1978 Fj-40

[camarolover]

I have a chance to buy a fj-40 and i have a few engine choices, I need to know the pros and cons of each. This will be a on and off road truck. My choices are a 4.3 v-6,1985 350 carb, vortec 5.7, and a 6.2 diesel. The 4.3 and the 6.2 will need to be built I have the parts and the skill but this Toy is new to me. I also have a 454 carb motor but I think this overkill. I need to know what adapters I need to buy or make. My son will drive this to school so I can't get to radical on this. Any help or knownledge would help.

 

[Tacoma]

4.3: pro:lighter, has enough power, can probably rev it a bit higher
con:parts? I don't know. If I had a Cruiser I'd probably get a v6 for it.

350 carb: pro:cheap as hell to build, people give em away, can be modded a million different ways.
con: carb.

vortec 5.7: pro: cheapish to build, parts galore
con: minor issues w/parts compatibility, slighter pricier than carb version

6.2 diesel: pro:.............gas mileage?
con:everything else: parts are crazy, it's a pig, weak power

454: pro: tons o' torque, can be made into a sickly powerful motor
con: biiiiiig engine for a Cruiser.

 

[hammerhead]

It depends on what the purpose of the Cruiser is.

My Daily Driver trail rig is a 350 carb and works great. Don't waste your time trying any carbs other than Q-jet...

My Cruggy is a fuel injected 4.3 with auto. Isn't for the highway so big power isn't important.

 

[Coreshot]

The 4.3 is a great little motor, but the FJ40 isn't exactly a light rig. I think you would wish you had a little more.

I had a carbed 350 in my '79 FJ40, and had plenty of power. I had nothing but problem with flooding when we were in Moab. For the dunes, it was awesome, but if you had to crawl something slowly, you were done.

My choice would be the Vortec 5.7. Awesome power, fuel injection, and you have plenty of room for the engine in the 40. Just beware of the t-case strength if you go this route, they don't hold up too well.

 

[V-DAWG]

Hands dowm, go with the vortec 350. It wouldn't even be a question out of the motors you listed if I had the option. I have a carb 350 in my cruiser, and oh how I wish it was fuel injected. I can get by, but it would be nice to not have to hold the throttle to the ground to keep it running, since that seems to break parts.

 

[Shawn]

I run a built 350 in my Cruiser and it's...ok. I will be swapping in a 454 soon...

 

[Tacoma]

freeeeeeeaaaak!

 

[camarolover]

The vortec is my choice too but, the money I could get out of the motor could pay for some of the other upgrades I feel I want for the truck. This will be my first true 4x4 playtoy. I just finshed a 2002 Silverado 4x4 rollover rebuild for my street truck and I would like to build this as a weekend playtoy and also have something my son can drive and be proud of. His 2-wheel drive ranger is a little lame for a 17 yearold kid.

 

[Shawn]

something my son can drive and be proud of. His 2-wheel drive ranger is a little lame for a 17 yearold kid.

I'm thinking he would really like the 454.........

 

[camarolover]

I was thinking the same way when this cruiser became for sale. The bruiser has a good ring to it but the fuel costs might limit the fun. So thats why I thought about the diesel. I thought about maybe twin turbos you know something one of a kind boost up the power thing. I like one of the kind rigs homebuilt that are not built just to look good.

 

[camarolover]

Also is there any web sites that show the adapters needed for a swap. I am handy copying parts but I don't want to waste time making the wrong parts. I know the Toyota is based on the chev I-6 but I don't know about the clutch and so forth.

 

[Tacoma]

I'd just use GM stuff for the swap... cheap and easy. Well, usually easy anyway.

 

[fjcruisin]

"something my son can drive and be proud of. His 2-wheel drive ranger is a little lame for a 17 yearold kid."

Hey, I worked my butt off to buy a Mazda 2wd truck, my friends thought it was cool. As far as the Cruiser goes, I think you and your son need to drive a BONE STOCK Cruiser before you unleash him in something with tons of power. Unless your son has WAY more sense than the average 17 year old kid, you will be looking at a wrecked truck and maybe seriously injured (or worse) people.
I have been driving Cruisers for almost 20 years, and they ALL have their own quirks. Cruisers are not the easiest vehicles to drive. When you add HP and lack of driving experience, you have bad results. Just my .02 GOOD LUCK!

 

[hammerhead]

Also is there any web sites that show the adapters needed for a swap. I am handy copying parts but I don't want to waste time making the wrong parts. I know the Toyota is based on the chev I-6 but I don't know about the clutch and so forth.

This'll keep ya busy readin' for about a week...

http://www.ih8mud.com/

More Cruisertech there than any other sight, Period!!!

 

[hammerhead]

Hands dowm, go with the vortec 350. It wouldn't even be a question out of the motors you listed if I had the option. I have a carb 350 in my cruiser, and oh how I wish it was fuel injected. I can get by, but it would be nice to not have to hold the throttle to the ground to keep it running, since that seems to break parts.

What carb are you running?

 

[hammerhead]

I had a carbed 350 in my '79 FJ40, and had plenty of power. I had nothing but problem with flooding when we were in Moab. For the dunes, it was awesome, but if you had to crawl something slowly, you were done.

What carb were you running?

...beware of the t-case strength if you go this route, they don't hold up too well.

There are some simple cures for this in modern times.

 

[Coreshot]

What carb were you running?

There are some simple cures for this in modern times.

A POS Holley 2-barrel. I know there are better choices, but FI is really the only way to go.

 

[Tacoma]

AMEN! It took one steep, looooong climb out here in Tooele to change my mind on carbs. EFI!

 

[V-DAWG]

What carb are you running?

I have an old quadrajet. It does alright, but on steep inclines I have to stay on the throttle to keep it from dying.

 

[hammerhead]

My Q-jet works so incredibly well that I have been accused of having TBI. I agree that injection is the best but Q-jets are everywhere and are so cheap to rebuild that I have been using them for years. There are many different varieties of the Q-jet though. I have tryed many but the best one was found on a '79 blazer. The passenger car Q-jets don't all have the same features as the truck and blazer carbs...