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Speaking of brackets, the ECM bracket is one of the other ones I mentioned. Tucked up into the dash is the best place for the ECM, but does require partial dash removal to get it in and out. Onto the tach. On previous jobs, I had tried to have the OEM FJ60/62 tachs modified with a new gauge...

New driveshafts going in. I had to wait while the driveline shop (Adco Drivelines in Shingle Springs) sourced OEM u-joints. They are so much better than the Spicer replacements. The figuring out what to do for the VSS. The company I buy them from had their machinist pass away, so they sold me...

Sorting out the final assembly details. Hoses, wiring, fasteners, etc. The bright fasteners I am using come from Overland Metric. They are not exact copies of OEM Toyota hardware, but they are damn close, and the price is fair.

Picking up where I left off... A couple more pics of the finished exhaust.

Hi Marshal. I think we've already spoken about this, but for the 3.70's I use gears from Randy's. They are the only one that makes that ratio.

I have had tire fitment issues with the large 3" diameter tailpipe, so this time, extra bends were made to keep the tailpipe tucked in under the frame at the rear of the tire area. Getting the large tubing up and over the axle, as well as around the shock is tough.

The hanger behind the muffler gets tricky. I want the exhaust system to be easily removable, so the bolt in mid mounted Toyota hanger is used, but the exhaust itself is bolted via another bracket to the OEM rubber isolator. Utilizing all of these original style mounts lets the exhaust expand and...

I like to build my exhaust systems with factory Toyota style hangers. You know, the big flexy rubber mounts that allow the exhaust system plenty of wiggle room. These hangers are the best way to ensure a quiet, drone free exhaust. Here's the first one to go in, right behind the transfer case...

Building the remainder of the exhaust means that the rear axle needs to be in place, but first this one needs to be rebuilt. During the differential build, I noticed a ton of backlash on one side of the ring gear, but almost none at the opposite side. Removal of the ring gear and meaurements...

Final install of the drivetrain is a deceiving term. I know many people think that an engine goes in once during a swap, but no, that's so far from the truth. An engine swap usually has the engine in and out of the engine bay half a dozen times or more. Since this isn't my first rodeo, I have...

With all the parts back from the powder coaters, final assembly is a lot of fun. Here's the freshly painted radiator wearing it's new fan module.

With the engine, trans, t-case and exhaust all bolted together, this is the last time the engine will be installed.

I like to use the stock gauges in any swap, but with the modern electronics associated with modern engines, there aren't a lot of places to mount the additional sending units. The OEM Toyota water temp sender gets installed in the passenger side cylinder head, after drilling and tapping the...

With the engine bay ready to go, it's time to install the drivetrain. First is a final fitment of the engine to the trans. The kit from Marks is pretty well thought out, but one area they completely ignore is the dust shield that goes in between the engine and the new bellhousing, so those small...

The removable inner fenders of the FJ60 makes it super easy to get to things while fabricating or even for maintenance. Having them out for final assembly is a balancing act. I want them out for maximum accessibility, but at some point they need to go in for final assembly. A couple items that...

The stock A/C drier location is not optimal, as it's sandwiched right between the radiator and the battery. Add a new intake tube and it's just too tight. I have made them fit, but I wanted to try something else this time. The new location ended up being hidden inside the inner fender, near the...

Let's pick up where I left off. Finding all the right fittings for the EVAP canister was not easy. I suppose I could have run to a wrecking yard and just cut out a selection from various Chevy trucks and cars, but that would require going somewhere... I tried ordering the fittings online, but...

If any of you are on Instagram, that's where most of my social media attention goes these days. It's so much easier than anything else. My Instagram handle is mstoffregen if you're interested.

Wow, that is seriously cool. Recently, I had a major epiphany: it's so busy in the shop that I have to ignore all of my social media. It's a sink or swim thing. I did finally get this engine swap done, and it is a lot of fun to drive. Resizing pics right now so expect an update with pics soon.

Been too busy to keep on top of the thread, but I will report that the truck is almost running, with only minor things left on the list. Here's a sneak peek.