Does anyone know offhand in which issue of Toyota Trails Mark Whatley's article on installing a 60 series PS box in a 40 appeared? Knowing which issue will make it asier for me to find when I look through my stack of Trails magazines. Thanks, Gary S
Mark Whatley PS article in Trails
- Thread starter shmukster
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Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
I don't remember the issue myself, but there are things that would be better done different than discussed in that writeup.
It is late here now, but I'll make some comments on this later.
Mark...
It is late here now, but I'll make some comments on this later.
Mark...
jim land
SILVER Star
got it , its the july august 2003 page 34
red and white fj55 in an old barn
red and white fj55 in an old barn
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Mark used my rig for some of that article. It has worked well since the initial set-up. I have however changed a few things, but the core of it is still there. I changed out the pitman arm since going with an aftermarket hi-steer set-up. I have also plumbed in Hydro Assist since locking the front and upping the tire size. Still all the brackets and mounts for the steering box and pump are as installed though.
It'll be interesting to see what Mark says he is doing/would do differently now though.
It'll be interesting to see what Mark says he is doing/would do differently now though.
John McVicker
SILVER Star
I'm in. Subscribed.
John
John
AlaskanWheeler
SILVER Star
Just my .02 worth, the issue was July/August 2003.
Josie'sLandCruiser
Stop calling it a "FJ."
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
To be honest, without digging up a copy of the article I am not positive what exactly I said to do. But some of the approaches that I used then that I don't do now...
The FJ60 arm has a lot of drop and clearances get tight. I have modified FJ40 arms... cutting them and turning the end 180*. A better solution is an FJ80 arm.
On at least one of the early conversions I wound up having to cut the radiator mount some for clearance. If you uses a full 3/4 inch plate, it move the box out far enough that it fits without clearancing.
The Ford f250 shock mounts work a lot better than the fabricated from steel stock that I did a few times back then.
Depending on your exact setup, it might work better to make the mounting plate long enough to mount the shock tower on it too. Clearance between the ford shock tower and the steering shaft can be tight.
I have come to not like the positioning of the steering wheel when you use a full length FJ55 steering column. Shortening it a bit makes for a much nicer setup. personally I still like the all Toyota approach over using an aftermarket steering column. but I also like a swapped in mini-truck column with the smaller steering wheel, tilt steering and all the controls on the column... I hate reaching for the wiper switch in a 40 on a dark road in a snowstorm.
If I think of anything else that I don't like anymore about the way I was doing that conversion back then, I will add it later.
Mark...
The FJ60 arm has a lot of drop and clearances get tight. I have modified FJ40 arms... cutting them and turning the end 180*. A better solution is an FJ80 arm.
On at least one of the early conversions I wound up having to cut the radiator mount some for clearance. If you uses a full 3/4 inch plate, it move the box out far enough that it fits without clearancing.
The Ford f250 shock mounts work a lot better than the fabricated from steel stock that I did a few times back then.
Depending on your exact setup, it might work better to make the mounting plate long enough to mount the shock tower on it too. Clearance between the ford shock tower and the steering shaft can be tight.
I have come to not like the positioning of the steering wheel when you use a full length FJ55 steering column. Shortening it a bit makes for a much nicer setup. personally I still like the all Toyota approach over using an aftermarket steering column. but I also like a swapped in mini-truck column with the smaller steering wheel, tilt steering and all the controls on the column... I hate reaching for the wiper switch in a 40 on a dark road in a snowstorm.
If I think of anything else that I don't like anymore about the way I was doing that conversion back then, I will add it later.
Mark...
i had good success in using stock 40 column and and welding the 60 shaft to the end of it. this allows it to be fully serviceable with toyota parts. for this however you not only need the 60 series shaft from the box but you also need to cut the 60 series in cab steering shaft at the firewall.
Mark. You state that the F250 shock towers work better than the fab'd pieces you did before. Are you talking purely for fitment or function? I have your older style fab'd mounts. Not that I am looking to change them.
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
just simpler to fit/fab. Cheaper (considering the time to make the fabbed ones) and they don't look as homemade. 
Mark...
Mark...
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
Mark, did you typically put steering stabilizers on these conversions?
