What Do You Guys Think??

[Cambo]

Planning on picking up an 89 FJ62 this afternoon. The skinny on it is a recent Chevy TPI 350 with 700R4 swap and a Ford 9" rear. Runs and drives great, lots of other maintenance work done as well. I know these rigs go for a lot in stock form and I feel the 350 is better. I have to buy a new shaft for the 700R4 and he has an NP205 to put in. I want to jump in, but as I get older I get a little leary of the extra work. It doesn't seem like too much to swap in the t-case and a good one at that. Overall what I am wondering is if you guys think this is a good project to take on. I plan to have it for awhile and put 35's for moderate wheeling with a SO and use it for a bunch of camping/overlanding. It reportedly gets 18-20 mpg with good driving habits.
And NO you cannot have the owners number!! Thanks guys!

 

[Cambo]

Nobody has any advice for me?? What gives?

 

[djrez4]

Are you asking us if we think you're too old to work on the truck?

 

[a.mus.ed]

Sounds like if you want a 62 with a 350 conversion, then someone has done most of the work for you. I assume the price is right? I have no experience with any of the work you're looking at doing, but whatever you have to do is less of a project than starting from stock and you'll have a nice truck when you're done.

 

[Cambo]

Looking for an overall viewpoint of buying an FJ62. In Land Cruiser owners opinions is a 350 good, bad, better? Did you buy the Land Cruiser (60 of 62) because of the Toyota drivetrain or the overall platform, Ie: solid axles, size, etc.? I thought there would be more enthusiastic Fj owners telling me how great their rigs are. Bottom line, it is a great platform for me, just wondering about the 350 conversion and the Expo opinions of it. The asking price is 4K

 

[Cambo]

Are you asking us if we think you're too old to work on the truck?

I CAN'T be too old, I can't afford to pay someone else to work on it!!

 

[ntsqd]

From the beginning I knew when buying an FJ60 that I would need to do the engine swap as the 2F couldn't meet my goals.

An NP205 is a beast of a transfer case. What t/c is the trans set up for now? I'm using an NP241 behind a 700R4. It is plenty strong enough for how I expect to use the vehicle and it comes with a 2.7:1 low range ratio, so the overall stupid low gear is pretty respectable while still having decent highway manners.

 

[Cambo]

From the beginning I knew when buying an FJ60 that I would need to do the engine swap as the 2F couldn't meet my goals.

An NP205 is a beast of a transfer case. What t/c is the trans set up for now? I'm using an NP241 behind a 700R4. It is plenty strong enough for how I expect to use the vehicle and it comes with a 2.7:1 low range ratio, so the overall stupid low gear is pretty respectable while still having decent highway manners.

That helps confirm my thoughts. It seems the LC engines are a bit anemic in power and economy. As far as the tranny it is 2wd and I still need to convert it. I am getting a 465 with the 205 attached in the deal. Looking at Advance adapters website it looks like I could go a lot of different routes. The 241 is a good option. Thanks

 

[ChuckB]

Can't comment on the 350, but if you want more info than you'll ever need CLICK HERE

 

[AndrewP]

Cambo--run away. You are considering a 1/2 done project with a ton of loose ends.

If you are looking for a project, then great. Offer very low-maybe $1000 at best. Otherwise you are buying a pile of trouble and someone else's half thought out project.

If you want a 62, then get one. They are not expensive and generally work just fine. Then make it what you want. I got a nice one with 117K 18 months ago for $2000. The stock motor/transmission/transfer is surprisingly good. Really, it is.

From what you describe, just use the 465 mated to the 205. that''s a great combo as is and forget the auto box. There is nothing magic about a Ford 9 inch. It's a good axle, but it's still a semifloat. If you want real muscle back there, you want a 14 bolt.

Still, if you are not familiar with these vehicles, get a stock one, learn the ropes, and if you want a custom truck then build it from what you know. Don't get suckered into a huge project that will always be a mess or cost you thousands you didn't need to spend.

 

[Root Moose]

I'm not clear on the question or situation.

The truck has a SBC/700R4/NP205 in it and it runs and drives fine?

I'd probably ditch the 205. Out of scale for the FJ62. ntsqd's suggestion of a NV241 is a good one - was the Chevy version that bolts to the 700R4 availabile in passenger side front output? Other alternates I'd consider would be a Dana 300 or an Atlas.

I don't have personal experience with SBCs in a FJ62. I have been around custom vehicles a while though. If the engine has been swapped recently and is "working great" then why is it being sold? Does it overheat under load? Most people that do swaps and then sell shortly after tend to be unhappy with the end result so they sell. Mostly because they get tired of chasing the lose ends of making the cooling system or electrical system work properly. Either that or these types of swaps are what they do for entertainment/money. Food for thought.

Nothing wrong with a SBC in a vehicle if it is done right. I'm fussy enough to want a modern one but other than that I don't see any issues.

 

[Cambo]

Cambo--run away. You are considering a 1/2 done project with a ton of loose ends.

If you are looking for a project, then great. Offer very low-maybe $1000 at best. Otherwise you are buying a pile of trouble and someone else's half thought out project.

If you want a 62, then get one. They are not expensive and generally work just fine. Then make it what you want. I got a nice one with 117K 18 months ago for $2000. The stock motor/transmission/transfer is surprisingly good. Really, it is.

From what you describe, just use the 465 mated to the 205. that''s a great combo as is and forget the auto box. There is nothing magic about a Ford 9 inch. It's a good axle, but it's still a semifloat. If you want real muscle back there, you want a 14 bolt.

Still, if you are not familiar with these vehicles, get a stock one, learn the ropes, and if you want a custom truck then build it from what you know. Don't get suckered into a huge project that will always be a mess or cost you thousands you didn't need to spend.

Great advice! I guess that is why I keep dragging my heels. All the unfinished business has me a little worried. Although, all the FJ60/62's I have seen lately are at least 4-6K. I guess I will have to keep searching unless he comes down in price. Thanks again