Land Cruiser Axles

[mongoswede]

Anyone mounted Land Cruiser axles on their series truck? The FJ40 axles are both passenger side drop and I think the later ones might even be disc brake front. I do not know if the FJ60 axles are the same or if it is only the FJ40 axles.

[adkrover]

I have a pair of FJ60 axles that are waiting to be installed on my 109. The rear axle came from Australia where they were sold with a full floating 1 ton rear axle. The fronts are disk brake. The diffs are in the correct places but the spring perches need to be cut off and rewelded to line up with the Rover springs. Should make a really nice setup with a couple of ARB air lockers installed.

Now if I could just figure out where I left that extra $5K for parts and a few weeks of vacation time I'd be all set.

[galen216]

I know someone that did this. The gearing keeps the truck to a top speed of about 40 mph. I'm sure that can be fixed but his was strictly trail so it was never changed.

Didn't take him long to do it, rewelding the brackets was pretty straightforward as I recall from what he told me.

[yorker]

The gearing really shouldn't bother too much, People in the UK swap in 3.54s all the time and TLCs are usually 4.10s. If you had a crap engine you might have trouble withthe gearing but a good 2.25 or stronger swapped in engine would cope ok.

The FJ40 axles are roughly the same width and a pretty easy swap, later 70's FJ40s had nice big vented brakes too IIRC and rear disc swaps are a breeze and cheap. Lockers are cheaper and rings and pinions are cheaper than Rover stuff and in general more ratios are available. Axle shafts are beefier ~1.3" and 30 spline. No more railco bushings, no more 90wt leaking from the swivel balls, IMHO there is a lot going for the swap, $ for $.

It is a pretty straightforward swap when you have the axles in hand.

[mongoswede]

I was thinking of doing it on my 109 which is looking more like it is going to receive a Ford 302. I know I could just go to a center drop rear axle but then I am pretty sure I have to modify the frame. So the Land Cruiser axles seemed like a good possibility.

[adkrover]

Not sure why that one truck was limited to 40 mph. When I did my figures, I found it was going to raise my speed a bit and since I have a pretty strong Robert Davis 3L, I didn't think it would be any problem. Maybe his axles had already been modified from Toyota stock.

Either way, I agree that the 'yota axles are a far better way to go and there is a lot of aftermarket gearing and lockers to go with them. You can also upgrade to rear disks if you want but it would mean changing out the brake master cylinder. I am staying with the original disk up front and drum in the rear because as I understand it, the Rover master cylinder (on a 109) will work with a front disk conversion. It's been a few years since I did the research but I am pretty sure that was my conclusion.

[mongoswede]

Now to find some :)

[yorker]

If you are keeping the Land Rover t-case with its offset outputs for the drive shafts then yeah it makes a lot of sense. If done right most people would never realize the axles were swapped unless they counted the wheel studs.

Sometimes you can luck across some really good deals on built TLC axles- with all the goodies, check IH8MUD.com, and the pirate4X4 for sale forums. When the Toyota guys go over 37" tires they often upgrade to Dana 60s and 14 bolt axles etc, and sometimes you can score a set cheap. If you want to find a stock set you can ften get them for $100 an axle or even cheaper if you buy a whole truck like this one:
http://plattsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1694085492.html


Fj60 axles will work too but are a tad wider, FJ80 axles could be made to work too but they are wider still, like 62" wide IIRC. FJ40/45/55 are more or less the same width as Series Rover axles.

[yorker]

Not sure why that one truck was limited to 40 mph. When I did my figures, I found it was going to raise my speed a bit and since I have a pretty strong Robert Davis 3L, I didn't think it would be any problem. Maybe his axles had already been modified from Toyota stock.


If we are talking about the same 88" I think I remember the build thread on Discoweb- I THINK he got the axles from a Toyota nut who had outgrown them- they may have had 4.88s in them or 5.29 ratio. With the series t case essentially being an underdrive(1.15) in high range that would be rather limiting on road.

[ignotus]

Mongo et al,

Here is a guy offering conversions for Rover axles with Yota innards.

http://www.rovertracks.com/index.html :thumb-up:

[mongoswede]

Mongo et al,

Here is a guy offering conversions for Rover axles with Yota innards.

http://www.rovertracks.com/index.html :thumb-up:


yep I have seen those and they look nice but I'd prefer just to swap in the whole land cruiser axle for now. If I were worried about maintaining a completely stock looking truck the above conversion would be an option.

[msggunny]

Do a search for fj40 swap and use Florida land rover with it. There is a few pages on a guy who did a spring over on an 88 there.

I agree with you on the swap, its better to just swap the whole thing out.

I have a set of fj60 axles sitting in the garage waiting for me to get off my ass.

Went and bought a boat though, guess they will sit a bit longer.

Fwiw there is a ford mc that works with the series booster too.

[mongoswede]

Do a search for fj40 swap and use Florida land rover with it. There is a few pages on a guy who did a spring over on an 88 there.

I agree with you on the swap, its better to just swap the whole thing out.

I have a set of fj60 axles sitting in the garage waiting for me to get off my ass.

Went and bought a boat though, guess they will sit a bit longer.

Fwiw there is a ford mc that works with the series booster too.


great find. A ton of good info here:

http://www.floridalandroverclub.com/forums/v5/message.php?ForumID=5&startRecord=26&pkBBid=18012&kpo=&kpo=

[chefplw]

I got two questions 1- anyone know how much wider fj60 are compare to series? 2- I build from fla he cut the knuckles to correct the castor if he wasnt doing soa would this still be nessary? I am plan a build starting with 65 exmod 109 going for safety disc brake daliy driver beach buggy so dont really need any lift

[txffjim]

I started my rebuild by putting fj55 (same as fj40) axles under my rover, but changed back when someone wanted to swap working rover axles for them. they had 4.10 gears. btw breakover year is mid 75 for "desireable"axles
the rear spring perches need to come inboard about 1.5" each (puts one perch part way on pumpkin. fronts work as they are.
need new shock mounts on axles.
the pinion yolk on the fj axles is longer requiring moving axles or customizing driveshafts
for driveshaft yolk I took a rover driveshaft yolk, cut the mounting holes out and welded in locking collars using the fj yolk as a template.
need metric brakeline adapter to rover brakelines.

[yorker]

I got two questions 1- anyone know how much wider fj60 are compare to series? 2- I build from fla he cut the knuckles to correct the castor if he wasnt doing soa would this still be nessary? I am plan a build starting with 65 exmod 109 going for safety disc brake daliy driver beach buggy so dont really need any lift


You don't need to cut and turn them if you aren't going SOA. FJ60 axles are ~60" wide IIRC, I believe all that added width is added to the long side.

http://www.toyotaholics.com/support/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14



rustycruiser
03-22-2002, 07:02 PM
Rovers have a a passenger offset rear, right? If so, you would be better off running Land Cruiser than mini truck axles. Cruiser diffs have a 9.25" ring gear versus the 8" of the mini truck. What width axle do want to run. FJ40 axles are 57" front, 56" rear. FJ60 are 60". FJ80s are 63". You would want a 76 plus FJ40 axle--prior to that they had front drums. 1976-1978 were 4.11 R&P, 1979-1987 were 3.73, 1987-1997 were 4.11 again. In 1978, the pinions switched from 10 spline (weaker) to 30 spline. The birfs in 1976-1978 are slightly smaller than 1979-1990, which are same size as mini truck ones. You can run Longfields in any of them. 1991-1997 are freaking huge birfields. 1991 to 1990 FJ80s have a reverse cut mini truck diff, and 1993-1997 came with a disc brake, full floater rear. All previous Cruisers diffs were interchangeable front and rear. Electric lockers were an option from 1993-1997 in the 80 series. The rear FJ80 locker can be retrofitted to the front of previous Cruisers pretty easily. To retrofit to an earlier Cruiser rear requires a full floater conversion.

Hope this is clear, yell if you need any clarification.

Ross
rustycruiser
03-22-2002, 07:16 PM

Forgot to add that cruiser axles are 30 spline, and have a 1.31" diameter. 40 and 60 series are set up for leaves, 80 series were coil sprung.

rustycruiser
03-24-2002, 09:14 AM
Mudcow,
I have seen 60 series axles run from $400 a pair upwards. You gotta look though, cause the FJ40 guys like to pirate them for the extra width for their trucks. Beware that the extra width compared to the FJ40 axle was all added to the long side of the axle. I don't "think" it would be a problem with your coul mounts, but FJ40 owned have to get creative to clear the short side leaf mount as it wants to be in the same area as the diff is. FJ60 axles are 3.73 1980-1987. FJ62 are 4.11 1987-1990. FJ80 axles will probably be more expensive, due to the newerness of the trucks. Not too many of thm being parted out. As far as finding them. Post an add in the Wanted or TLC section. There are also some othere LC lists around the internet. I can email them to you, if needed. HTH

Ross



http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-41770.html


Toyota
Mini 79-85 (F) 8" 55" (pass side drop)
Mini 79-85 (R) 8" 55"
Mini 86+ (R) 8" 58"
4Runners 96+ (R) 8" 60"
Tundra/T100 (R) 8.4" 66"
FJ40.45.55 (F) 57" (pass side drop)
FJ40.45.55 (R) 55"
FJ60.62 (F) 60" (pass side drop)
FJ60.62 (R) 58"
FJ80 (F) 64" (pass side drop)
FJ80 (R) 63.5"

Added info:
Toyota Front Axle Widths:
55.5" wide, 29" spring perch centers, '79-85 Toyota trucks and 4runners, and most Landcruisers
63.5" wide, (set up for coil springs) 90-97 FJ80 and FZJ80 Landcruisers
58.5" wide, '86-95 IFS front end
65" wide, '93-98 T100 IFS front end

Toyota Rear Axle Widths:
55" wide, '79-85 trucks/4runners
58.5" wide, '86-95 trucks/4runners
60" wide, '95.5-up Tacomas/4runners
66.75" wide, '93-98 T100 trucks


http://nissan4wheelers.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/885603133/m/1546019403/p/1/xsl/print_topic







:thumb-up:

[thixon]

Yorker,

Will the rover dual master work with cruiser disk/drum setup?

BTW, I'm asking about operating the caliper/cylinder, not about the obvious need to convert to metric fittings.

[lrdukdog]

TeriAnn did this and here is her website for it.
http://www.expeditionlandrover.info/V8Conversion.htm
Hope this helps
Jim Wolf

[yorker]

Yorker,

Will the rover dual master work with cruiser disk/drum setup?

BTW, I'm asking about operating the caliper/cylinder, not about the obvious need to convert to metric fittings.

Which Rover dual master cylinder? I don't think it matters with the Disc/Drum TLC axles- With Disc/Disc (http://www.joetlc.com/rear-disc-brake-brackets-land-cruiser-fj40-fj55-fj60-p-4435.html)(Monte Carlo Calipers) you might need something with a larger bore?

http://www.mindspring.com/~jayk3/toyota/discs.htm
http://www.ih8mud.com/cruisertech.php

You could always use the Ford MC too:
http://www.lrfaq.org/Series/HydraulicsAltSeriesMaster.html


Also FWIW if you get the earlier TLC axles with front drums and you want discs:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/frontdisc/frontdisc.html


Also this sort of intrigues me:
http://www.trail-gear.com/trunnion-bearing-eliminator

I always considered the top trunion bearing a step up from the Land Rover's Railco bush setup. A trunion bearing eliminator that can be greased would be an interesting alternative too.

[JDLalama]

I started my rebuild by putting fj55 (same as fj40) axles under my rover, but changed back when someone wanted to swap working rover axles for them. they had 4.10 gears. btw breakover year is mid 75 for "desireable"axles
the rear spring perches need to come inboard about 1.5" each (puts one perch part way on pumpkin. fronts work as they are.
need new shock mounts on axles.
the pinion yolk on the fj axles is longer requiring moving axles or customizing driveshafts
for driveshaft yolk I took a rover driveshaft yolk, cut the mounting holes out and welded in locking collars using the fj yolk as a template.
need metric brakeline adapter to rover brakelines.

How much trouble would it be to put LHD, 1978, fj40 axles under a RHD, 1974, Series III, 88? The only reason I am considering this is cost effectiveness of gaining disc brakes up front and tougher axles front and rear ('78 being 30 spline).