Best FJ40 Upgrade Ever

[FloridaLife]

Your use of the 40 sounds like a perfect canidate for Electric Power Steering.
Relatively easy bolt on the can be completed in a few hours.

Thank you again for your information and suggestion. I placed my order with ePowerSteering.com today for less than $750 for the entire kit (which is less than 1/2 of everyone else's prices), everything I need. I read a couple other threads people posted on electric power steering and thanks to their post I got in touch with Ken at ePowerSteering. Super guy, fantastic products. They make a LOT if different kits for different cars and Racers trying to eliminate a belt & horsepower drag on their engine. Even either an 18 wheeler or BIG bus, and the YouTube video showed the guy trying to turn it with the system on, and without it. WOW! I'm sold... literally. It's adjustable too.

 

[Shark56]

Thank you again for your information and suggestion. I placed my order with ePowerSteering.com today for less than $750 for the entire kit (which is less than 1/2 of everyone else's prices), everything I need. I read a couple other threads people posted on electric power steering and thanks to their post I got in touch with Ken at ePowerSteering. Super guy, fantastic products. They make a LOT if different kits for different cars and Racers trying to eliminate a belt & horsepower drag on their engine. Even either an 18 wheeler or BIG bus, and the YouTube video showed the guy trying to turn it with the system on, and without it. WOW! I'm sold... literally. It's adjustable too.

The ones I put together I did using his stuff and sourcing the electric steering box off Ebay. {Koyo}.
I think when I did mine it was around $650 or so for everything including the unit off ebay with me doing the fab. I can see it being more now with the price of everything. Let us know how that build goes.

 

[OGBeno]

A Prius.

 

[-MaTTi-]

so I'm probably going to run a 28" to 30" tire. Like maybe a 225/75R15 or a 235/75R15.

Noo. Will look so anemic. Tires make the look.

 

[FloridaLife]

The ones I put together I did using his stuff and sourcing the electric steering box off Ebay. {Koyo}.
I think when I did mine it was around $650 or so for everything including the unit off ebay with me doing the fab. I can see it being more now with the price of everything. Let us know how that build goes.

I had a coupon code that got it down to $670.50 so that was good.

The only steering work I've ever done was over 30 years ago on my '69 Chevy pickup. I went to a salvage yard, got a power steering gear box, pump, brackets, and lines and they all just bolted right up super easy. So I've never done anything like this. If you have any instructions, tips, or videos let me know. I have no idea where to cut the shaft, or do I cut it more than once and if so, where to cut it, or how much of the shaft to cut out and remove? I just don't want to screw up and ruin it. And, since mine is a '71 and does not have a rag joint, I have no idea how big of a pain it is going to be to get the shaft off the gear box. And last but not least, at the same time I am working on the steering, I am going to try to remove the column shifter and linkage to get it out of the way for the electric steering since I'm changing to a 4 on the floor shifter anyway.

So if you or anyone else has any instructions, suggestions, tips, and/or videos of this process, please share.

Thank you!

 

[FloridaLife]

Noo. Will look so anemic. Tires make the look.

LOL.

 

[FloridaLife]

The ones I put together I did using his stuff and sourcing the electric steering box off Ebay. {Koyo}.
I think when I did mine it was around $650 or so for everything including the unit off ebay with me doing the fab. I can see it being more now with the price of everything. Let us know how that build goes.

Because of input here in this thread, this weekend I want to remove my steering column and column shifter so I can do an electric power steering conversion and I'm converting to a 4 on the floor. Keep in mind that my rig is a 1971 so there is no rag joint, just a straight shot column going to the steering gear box. I just watched a YouTube video of a gentleman removing his, and even after removing the bolt that held the column to the steering box, he tried and tried to pull and get the column loose and pull it and the column shifter out through the dash but he could not. He ended up unbolting the steering gear box, and pulling everything through the firewall (steering box still attached to the end of the column) and out by the front driver's wheel. What was he missing? There has to be an easier way than unbolting the steering box. And, I need to be careful when removing the column / shaft from the steering box because I have to re-use them. What is the best way to separate the column / shaft from the steering box?

Suggestions, tips, and/or thoughts?
Thank you

 

[knuckle47]

@FloridaLife my cruiser experiences start at 1973 up so I can’t really say but if you can post a link to that video< maybe another set of eyes can reveal something

 

[FloridaLife]

@FloridaLife my cruiser experiences start at 1973 up so I can’t really say but if you can post a link to that video< maybe another set of eyes can reveal something

Good idea. Here is the video I mentioned. There has GOT to be a better / easier way than this. Anyone have any tips, suggestions, or thoughts?

 

[miller]

U don't its one piece.

 

[Shark56]

When I did it on my ( 9/69 ), 1970 I was switch from a previous P.O. conversion to 3 on the floor.
I swapped in a drive train, steering column and othe parts from a 1/79 I had that was getting bad in the frame.
If I remember correctly, I had to pull the 70 box off the frame and pull it out through the firewall with the shaft still attached.
This was better than 15 years ago. I ended up scapping the 70 steering not knowing it was worth something, especially if the gear box is in good shape.
Don't toss it like I did.

 

[Shark56]

On the ones I built, I pretty much used the thread I linked above for the measurements.
I think I have pictures or the sizes saved somewhere. I qill see if I can find them.

 

[FloridaLife]

U don't its one piece.

Well that stinks! I guess I will have to figure out where to cut it, and then get to cutting. Maybe I will try to document and Video the process in case someone else wants to do this in the future. Hope my face doesn't break the camera!

 

[70fj40]

Best FJ40 upgrade ever ……Ear plugs

 

[miller]

This is off a 1970.

 

[pb4ugo]

Do you know the condition of the box? You could be adapting a box that is worn out.

 

[FloridaLife]

This is off a 1970.

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So, here is the BIG QUESTION... is there ANYONE here on iH8MUD that has taken one of these early FJ40's with the straight solid shaft (no rag joint) and converted it to EPS (Electric Power Steering)??? And, if so, do you care to share exactly where did you cut the shaft and put on couplers/adapters?

"IF" it turns out that of all the countless early FJ40 owners that are out there, NONE of them have done it, then I will try to document it and possibly video it in order to help anyone in the future that decides to do it.

 

[miller]

If your not putting big tires on it wont need it. This truck easy to steer with these skinnys. I get it not the look for everyone but easy to steer.

 

[FloridaLife]

Do you know the condition of the box? You could be adapting a box that is worn out.

I thought about that, so I went by there this last weekend and moved the steering wheel and was very surprised that there didn't seem to be any slop in it. As soon as I moved it, the wheels moved. However, I will also say there is no weight on it, since the drivetrain, top, hood, doors, and fenders are off of it.

And, I'm almost thinking that I might be ahead of the game if I go ahead and graft in a rag joint for the future, even if not 'needed'.

 

[FloridaLife]

If your not putting big tires on it wont need it. This truck easy to steer with these skinnys. I get it not the look for everyone but easy to steer.

View attachment 3723353

View attachment 3723354

3 things:

1. Thank you.
2. What size are those tires? I can see that they are 15", and I think maybe 7" wide, but nothing else.
3. Wish I had seen your message 24 hours ago before I purchased the Electric Power Steering Conversion Kit. I'm committed now, so here we go. And, if the clutching / shifting becomes too painful because of all my surgeries, then I'll end up probably doing a SBC & automatic transmission swap, so the power steering would come in handy.