Anyways, I left that line of work earlier this year, and enrolled in UNCC. SO TIME FOR THE FJ40! -All that got more wordy than planned.

I posted this in general tech, so forgive me if you see it there and here.

While swapping out my 5.3 truck oil pan and pick up to an F-body style set up, I broke the bolt off in the oil pump that holds the pickup tube on. I thought I could cheat and dial my ft/lbs torque wrench down to 8.8 and it would be the same as the 106in/lbs. Mathematically, yes, real world, Ehh-ehh, WRONG-O. :handed::wtf: :flipoff: -Doesn't begin to describe how pissed I was when it happened. Too late, but I went out and bought an in/lb torque wrench.

I was thinking of upgrading to a Melling high volume-high pressure pump #10296. This one comes with a low pressure optional spring to flow more volume, but at stock pressure. (I'm only @100K miles on the motor according to the seller.)

I have read maaaaany different opinions on all sorts of sites as to whether it will "suck the oil pan dry" or cause leaks, ect, but most have been from pavement racers, not those who put their motors in off camber situations.

I am considering using the high flow Melling with the "stock pressure" spring. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Brandon Shore.
 
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