60 series power steering conversion for FJ 40

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

PabloCruise

PabloCruise

SILVER Star
10 Year 15 Year 20 Year
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Threads
509
Messages
27,211
Location
Northern Colorado
Hello All!
I am trying to gather details about implementing a 60 series power steering conversion on my ’78 FJ40.
I apologize in advance if my search skills overlooked some of these questions…

How do I connect my '78 column to 60 box? (I see that Downey sells columns that hook up to GM ¾” 30 spline, ¾” 36 spline and 13/16” 36 spline.) Any of those match the 60 series input shaft?

What pitman arm to use? (I will probably do this at same time as a 4” lift, and go for extended wheelbase at same time)

What drag link to use to connect 60 box to 40 front axle?
What high pressure PS hose to use?

What PS pump is best to use on this job? Use PS pump bracket from JT outfitters?

Do I need to ditch factory shock mounts to perform this conversion? If so are the F250 mounts my best bet?

Will F250 shock mounts work with all spring options - stock to 4+" lift?

Will F250 shock mounts require relocation of coolant recovery and windshield washer reservoirs? (I plan on extending wheelbase while installing lift kit)

Thank you all in advance – IH8Mud rocks!

TJS
 
There is an excellent article written by Mark Wheatley on Toyota Trail regarding the FJ60 power steering swap into the FJ40, lots of pictures and very informative. Also there is an online article from a member of a Texas LC club who also did the FJ60 swap.

I am doing it myself, here is to the best of my knowlege, others please chime in:

- The easiest and cheapest way mention in TT trail is to use a FJ55 column, I bought a FJ55 column and can see how it could fit nicely,

- To avoid the pitman arm hitting the spring under compression especially in a spring-over setup with flat springs, you need a flat pitman arm, I got my from OTT, Sky manufacturing also sells one. Mark Wheatley modified a pitman arm.

- I'm using custom steering arms with 1-ton tie rod end and custom tie rods from 4x4labs.com, the drag link is massive.

- I'm using the saginaw pump, the bracket came from JTO.

- You probably need to modify you shock mounts, again, try to get the articles and you will see why.

/td
 
Mustard40,

I did see Mark's article in TT, that is what got me jazzed about this project.

I have not found the online article from our compadre in TX. If you have a link, can you post plz?

I just assumed the 55 column was not a cheap alternative. Where did you get yours? How much?

I am not planning on going SOA for a while, so I don't know if stock 60 pitman arm will do the trick.

Are all 60 boxes the same? What year did you grab for yours?

Did you make your own hoses? Any tricks to hook up with the sag box?

Thanks for the help!

TJS
 
Sta Puffy said:
Mustard40,

I did see Mark's article in TT, that is what got me jazzed about this project.

I have not found the online article from our compadre in TX. If you have a link, can you post plz?

I just assumed the 55 column was not a cheap alternative. Where did you get yours? How much?

I am not planning on going SOA for a while, so I don't know if stock 60 pitman arm will do the trick.

Are all 60 boxes the same? What year did you grab for yours?

Did you make your own hoses? Any tricks to hook up with the sag box?

Thanks for the help!

TJS
Click to expand...

FJ55 columns are cheap. you need one from about 9/'72 and newer. hit up the wanted section and post up.

Stock fj60 pitman arm will work with a lift and long bumpstops.

all FJ60 boxes are not the same. changed in 82 or so. from then through FJ62 or maybe even FJ80 should work. you definetly want a newer than 82 box cause more stuff IE rebuild parts are still arouund

Hoses are going to be a case by case basis, since there are many saginaw fittings availible. go to a hose shop.

None of the downey crap will work for the fj60 box. you will need to extend an FJ55 intermediate shaft(with the FJ55 column) or modify the column ala saginaw and make a hybrid intermediate shaft from some saginaw style parts and maybe an fj60 intermediate shaft.

I would not get jazzed by the conversion just yet. bu the time you get the hoses made with the metric fittings, a custom intermediate shaft and custom drag link, and a $$$ pitman arm you are goingto be behind a saginaw conversion. Unless you have a hard on for the FJ60 box, or need to keep a PTO winch, go saginaw. readily avail;ible rebuilt boxes, MUCH bettter pitman arm selection. plenty of compaines offer all the parts you need other than the actual welding. There is no way a stock FJ60 pitman arm will work with SOA, and the taper is not compatible with FJ80 TRE's so youre still going to have to work out that bit.

I have gone through the FJ60 conversion, and got fed up with it and yanked it and installed a Scout Saginaw PS boxdiff than normal saginaw). Much cheaper, easy to make the intermediate shaft since all the u-joints and other parts are easily sourced and the pitman arm selction is simple.
 
...installed a Scout Saginaw PS boxdiff than normal saginaw). Much cheaper, easy to make the intermediate shaft since all the u-joints and other parts are easily sourced and the pitman arm selction is simple...

Brett,
Thanks. I don't want to sound like a chud, but can you expand on the selection of parts for the intermediate shaft for Scout box? I think I can get one pretty easily. Also exoand on details for Scout pitman?
Thanx,
TJS
 
Sta Puffy said:
...installed a Scout Saginaw PS boxdiff than normal saginaw). Much cheaper, easy to make the intermediate shaft since all the u-joints and other parts are easily sourced and the pitman arm selction is simple...

Brett,
Thanks. I don't want to sound like a chud, but can you expand on the selection of parts for the intermediate shaft for Scout box? I think I can get one pretty easily. Also exoand on details for Scout pitman?
Thanx,
TJS
Click to expand...

Check the writeups on the tech section. The General idea of the scout saginaw box is like the FJ60 in terms of placement etc. For the easiest and most straightforward, dont for a second do antyhing other than the normal saginaw conversion(not scout). there are the most parts for this, with little fabbing other than welding the plate on and make a pump mount and hose. The mini truck style toyota P/S is also easy, but not as desirable for a wheeling rig.
For the scout setup:
intermediate shaft. use the normal saginaw FJ40 column bearing thingy from AA or other vendor, a 3/4" ujoint, some 3/4" x1" DD shaft and an appropriate 36? splined u-joint on the saginaw box with a smooth or DD bore for the shaft. Stock car products, borgeson, flaming river, woodard, Howe performance and others should have what you need for u-joints and DD shafts.

Pitman arm. Its a saginaw box so this is very simple. TONS of pitman arms out there. Depends on what you are doing for steering and what kind of drop you need. Since I went SOA, I used a wagoneer arm which is only about 3/4" drop and tapered for 3/4 and 1 ton TRE's it fit what I needed for the HD tie rods and drag link I made.
 
Brett already answered many of your questions, here some additional infos:

- The link to an article that compared fj60/saginaw/stock powersteering conversions:

http://www.lslc.org/common-btwn-chapter/newsletterfiles/LSLC-Jun01.pdf

- I paid 40 bucks for my later fj60 powersteering box from a Norcal swap meet, 25 bucks for the fj55 steering column from a lister on the LCML list.

- My flat pitman arm was tappered for 1-ton tie-rod end when I ordered it from OTT and 4x4labs.com high steer arms also run 1-ton tie-rod ends so I am all set. Price for the flat pitman arm: 115 bucks.

- Previously, I was running mini-truck PS conversion with saginaw pump bracket and custom high pressure hose from JTO (one end is metric another end is SAE), I simply reused the hose/bracket/pump.

/td
 
Mustard, Brett,

This is some great info!!!
That is an excellent pdf from the fine folks at LSLC. I didn't think to check their newsletters. Doh!
Can you refresh my memory on OTT? I know I have seen the name before, but now can't remember what OTT stands for...

Any ideas if the 60 PS pump and bracket are compatible with the '78 smog pump?
Bad idea to tap the '78 2F head for 60 series PS bracket?

Thanks again!
TJS
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

IH8MUD Forum | Toyota, Lexus & Off-Road Community
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.

© 2000-2026 Tie Rod Media LLC

Back
Top Bottom