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1988 Toyota Land Cruiser — engine fits but driveline angle is not ideal

UsedCarGarage59Community StarterMar 16, 20261988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62Boston
Mock-up clears the steering and firewall, but getting the transmission output lined up perfectly would require moving the engine. How much should packaging be compromised to improve driveline geometry?
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4 replies

ShiftFan594Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 16, 2026permalink
I'd keep this practical. Verify the cheap/easy branch on the 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser before a big repair or a big spend. Then you'll know the next fork. If it doesn't change the out-the-door or the repair estimate, it's noise. Doing the boring step first on purpose.
ShiftFan594Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 17, 2026permalink
Don't overfit one forum story to your car. If it still isn't clear on the 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser, a specialist hour can be cheaper than another round of parts. I'd do that before spending real money. This is from a 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser in Boston. Run the total, not the monthly, before you commit. That's coming from doing this as an owner, not a shop. If the story changes I'll post the new data.
UsedCarGarage59Community StarterCommunity StarterMar 18, 2026permalink
Thanks — that narrowed it. I'm going to try the simpler check on the 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser first. This is the version I'd tell a friend.
TireCollectorCommunity StarterCommunity StarterMar 17, 2026permalink
Owner notes beat generic advice here. On the 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser in Boston, I'd fix the thing you'll notice every day before chasing spec-sheet extras. That's where I'd start. On “engine fits but driveline angle is not,” that was the fork that mattered for me. Verbal 'we'll take care of it' is not a plan. Climate here is different, so treat that as a local data point. That's my plan before I call anyone.
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