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Another Toyota Starter Question.

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by theotherjmmy, Jun 27, 2011.

  1. theotherjmmy

    theotherjmmy Member

    I read in a JP magazine tech section that the Toyota Landcruiser starter would work on a flathead 4. Has anybody done this conversion without changing the flywheel?

    Thanks,
     
    theotherjmmy, Jun 27, 2011
    #1
  2. unclebill

    unclebill Banned

    Yep
    bolts right on.
    I did have to make one of the holes a bit bigger.
    It was easy.
     
    unclebill, Jun 27, 2011
    #2
  3. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    To a Fhead, yes- to a flathead- depends. Early original equipment floor start 2's may present a problem.

    H.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Jun 27, 2011
    #3
  4. unclebill

    unclebill Banned

    oh
    i need to work on my comprehension skills....
     
    unclebill, Jun 27, 2011
    #4
  5. theotherjmmy

    theotherjmmy Member

    Mine is a 47 CJ2A and I assume it had the floor starter. What kind of issues might I expect? Opening a hole a bit and reversing a bolt would be simple enough.
     
    theotherjmmy, Jun 27, 2011
    #5
  6. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Early 2's have a different tooth count on the flywheel ring gear, apart from pulling the starter & counting the teeth I'm not sure how to reliably tell the difference.

    H.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Jun 27, 2011
    #6
  7. theotherjmmy

    theotherjmmy Member

    I'm dumb, but why does the tooth count matter? Is it because the starter wont be close enough or far enough from the ring gear? If I count the teeth on the Toyota starter and the original and they are the same does that mean they are compatible?
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2011
    theotherjmmy, Jun 28, 2011
    #7
  8. Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Not necessarily - the tooth count he was talking about is for the ring gear. You normally have to match tooth count on the ring gear and the diameter to get a proper fit. You can get real close by matching the engagement gear for the starters by count as well as inside and outside gear measurements.

    If the teeth do not alighn correctly - you will shear off either or both sets of teeth and then have to replace both.
     
    Warloch, Jun 28, 2011
    #8
  9. uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    You might try the
    CJ3BPage
    I remember that there is an article there that addresses this issue.
     
    uncamonkey, Jun 29, 2011
    #9
  10. metal_miner

    metal_miner New Member

    Is the plate between the engine and bellhousing the same for a L134 and a F134?
     
    metal_miner, Sep 14, 2012
    #10
  11. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    w3srl, Sep 15, 2012
    #11
  12. jasonjp62

    jasonjp62 Member

    It works great on the F head, from what I have read the ring gear if different on the L head. but yes the bell housing is the same on both the f head and L head.
     
    jasonjp62, Sep 16, 2012
    #12
  13. metal_miner

    metal_miner New Member

    Thank you.

    Before I posted my question I did a search and the thread you referenced was one of the many threads I read with "Toyota starter" as the search criteria. They were all pretty clear on the bellhousing, ring gear, and part numbers for the starter.

    So I already have a F-head bellhousing and appropriate flywheel ring gear. The starter will be ordered shortly.

    However, in order to do this project in one afternoon by having all the parts staged, I would like to verify if I need to source a rear engine plate for a F-head or if I can just reuse my L-head rear engine plate by drilling out the starter bolt holes to 1/2" as well as opening up the starter hole in the plate if needed.
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2012
    metal_miner, Sep 16, 2012
    #13
  14. jasonjp62

    jasonjp62 Member

    I think you will be fine with the l head plate. Good luck with your swap.
     
    jasonjp62, Sep 16, 2012
    #14
  15. VTSteve

    VTSteve New Member

    I installed the Toyota starter on my F-head. It took quite a bit more fitting than I was expecting, but once I got it on there it worked great.
     
    VTSteve, Sep 20, 2012
    #15
  16. Dingado

    Dingado New Member

    The toyota starter only works with the 129 tooth ring gear which is the right diameter for the teeth to mesh, you have to egg out the bolt holes but the center cone
    fits perfect and at a great savings its like $50 at O'Rieleys
     
    Dingado, Nov 8, 2012
    #16
  17. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    That is not correct. The F-head starter has the "nose" on it that captures the end of the starter drive, where the L-head bell housing has a bronze bushing pressed into it for that purpose. The bell housings will interchange but you have to use the correct starter type with whatever bell you use. The Toyota starter conversion works with the F-head bellhousing.
     
    w3srl, Nov 17, 2012
    #17
  18. Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    That's good to know Steve. Will save some guys a lot of trouble. Maybe even me, someday.
     
    Walt Couch, Nov 17, 2012
    #18
  19. Old Doug

    Old Doug Member

    What is the deal with useing a toyota starter. The coldest winter i have been alive for was in 83/84. I had a 53 jeep pickup and it was 6volt. First day it got cold my dad had a 79GMC. He went out to start it i told him i would pull start him if it didnt start he told me it would be spring be for my jeep would start. I took him and mom to work all week in my jeep. I hate the thought of puting Jap parts on my Jeeps.
     
    Old Doug, Nov 17, 2012
    #19
  20. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Gear reduction, readily available and far less expensive. A starter for a 2a can run $150, and it's still a 6v starter.
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2012
    w3srl, Nov 18, 2012
    #20