[Zdaug]

Hi all,
Looking for some sage advice.
Just bought my first 40 after years of drooling and owning 60’s. I intend to use this as a “cabin” truck, for a daily driver on the weekends, while I and the family are there… and put many miles and dents on it from moderate trails to rough passes in Colorado. More rocks and snow than mud. I have spent so much time the last few days researching on 1h8mud that my wife is getting concerned about my sanity.

So...given my particlar situation, I would love to hear what you would do next as far as mods to make this tight. Below is a list of what the owner had done, but never took it offroad. My first thought was Power steering, mini-truck, and then read ARB lockers. Let me know what you think for my particular situation.

· 5 new 33"x12.50 Goodyear MT/R tires on Mickey Thompson Wheels
· 3" Black Diamond suspension lift kit with new leaf springs, shocks
· New tie rod ends w/ new boots
· New steering stabilizer
· New stainless mirrors
· New front axle seals professionally installed
· New heavy duty shackles and spring hangers, Downey shackle reversal kit
· New front driveshaft and brakelines (needed from shackle reversal
· New intake manifold gasket, timing adjustment done professionally
· New MSD ignition and off-road coil
· Rebuilt carb
· New distributor cap, rotor, wires, plugs
· Downey ceramic coated header, Downey 2 1/2" exhaust and muffler
· Clutch master cylinder
· Pretty boy interior, all new, restored, CD player, etc.

Thanks all - from a wanna be poser.

[77TLCFJ40]

Nice 40!

I'd say you have it in order: 1) PS 2) Lockers

I'm sure others will chime in as well.

Good Luck

[FF LC FREAK]

Nice looking rig! And, welcome to the insanity! My wife also thinks I'm somewhat insane when it comes to Land Cruisers. Anyway, you have it pretty well lined up. My personal opinion after much reading here on Mud and some other input, is that you should go with the Saginaw p/s. Many have stated that they are unimpressed with the mini truck p/s. Since you already have 33s, you might as well go with a setup that will be a true p/s instead of a power assist. JMO. I would also recommend driving it for awhile. Then decide what your next course of action should be. My list of upgrades has changed dramatically over the last year after reading things on Mud and driving my Cruiser.

Good luck! Happy New Year!

[tlcruiser66]

First, nice Cruiser.
Second, I think starting with power steering is a good idea and the Saginaw would probably be a better choice with the 33s.
Have fun and welcome

[Zdaug]

Thanks Freak - heard both ways on the PS - Saginaw sucks, Saginaw is great. Guess its personal preference, and Im going to drive for a while and try to find somebody who has them.

[sine80]

having had seen both mini and sag, (my rig is sag) there seems to be more power with the sag system and both are pretty simple to install (having done both). the picture looks pretty good and it seems like you have a good base to start from. Welcome and good luck with your rig.

mike

[nuclearlemon]

Originally Posted by Zdaug

Thanks Freak - heard both ways on the PS - Saginaw sucks, Saginaw is great. Guess its personal preference, and Im going to drive for a while and try to find somebody who has them.

keep in mind that saginaw boxes can be tuned. both treeroot and i have saginaw boxes, i hate his and love mine. he's got no return valving and i do...that's the only difference. i had mine built with a specific turn ratio and valving.

[numtel]

I'd say do the power steering and then go wheeling for a while. Since yours is a later model and already has a disc front end, you don't have to do the mini truck knuckle conversion unless you want to run larger steering arms in the future.