OEM Power Steering vs. Saginaw

[christianleeboy]

I have a 78 FJ40 with manual steering and I am looking to invest in a power steering system. Currently,I am looking at a factory OEM power steering system and saginaw... which system should I spend my money on? My babe sees moderate trails and rocks once or twice a month and it's been a daily driver. Is the factory p/s reliable/ trustable? Or should I go for saginaw system? By the way, I will be putting on a 4" reverse shackle OME lift over this coming holiday break along with 33"X11.5X15's~ please advise?


thx.


chris

 

[watrob]

It's a matter of whether you want to keep your FJ original or not. Your certainetly not going oversize on the wheels.

Also is the motor a 2F or have you done a V8 engine change, this will determine whether the oem PS box will fit or not or how hard the saginaw will be to install. The oem install is the easiest, just need to cut 30mm off the steering shaft as the oem PS box is a little bigger.

If your ok with welding and fabrication work for the steering shaft etc then the saginaw is OK, a little more labour intensive, there are plenty of threads for this install.

Rob

 

[Moe R]

OEM would be a nice addition to ur rig depending on what watrob said. As for relailability, mine is going strong after 24 years

 

[watrob]

OEM would be a nice addition to ur rig depending on what watrob said. As for relailability, mine is going strong after 24 years

Yeh, 2x

Rob

 

['74 UA FJ]

I like saginaw better. Easier to turn and a lot fewer rod ends.

 

[3_puppies]

on your 78 the block isn't drilled to mount the pump bracket?? that being said, I run 31's on my 1980 with factory PS and no problems at all.

 

[christianleeboy]

Thanks for the inputs guys! My rig is a 2F with 4" lift running on 33" tires. It sounds like the OEM power Steering system is quite reliable. Is the OEM p/s system parts easy to come by with?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I love OEM stuff, but the nod goes to Saginaw here. It's cheaper, more powerful, more available, and replacements are available at any Napa anywhere. The steering linkage is standard crossover without the silliness of the OEM FJ40 steering with rods, linkages and other sources of slop.

If you want to do OEM, I would mount an FJ60 box and do cross over steering with that. That also makes a clean swap.

 

[Landpimp]

as much as I love my OEM PS on my 82....which is on 33x9.5s but I dont wheel it(no crap please) For your use I would say Saginaw, but I have seen some conversions that drive horible(to twichy on the road)...it has to be done right and if done right its nice.

for a stocker(or close to it) OEM is the way to go.

to do OEM PS you looking at I suspect 1K-ish and as others said your 78 block will not take the PS pump(no holes for it to mount) but it can be done.

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Search for threads on the "mini-truck" PS conversion. The gearbox used is Toyota, and is very similar to the OE 40 Series PS gearbox.

For the PS pump, there is a bracket available that will allow you to use the common "Saginaw" pump with a 2F engine.

Good luck with the project - you will not regret it!

Regards,

Alan

 

[badass]

If i was to do it again and i had the funds and resources and time and second vehicle, i'd go saginaw. In my case, no funds, no resources, no time, and no second vehicle, i went mini truck, but it squeals alot on the trails aired down to 10 psi with 35x12.5

 

[Toyo FJ40]

I have OEM on my 74 with a 4" lift running 35" with no problem.(OEM from a 79) That being said there is an issue with the steering rod hitting the shock on lifted 40s with OEM.


Kevin

 

[Cornbread]

I thought i might chime in here. I have a 78 with the same Old Man Emu suspension you are going to put on. If your putting on the reverse shackle up front and are welding it on there, then you may as with go with saginaw. I did and it is a snap. I got the steering linkage and plates from cruiser outfitters and the tie rod from advanced adapters. Like others have said, by going saginaw you get to eliminate tie rods ends and it can be alot cheaper.

 

[Oregon Smurf]

Just put Saganaw on my '78. All parts were readly accessable from catalogs and the local goody yard. The installation was easy with a good welder, and we kept the stock steering wheel so it looked great. The only issues to think about as the box is put in are clearences and boxing the frame. We boxed the frame all the way out the front, about one foot out the back of the box, and we drilled a hole in the cross member, not notched, and boxed the cross member also. The Saganaw box will develop a lot of torque off road, so install accordingly. After it was all said and done I'd do it again in a minute. If you need any references for parts ect. I'm here.Oregon Smurf

 

[Python]

I have a 78 FJ40. It had a 2F in it and I converted to power steering using a steering box, pump and reservoir from an '85 mini-truck and a steering box bracket that I purchased. The pump bracket was modified to fit where the OEM smog pump was located. The only other component I added was a small tranny cooler because the steering box mounted so close to the Downey header.

While I was doing a shackle reversal and other steering mods I switched to a Saginaw setup.

The OEM Toyota setup worked flawlessly and would bolt right up to your rig (unless you have a smog pump). And it's for sale.

 

[mustardfj40]

I originally converted to the mini-truck PS which is very closed to the OEM setup...I used all new OEM parts yet can't get rid of play in the system, I was running 33x12.5 with 3.5 OME lift...When I did the spring-over I went with Saginaw and I am more happy with the Saginaw setup.

So my 2 cents: if stock and simplicity is big to you...go with OEM...But if wheeling with 35"+ tires is in your future..Go with Saginaw.

 

[Pin_Head]

I was pretty happy with 33s and mini truck PS for about 7 years, but with 35s, it isn't cutting it.

 

[LOOMER]

What about classic cruisers p/s kit. Supposed to be a good set up and from what i understand it is all bolt on.

 

[PabloCruise]

IMHO, 60 series PS is a nice comprimise - not stock, but factory Toyota pieces are in use.

I love my 60 series conversion.

My '78 is a Sept '77 build, so my block was not tapped for PS pump.

If you have a late '78, your block may already be tapped.

If you want to read more about my 60 series PS convert, click the link in my sig...

Good Luck,

 

[cyrilward]

X5^2 on 60 conversion Doing this keeps your rig toyota and avoids hacking into your frame also the performance/ handleling is remarkable