finding steering shaft for 1980 BJ40

[dohenyboy]

Hello, I found this forum and with much ignorance request some illumination. I have a 1980 BJ40 I got from someone in Costa Rica, and they converted it to power steering. Not sure what conversion they did. Its one where there is a plate welded on the frame and the PS unit is bolted on with three bolts, two below and one higher. However, my immediate problem is sourcing new shafts. They look like the drawiing in this Max Ellery repair manual which says the drawing applies to FJ40 and I would think its the same.
There is no rag joint. The U joint at the steering box end of the "intermediate shaft" seems to have frozen on one axis. This put excessive side load on the U joint at the lower end of the main shaft (the one which attaches to the steeriing wheel, and the U joint broke apart (fortunately while I was on a straight road). So, i need to buy new shafts or maybe the U joints which someone could weld on. Where can I find some? have looked online without result.
Your help is very much appreciated. By the way, the intermediate shaft looked like it was 3/4" shorter than it should be--did not go very far into the spline of the main shaft.

 

[dohenyboy]

The power steering unit, has a big "Z" cast in it, the lower u joint (sorry bad photo) and the upper one which broke

I found the answer at this post, grateful.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/my-saginaw-power-steering-swap.273969/#post-4259626

 

[35inchoverdrive]

...tough to tell from the pictures, but if you get some basic specs on what you need, you can put together something safe from the "universal joints" and "shafts and supports" sections from Borgeson's catalog @ http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/catalog/index

 

[dohenyboy]

I found the reason for the fail. The lower u joint was not installed properly. The shaft was installed too close in, so that the u joint only worked in one direction. So in the other direction, there was a sideways load on the upper u joint which lead to its failure. Note the welds. This was done by a company selling on ebay as dieselcruiserimports1 and the people who own it are named Atencio. If you bought a vehicle from them with a power steering conversion, I urge you to get yours checked out now so you do not have it break on you as drive down the road.

 

[lostmarbles]

Good move to warn others..

That power steering conversion was definitely POTENTIALLY LETHAL (for you and for all other road users that have ever travelled near you)!

I think if that standard of work occurred in this country, the authorities would be tracking down every single vehicle they've worked on to pink-sticker them (so they're not allowed back on the road until they've passed a thorough inspection). .... Well I certainly hope so anyway..

Apart from that, I'm pretty sure that prior to failure of that U/J, any of this country's authorised 6-monthly inspection sites would have instantly impounded your vehicle..

 

[Cruiser Innovations]

I would suggest contacting Summit Racing. I source all of my Universal joints and steering shafts from them:
You will need to know the spline count on your steering box, and what style shaft you have on your steering column. If the colmn was converted to a GM tilt column then you will need to know if it is a splined shaft / spline count and diameter or if it is a DD rod / diameter. The stock toyota column will need to be modified with a lower carrier bearing if it hasn't been already. You can then weld on a DD or splined shaft with a outter sleeve... I'll post photos.
Summit can also supply you with DD steering shafts in various lengths. Your universal joints will need to fit your center steering shaft, and the outter joints fit the steering box spline count and your steering column shaft demensions. Hope this helps... These photos are of a GM column setup

 

[Cruiser Innovations]

This photo shows the carrier bearing fabricated to the base of the OEM cruiser column. The OEM steering shaft has been sleeved with DOM tubing and a DD rod welded to the base... Just one of a million options out there to solve your issue... Best of luck