Best FJ40 Upgrade Ever (1 Viewer)

[zerotreedelta]

I thought about the Sniper fuel injection, but I read somewhere that people had some issues with the Sniper, and those issues had been corrected and resolved with the Sniper 2. So I called and asked if they had a Sniper 2 that would fit on a 2F FJ40 and they told me no.

I'll have to Google the Hyperspark.

Cruise control - Did you pull that off a donor vehicle (and if so, what was it), or purchase one? How difficult was it to install?

I used a Rostra - fairly common aftermarket cruise module. I ended up making a new housing for the speed sensor by combining it with a speedo calibration gearing adapter...but you can also do a driveshaft magnet sensor.

I also did a bit of extra legwork to make an old wiper switch into the "buttons" for set/resume - but I wanted it to be "hidden"/look OEM. Definitely optional.

Control unit:

Amazon.com

Sensor:

Amazon.com

 

[FloridaLife]

I used a Rostra - fairly common aftermarket cruise module. I ended up making a new housing for the speed sensor by combining it with a speedo calibration gearing adapter...but you can also do a driveshaft magnet sensor.

I also did a bit of extra legwork to make an old wiper switch into the "buttons" for set/resume - but I wanted it to be "hidden"/look OEM. Definitely optional.

Control unit:

Amazon.com

Sensor:

Amazon.com

That is BRILLIANT! I love the "hidden" look OEM idea!!!

Well done!

 

[FloridaLife]

7.00x15. I was going to start that last post with- not to derail your project lol. Ive done a couple rigs now I would just get it on the road driving then see what u want to do.

LOL. Thank you.

 

[Shark56]

Directly to the battery, rather than to the ignition spot on the fuse box? I would think it would stay on all the time, and drain the battery.

Yes. Directly to the battery for main Electric Motor power. There is a computer type device that gets wired to a switch supplied power.
It is the little black box in your above picture of the E Steering kit.
The metal tube is what connects to the front,(steering wheel), side of the motor. That gets welded to the metal tube that covers the shaft.

 

[FloridaLife]

Yes. Directly to the battery for main Electric Motor power. There is a computer type device that gets wired to a switch supplied power.
It is the little black box in your above picture of the E Steering kit.
The metal tube is what connects to the front,(steering wheel), side of the motor. That gets welded to the metal tube that covers the shaft.

Thank you! That is all great information that I had wondered about. That helps. I hope I figure out this dang turn signal stalk / shaft thing. Might have to put some deep backwoods engineering to work.

Update: I figured out the turn signal rod and switch challenge.

 

[knuckle47]

Can you trigger a relay via key switch to power the steering motor in order to keep the battery out of it while garaged?

 

[FloridaLife]

That is the mechanical part of the turn signal. Look at the turn signal in the links provided. It is just that-a long solid rod that sits in a keyway in a lower clamp. Wires don't run in it. As stated. The turn signal is held in place by the upper portion and a lower clamp-both are just clamps. Loosen upper & lower then pull up (after steering wheel is removed and dash clamp are removed). NO wires run in either tube. The column on has the 1 horn wire running through it along with steering shaft.

https://www.sor.com/sorimages/product/84310-60022-big.jpg

Well that's GREAT news! I could be wrong, but I would think that would be an easy fix / work-a-round. As long as I can flick that turn signal lever up or down and get the electrical signal to the turn signal lights, that's all I need.

The other challenge ePowerSteering.com showed for straight steering shafts (like the '53 Chevy Pickup they show) was to make a "bridge" or U shape in the column shifter linkage, but I don't have to worry about that since I'm going to change to a 4 on the floor.

Thank you for the info on the turn signals. Since my FJ40 was here less than 24 hours before being towed to the paint and body shop I can't just walk outside and look at it.

So, if I am understanding what I'm seeing on the SOR link to the turn signal switches, I'm thinking I should be able to remove the turn signal rod / stalk, or cut it short anywhere above the electric steering and re-mount the lower switch above the electric steering and make some extension wires for each wire needed for the turn signals and then hide the wires in some black wire loom sheathing that I have left over from a roll I bought when restoring my motorcycle, and secure it with black zip ties.

Thank you.

 

[FloridaLife]

Can you trigger a relay via key switch to power the steering motor in order to keep the battery out of it while garaged?

@Shark56 that's what I was wondering too??? If I connect it directly to the battery, and it sits in the garage for a while, when I go out to take it for a ride is the battery going to be dead?

@knuckle47 thank you for the question.

 

[knuckle47]

@FloridaLife this is how the Sniper EFI is wired…a VERY simple relay from power on via the key switch….when it triggers the relay, the big juice from the battery kicks in. It’s also fused for the power lead….in case

 

[FloridaLife]

@FloridaLife this is how the Sniper EFI is wired…a VERY simple relay from power on via the key switch….when it triggers the relay, the big juice from the battery kicks in. It’s also fused for the power lead….in case

All those years my 32 year Military Grandfather/ Electrical Engineer tried to reach me (even gave me a Range Doubling Volt Ohm Meter for my 16th birthday that later burned up in a house fire), but as a kid I had been shocked by a cattle fence and did NOT want to learn! I guess I should have. I like what electricity does for us, but I don't like touching or messing with it. The ironic thing is in my early 20's I transferred departments where I worked from Inventory Control to Maintenance for a pay increase and worked in the Batter Room of a 1.5 Million Square feet Distribution Center with 19 miles of conveyor lines and 400 dock doors, and all the fork lifts and power equipment ran off batteries that weighed more than my car. I would change the batteries out when they got low, and the battery room and chargers ran off 480 volts. An accident happened one day and I didn't know there was a pin hole in my rubber gloves and I got hit with 480 volts, blowing out my abdomen, and resulting in 3 surgeries and multiple pieces of plastic mesh being put into my abdomen. So... I get nervous even changing a light bulb!

 

[Its me shaneus]

Big thanks to 1MOA, about the third post in this thread about headlight upgrade. His link led to a good deal and I am blown away for a change on how much I got for my money. Just had these delivered and am just amazed at what very little money got me in this order.

 

[FloridaLife]

Big thanks to 1MOA, about the third post in this thread about headlight upgrade. His link led to a good deal and I am blown away for a change on how much I got for my money. Just had these delivered and am just amazed at what very little money got me in this order.

That's great to hear! That is exactly why I started this thread, so we could all benefit from each other. Based on things everyone has said, I have made myself a "To Do" list.

 

[zerotreedelta]

I used a Rostra - fairly common aftermarket cruise module. I ended up making a new housing for the speed sensor by combining it with a speedo calibration gearing adapter...but you can also do a driveshaft magnet sensor.

I also did a bit of extra legwork to make an old wiper switch into the "buttons" for set/resume - but I wanted it to be "hidden"/look OEM. Definitely optional.

Control unit:

Amazon.com

Sensor:

Amazon.com

I remembered there's a full thread on the install, fwiw:

Stealth Rostra Cruise Control Install

Picked up a Rostra cruise control kit a while ago, as the 40 goes on a fair amount of longer trips and cruise is one of "modern" things I missed. Definitely a "nice to have", but my right leg does have a cranky nerve that gets aggravated when sitting in one place like that, so cruise helps...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[FloridaLife]

I remembered there's a full thread on the install, fwiw:

Stealth Rostra Cruise Control Install

Picked up a Rostra cruise control kit a while ago, as the 40 goes on a fair amount of longer trips and cruise is one of "modern" things I missed. Definitely a "nice to have", but my right leg does have a cranky nerve that gets aggravated when sitting in one place like that, so cruise helps...

forum.ih8mud.com

Fantastic!!! Someday after the financial shock of getting this rig painted and up & running numbs a bit, I'd definitely like to add fuel injection and cruise control. I'm going to wait and see if my hips and back can handle the clutching and shifting first, because if not I'll have to do an LS swap to get an automatic transmission. If I do that, the LS would would sure have injection (and a tiny bit more power).

 

[FloridaLife]

@Shark56

SHOUT OUT to Shark56! AMAZING guy! Not only did he give his opinion on his Best FJ40 Upgrade, EPS (Electric Power Steering), but since he has done 3 of them he has not only been a wealth of knowledge on EPM's, but he has been patient and generous as I have asked him a TON of questions! It is because of Shark56 that I feel confident embarking on my Electronic Power Steering Conversion project. With that said, that does NOT mean for everyone out there to bug him if you have a question. I would much prefer you bug me. "IF" I have steady enough hands, or can find someone to tag along and document, maybe I can do an easy step by step video.

Point being... Hats off to @Shark56 ! He is "The Man" !

Thank you!

 

[Shark56]

@Shark56

SHOUT OUT to Shark56! AMAZING guy! Not only did he give his opinion on his Best FJ40 Upgrade, EPS (Electric Power Steering), but since he has done 3 of them he has not only been a wealth of knowledge on PM's, but he has been patient and generous as I have asked him a TON of questions! It is because of Shark56 that I feel confident embarking on my Electronic Power Steering Conversion project. With that said, that does NOT mean for everyone out there to bug him if you have a question. I would much prefer you bug me. "IF" I have steady enough hands, or can find someone to tag along and document, maybe I can do an easy step by step video.

Point being... Hats off to @Shark56 ! He is "The Man" !

Thank you!

Thanks for that. Glad I can give a little assistance. I sure have gleened a lot of help from the forum over the years. Glad I could give back a little.

 

[knuckle47]

That trip from DE to FL wont take you too long…
Actually, it’s always great to have someone guide you thru something and you can bounce some unknowns off of

 

[Fj40owen]

Another vote for power steering. I sourced oem 40 parts and did it in a day or so.

Here is a video for anyone interested.

 

[FloridaLife]

Another vote for power steering. I sourced oem 40 parts and did it in a day or so.

Here is a video for anyone interested.

Thank you for sharing. My hope is that this thread gives others ideas, and inspires.

 

[knuckle47]

@Fj40owen … so this is you? I saw the actual post months ago on Tic-Toc and was very intrigued by it…nice job!

I thought it was Instagram…I don’t know much about social media stuff. If something says FJ40….i watch it