Mini Truck power steering

[Aussiepat]

Hi Guys.
For the benefit of my ignorance I have read a lot of guy's using "mini truck" power boxes in the Fj4XX, just starting a resto on a 5/75 Fj what is this Mini truck ?..
down here in Aus we have the hilux/forerunner is this the mini truck's ?? described..
I'd appreciate some info if possible

Cheers
Aussie Pat
Queensland

 

[alkarich]

Have you tried the link below. Here in the States you're current Hilux is the same as our Tacoma. How far back does the Hilux name go in the Aus line?

US part number is 4411035032 ('84 4Runner PS Gearbox)

Hopefully you can just run the number above to get a list of vehicles that used it in Aus.



Mini truck/OEM Power Steering info

 

[alkarich]

I'll try that again. Here try this link:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/65318-my-min-truck-power-sterring-install.html

 

[Aussiepat]

Mini truck P/Steering

Hi Alkarich

Thanks for the education the hilux goes back to approx mid -> late 70's, hilux 4x4 truck (called a ute here in Aus) Now this answers some questions and i can start chasing parts locally I hope.. If not the part no's on the link i could source via the US..

Cheers and thanks

Pat S

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Just to clarify: The Hilux is the same as the mini-truck. Go get a Hilux PS box. You should be able to use anything with PS from 79-95 as far as I know. If the box looks like the mini-truck PS boxes you see on here, then you're good to go (yours will be RHD though).

You should have a MUCH easier time finding the PS box in Australia than the US. The mini-trucks here were made for only a few years with solid axles, whereas the Hilux line available to you kept the solid axle for nearly a decade longer.

Dan

 

[Volcano cruiser]

Have you tried the link below. Here in the States you're current Hilux is the same as our Tacoma. How far back does the Hilux name go in the Aus line?

US part number is 4411035032 ('84 4Runner PS Gearbox)

Hopefully you can just run the number above to get a list of vehicles that used it in Aus.



Mini truck/OEM Power Steering info

Just to clarify: The Hilux is the same as the mini-truck. Go get a Hilux PS box. You should be able to use anything with PS from 79-95 as far as I know. If the box looks like the mini-truck PS boxes you see on here, then you're good to go (yours will be RHD though).

You should have a MUCH easier time finding the PS box in Australia than the US. The mini-trucks here were made for only a few years with solid axles, whereas the Hilux line available to you kept the solid axle for nearly a decade longer.

Dan

Dan, et al,
While I'm hanging out waiting for electrical parts to arrive I was talking to the owner of the shop that I wanted to do the ps mod. He says that they use ps set up from a 95 hilux to go into 40 series rigs here.
Just to clarify the hilux/4runner are the same as the mini truck steering setup right? Are the 79 - 95 hilux 4 runner setups materially different from the 95 - 2000 hilux 4 runner and later set ups?
The debate has always been that if you wheel much or run tires bigger than 33s you should go with the "stronger" 60 setup. If you are more of a highway /DD/ weekend wheeler then mini truck setup is for you. For the folks running the hilux/4runner/mini truck setup do you find the above mud lore to be true? I haven't driven anything with this set up but my observations are that my mechanic wheels his 2000 4 runner with ps and 35 Creepy Crawlers lsd rear, lockrite up front hard and loves it. The guy who does the hilux ps swaps into 40s basically runs his own off road team of 40's, some basicly truggies and all wheeled hard, everyone smiling all the way to the top of the volcanos hence I am confused and looking to hear from you guys. Thanks alot. (possible collateral hijack over)
John

 

[Pin_Head]

You need a box from a Toyota 4x4 truck with a solid front axle (non-independent front suspension). In the US that was '79-85. I have never seen one in OZ even though there are plenty of utes.

 

[fjwagon]

Just want to add, If you get a 4x4 83-85 ps gearbox as a donor, and get a fj40 casing, you should be able to convert it over to oem. They are identical to each other except the geometry is different. Just another option to think about.

 

[fjwagon]

The 79-83 or so, the return line is a smaller diameter compared to the 83-85 ones. They both work but I perfer the one with a bigger diameter return line. Just saying.

You need a box from a Toyota 4x4 truck with a solid front axle (non-independent front suspension). In the US that was '79-85. I have never seen one in OZ even though there are plenty of utes.

 

[Volcano cruiser]

You need a box from a Toyota 4x4 truck with a solid front axle (non-independent front suspension). In the US that was '79-85. I have never seen one in OZ even though there are plenty of utes.

Yeah, from what I've been able to read it looks like non US market Hilux/4runner/surf changed over from solid front axle to IFS at about the same time in 85 although the pickups produced outside of the U.S. may have retained a solid axle 4x4 line for some time still:
"In 1986, all American-market Toyota pickup trucks (and the 4Runner) underwent a major design change as the suspension was changed from a solid front axle to an independent front suspension. Track width was also increased by two inches. These changes made the trucks more comfortable on-road, and improved stability and handling. However, this change arguably decreased the truck's off-road capabilities. Outside the US, the Hilux Surf (similar to the 4Runner) also gained the new independent suspension design, marketed as Hi-Trac. The pickups in those markets retained the more rugged and capable, if less refined, solid axle configuration." Toyota 4Runner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As such, if I understand you correctly and assuming the historical sources cited in the wiki are correct, it maybe possible to use a ps setup from a post 85 non-U.S.Hilux pickup IF it came with a solid front axle package?

Last, all of this begs the basic question of what is the difference between the ps box on a solid front axle vehicle and the ps box on an IFS equipped vehicle such that one can not use a ps box from an IFS equipped vehicle in 40 series cruiser?
Thanks,
John

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Last, all of this begs the basic question of what is the difference between the ps box on a solid front axle vehicle and the ps box on an IFS equipped vehicle such that one can not use a ps box from an IFS equipped vehicle in 40 series cruiser?

TOTALLY different beasts. The IFS box is similar to the 60 series, as it were (but certainly not just like it). The IFS box is, however, useful for installing crossover steering into a solid axle mini-truck, or is the "correct" thing to use when converting an IFS truck to solid axle. I'll see if I can snap some pics tomorrow up at the shop....

I've got an IFS truck, an OEM PS 40, and a mini PS box all sitting there.

Dan

 

[Blue77FJ40]

Pat, depending on how hard you plan to use the steering, e.g., tires larger than 33", low geared rock rockcrawling, etc, you may want to move up to the FJ60/62 box. I have the mini truck setup with 33s, do some low geared rockcrawling and many times wish for a stronger PS box. I will be installing a FJ60/62 box at some point soon.

If none of that is your bag, then the mini truck setup will work great for you. For box and a saginaw pump mount, I had good luck with Bill Dorry's brackets, made here in the US. He has a site that you can see his brackets at http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/wdorry/my_photos

Mark's Offroad also has a pump mount that mounts on the engine where the smog pump goes passenger side (for you). Bill Dorry's mini truck box mount is the best that I have seen.

Good luck. I did it myself with a little assist from a friend, why not give it a go yourself? Just research until you have all the info that you need.

It's a good bet that Oz has its own brand of manufacturers for these brackets too, no? Good luck.

Edit: just tried the link - no workie. Bill may have moved his pics. You may want to contact Bill here as he is a member of mud.

 

[Pin_Head]

Just from looking at them, the mini box and the FJ60 box look pretty much the same except for their mounting. It looks like they may even share internal hydraulic components. Are you sure that the 60 box is "stronger".

 

[Blue77FJ40]

I wheel with cruisers using the FJ60 box, and they can move their rigs side to side as their wheels turn, while in the same/similar spot, mine just whines and won't budge my wheels. I even went with a sheeve/pulley setup to return to a wide fan belt to stop the slipping I was getting from the narrow belt/pulley. My mini box is dry and tight w/low mileage. It may be due in part to the extra linkage that the stock '40 steering has to contend with, but yeah, I think that they put out more power than the mini box. Don't know how to confirm that scientifically/mechanically. Saginaw is def stronger, perhaps even the Scout box as well...