Whether you are retaining your stock transmission (3 speed, 4 speed or 5 speed), or upgrading to a new GM or Ford manual transmission, clutch considerations will need to be addressed.
SLAVE CYLINDER BRACKETS:
We highly recommend that you retain the stock Land Cruiser slave cylinder. Many of our conversion bellhousings have provisions for this stock slave cylinder. Some of our conversion kits supply a bracket to retain this slave cylinder. The stock Ford bellhousing is the only application that we do not offer any components for to remount this slave cylinder.
When retaining the stock 3 speed or installing a new Chevy transmission and/or using the Ranger Torque Splitter, the use of a stock GM bellhousing is required. GM bellhousings have been produced in both cast iron and aluminum. Our bracket, 716287, will fit either bellhousing. This bracket positions the stock Land Cruiser slave cylinder to line up with the GM release arm. Due to the variations of GM bellhousings, this bracket may require some modifications to obtain proper fit. It may also be necessary to modify the length of the stock slave cylinder push rod.
716287 - Chevy bellhousing to Land Cruiser slave cylinder bracket
716176 - Chevy release arm
When using either our 4 speed conversion bellhousing or the Mark’s 4WD bellhousing adapter, provisions have been provided to retain the stock Land Cruiser slave cylinder. No additional brackets should be necessary.
When installing a NV4500 transmission, a conversion bellhousing to adapt the NV4500 to a Chevy engine may be required. The bellhousings we manufacture do not have provisions to mount the stock Land Cruiser slave cylinder. These bellhousings will require the following slave cylinder bracket:
716288 - Conversion bellhousing to Land Cruiser slave cylinder bracket
716286 - Vortec V8 conv. bellhousing to Land Cruiser slave cylinder bracket
SLAVE CYLINDER: We offer a new replacement Land Cruiser slave cylinder, Part No. 716119. This stock Land Cruiser component comes with both the slave cylinder and the hose. The slave cylinder and hose can also be purchased separately.
716119 - L/C Slave cylinder and hose assembly
716119S - L/C slave cylinder only
716119H - L/C slave cylinder hose only
When using the Toyota slave cylinder with a GM clutch release arm, we’ve found that the GM clutch wedge, P/N 716139 (GM# 3765322), works excellent for keeping the push rod in its proper location. The hole in the clutch wedge will need to be enlarged slightly for the Toyota push rod.
CLUTCH RELEASE BEARINGS: The release bearing used in your conversion will depend on the type of transmission that you are using. It will also depend on the clutch assembly that you have chosen. The release bearings listed in this section are all recommended to be used with the Centerforce clutches listed on the following pages. If clutch components of other manufacturers are used, we cannot guarantee proper clutch operation.
On Chevy engine conversions using a stock Chevy bellhousing or NV4500 conversion bellhousing, we recommend release bearing P/N 716316. This bearing is a 2-piece assembly which uses a large diameter, radius face bearing resembling the stock Land Cruiser bearing. We prefer to use this assembly, since the stock Land Cruiser slave cylinder has a short release. This bearing allows for a quicker release than a standard GM bearing. This bearing is designed to fit the stock GM release arm.
On Chevy engine conversions retaining your stock Toyota 4 speed, the stock release bearing is a 2-piece setup - a collar that connects to the release arm and the bearing. The stock bearing must be removed from the collar and Part No. 716314 installed in its place. This bearing diameter has a radius face and is similar to the stock Land Cruiser bearing. This bearing is supplied in our kit as well as the Mark’s 4WD adapter kit. On the inside of the bearing collar, you will find a small cavity that must be packed with grease to ensure smooth clutch operation.
On Ford engine conversions retaining the stock Toyota 3 speed transmission or upgrading to a Ford transmission, release bearing 716311 will be required. When retaining your stock Toyota 4 speed with a Ford engine conversion using the Mark’s 4WD adapter kit, the kit will be supplied with release bearing 716313. Both these bearings are flat-face and are designed to work with the Centerforce high diaphragm pressure plate.
Stock Land Cruiser 4 Speed Conversions:
1974 model Land Cruiser owners will be required to purchase a new release bearing collar. The original collar is too small to be used with the new release bearing that is being provided in the 4 speed conversion kits. On these early 4 speed applications, you will need to purchase the two Toyota part numbers listed below.
Toyota# 31231-60070 - Bearing Collar (2.062” Dia.)
Toyota# 31232-60010 - Bearing Collar Clips (2 Required)
CLUTCH RELEASE LEVERS: When using a standard GM bellhousing, we recommend the stock GM cast iron release arm, P/N 716176 (GM# 15687296). On Ford applications, the stock release lever from your Ford bellhousing should be used. Applications retaining the stock 4 speed using our bellhousing or Mark’s 4WD bellhousing will retain the stock Land Cruiser release arm. On a Land Cruiser 4 speed conversion, the lever will protrude on the passenger side. When using a GM or Ford bellhousing, the release lever will protrude on the driver's side.
In order for the Toyota slave cylinder to properly disengage the GM release arm, you must fit the Toyota push rod into the inner slot of the release arm. This will provide additional movement of the clutch release lever.
Replacement Parts for a Land Cruiser stock 4 Speed:
Toyota# 31204-60030 - Release Arm
Toyota# 31236-60020 - Ball Pivot
Toyota# 31126-60021 - Rubber Boot
PILOT BUSHINGS: The pilot bushing that supports the tip of the transmission shaft should be inspected for excessive wear. On Chevy V8 conversions, the original GM pilot bushing diameter will require no changes since it is compatible with the Toyota 3 & 4 speed transmissions. On Ford V8 conversions to the stock Toyota 3 & 4 speed transmissions, you will need to install the new pilot bushing supplied with your kit. When using a GM 4 speed transmission with the stock Land Cruiser 6 cylinder engine, you will need to install our special pilot bushing into the 6 cylinder crankshaft.
716170 - Pilot Bearing (GM engine to Toyota 3 & 4 speed transmissions)
716153 - Pilot Bearing (Ford engine to Toyota 3 & 4 speed transmissions)
716157 - Pilot Bearing (Toyota 6 cylinder to GM transmission)
CLUTCHES & RELATED COMPONENTS: When converting to a V8 engine and using an aftermarket clutch assembly, you may have difficulty attempting to get your clutch to release properly. On Toyota Land Cruiser conversions, you must use a specific pressure plate and clutch disc. With the help of Centerforce Clutches, we have developed a clutch assembly that operates perfectly with the original Land Cruiser slave cylinder and master cylinder. This pressure plate is a short throw, quick ratio, diaphragm-type pressure plate that requires very little slave cylinder movement. We stock the Centerforce clutches as standard items and they can be obtained from us directly. If the correct clutch is not used, you may experience inadequate clutch disengagement.
Under no circumstances should you EVER reuse the original Toyota clutch disc with these recommended pressure plates. Be sure to align the clutch disc with the pilot bearing prior to assembling the pressure plate to the flywheel. A clutch alignment tool is available for this procedure from most auto part stores. In the 20 plus years that we have been performing V8 engine conversions into Toyota Land Cruisers, the most common problem that we encounter is that the customer does not select the proper clutch assembly for use with the Toyota slave cylinder. For your clutch to operate properly, please verify that the correct clutch components have been selected.
We highly recommend using Centerforce & Luk clutch components listed below. This combination is proven to work with the Land Cruiser hydraulic clutch system. If clutch components of other manufacturers are used, we cannot guarantee proper clutch operation.
Chevy engines:
CF165473S - Centerforce 11” low profile pressure plate
383735 - Centerforce 11” clutch disc
CF700120 - Centerforce 168 tooth flywheel (up to 1985 blocks)
CF700160 - Centerforce 168 tooth flywheel (1986 & up blocks)
Chevy Vortec engines: 712500T - 11” Flywheel and clutch assembly kit
Ford engines:
CF260000 - Centerforce 11” pressure plate (3 sets of 2 bolt pattern)
CF360049 - Centerforce 11” pressure plate (6 bolts evenly spaced)
281226 - Centerforce 11” clutch disc
L/C 6 cylinder:
CF043518 - Stock L/C 6 cylinder clutch assembly for Chevy transmissions
(These stock L/C clutches fit the stock flywheels from the years of August 1974 through 1987). On earlier applications, you must change the flywheel and clutch fork to use these clutch assemblies.