Does anyone know a reputable person around Houston, TX who could install power steering in my 83" BJ42?
Thanks
Thanks
Power Steering install Houston, Tx area
- Thread starter DieselCruiser81
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I've had good experiences taking my FJ40 to Javier's Autos (AKA gulf coast crawl shop) on the west side of town near I-10 and Beltway 8. Both of my visits were for fuel system work, not power steering, but as I'm sure others on IH8MUD will also confirm he's one of, if not the most, knowledgeable land cruiser mechanic in town. He consistently seems to be busy though, and so it might take him some time to get to you. In my case my FJ40 sat on his back burner for 2-3 weeks before he got to it, which wasn't a big deal since its not my daily driver.
I'm sure he'll also be able to recommend a power steering setup if you're not sure which one you prefer (e.g., FJ60, saginaw or mini truck style conversion).
I'm sure he'll also be able to recommend a power steering setup if you're not sure which one you prefer (e.g., FJ60, saginaw or mini truck style conversion).
- Thread starter
- #3
Navarch, thanks for the help. I talked to Javier and he thinks he can do it. Any recomendations on which setup to go with?
No problem! The IH8MUD community has been such a great help to me as I've learned about my FJ40 that I'm happy to finally start giving something back. It's been a couple of years since I researched the various options (I had no experience with any of them at the time), but here is how I remember summarizing the multitude of posts here on IH8MUD to myself:
- If you want the most robust setup, particularly the steering power to run tires >33", and don't mind frame modifications (cutting a hole in the forward cross member and welding a new backing plate to the front left frame rail) and don't mind a non "stock" setup then saginaw is the way to go.
- If you want as stock as possible (at least for years like mine that did not come with power steering from the factory), robustness is not a priority, and don't mind spending $$$ on Toyota parts, then the late model FJ40 or FJ60 conversion is the way to go.
- If you want the most economical solution in terms of both parts and labor, don't mind a lack of turning power with larger tires, and don't mind a not-fully-Toyota setup, then the Toyota mini truck conversion is the way to go.
I've listed these in order of how I perceived cost, from highest to lowest, but I suppose it depends on who performs the labor and where you can find parts. There are other considerations such as number of steering wheel rotations to full turn, but I forget them now.
I ended up going with the mini truck conversion for the following reasons:
- Although I have 33" tires I do not intend to ever to "serious" wheeling. I bought my FJ40 for errands around town, backcountry roads, and moderate camping access - not to do the rubicon trail.
- I felt comfortable installing it myself, even given my wrenching inexperience.
- It was economical
- Although I did not have a clear vision for what I wanted to do with my FJ40, and briefly considered something as extreme as a diesel conversion resto-mod, I was not comfortable with the frame modifications required for the saginaw conversion.
I bought a conversion kit from IH8MUD member and supporting vendor orangeFJ45 who was very helpful and sent everything over very promptly.
I have no regrets. It steers well and I have never experienced any lack of steering power. That brings us to today: I've come to realize that, despite my ignorance, I ended up buying an FJ40 that was relatively unmolested and I've decided that I want to keep it that way. I've also reached the limits of what I can do to restore it myself (at least with the time and space that I currently have available) and so I'll be sending it to a shop in Colorado in May for the remainder of the restoration. Since I'll be spending some $$$ to make it as good as new (hopefully), I'll have the shop swap out my conversion for the late FJ40 / FJ60 setup. I do not expect and difference in steering performance, I just want an as-Toyota-as-possible setup that will be consistent with the rest of the restoration.
I hope this helps, but please let me know if you have any other questions.
- If you want the most robust setup, particularly the steering power to run tires >33", and don't mind frame modifications (cutting a hole in the forward cross member and welding a new backing plate to the front left frame rail) and don't mind a non "stock" setup then saginaw is the way to go.
- If you want as stock as possible (at least for years like mine that did not come with power steering from the factory), robustness is not a priority, and don't mind spending $$$ on Toyota parts, then the late model FJ40 or FJ60 conversion is the way to go.
- If you want the most economical solution in terms of both parts and labor, don't mind a lack of turning power with larger tires, and don't mind a not-fully-Toyota setup, then the Toyota mini truck conversion is the way to go.
I've listed these in order of how I perceived cost, from highest to lowest, but I suppose it depends on who performs the labor and where you can find parts. There are other considerations such as number of steering wheel rotations to full turn, but I forget them now.
I ended up going with the mini truck conversion for the following reasons:
- Although I have 33" tires I do not intend to ever to "serious" wheeling. I bought my FJ40 for errands around town, backcountry roads, and moderate camping access - not to do the rubicon trail.
- I felt comfortable installing it myself, even given my wrenching inexperience.
- It was economical
- Although I did not have a clear vision for what I wanted to do with my FJ40, and briefly considered something as extreme as a diesel conversion resto-mod, I was not comfortable with the frame modifications required for the saginaw conversion.
I bought a conversion kit from IH8MUD member and supporting vendor orangeFJ45 who was very helpful and sent everything over very promptly.
I have no regrets. It steers well and I have never experienced any lack of steering power. That brings us to today: I've come to realize that, despite my ignorance, I ended up buying an FJ40 that was relatively unmolested and I've decided that I want to keep it that way. I've also reached the limits of what I can do to restore it myself (at least with the time and space that I currently have available) and so I'll be sending it to a shop in Colorado in May for the remainder of the restoration. Since I'll be spending some $$$ to make it as good as new (hopefully), I'll have the shop swap out my conversion for the late FJ40 / FJ60 setup. I do not expect and difference in steering performance, I just want an as-Toyota-as-possible setup that will be consistent with the rest of the restoration.
I hope this helps, but please let me know if you have any other questions.
- Thread starter
- #5
Navarch,
That's a tremendous help. I might look at going with a mini truck power steering setup myself. Who did you buy yours from and what was the price?
Thanks again
That's a tremendous help. I might look at going with a mini truck power steering setup myself. Who did you buy yours from and what was the price?
Thanks again
If I recall correctly, the kit I bought from orangeFJ45 cost around $500 and included:
- re-manufactured saginaw pump (not to be confused with the saginaw steering box for which the "saginaw conversion" is commonly referred to)
- pump pulley
- bracket & hardware to mount the pump on the engine
- pump drive belt
- high & low pressures hoses
- used Toyota mini truck steering box
- bracket & hardware to mount the box to the frame in place of the stock pedestal.
The last item positions the box so that no modifications are required to either the steering column or pitman arm. Plug & play is a bit of an overstatement, but it comes close.
I then sent the used mini truck steering box plus ~$300 to an outfit called Lares Corporation (steering part specialists for a wide range of makes & models). They used the one I provided as a core and, upon receipt, promptly sent me back a freshly rebuilt mini truck box.
I'm not sure what Javier would charge for labor. It was my first "real" wrenching project and I think that it took me a full weekend, the most time consuming part being the removal of the rivets that secured the original steering box pedestal to the frame. I'm sure that they could do it faster (as I hope I could do with the benefit of hindsight). Perhaps a day or less of shop time?
I was then able to get the various steering rods dialed in enough to be comfortable with driving it at 40 mph or less, then went straight to a neighborhood shop (but not Javier's) for a proper alignment. This might've cost ~$200
So in my case it was ~$800 in parts and ~$200 in professional labor. Plus the cost of beer since I remember it being hot. I think that parts might end up costing you more though. The pump mounting bracket I bought is an aftermarket solution designed to mount the pump off of a stock FJ40 2F engine block using the bolt holes originally used for the smog pump (AKA air pump which I removed during the conversion). I'm not familiar with your diesel but I suspect that you'll pay a rarity premium depending on which pump you use and how easily it can be mounted to and driven from your engine.
- re-manufactured saginaw pump (not to be confused with the saginaw steering box for which the "saginaw conversion" is commonly referred to)
- pump pulley
- bracket & hardware to mount the pump on the engine
- pump drive belt
- high & low pressures hoses
- used Toyota mini truck steering box
- bracket & hardware to mount the box to the frame in place of the stock pedestal.
The last item positions the box so that no modifications are required to either the steering column or pitman arm. Plug & play is a bit of an overstatement, but it comes close.
I then sent the used mini truck steering box plus ~$300 to an outfit called Lares Corporation (steering part specialists for a wide range of makes & models). They used the one I provided as a core and, upon receipt, promptly sent me back a freshly rebuilt mini truck box.
I'm not sure what Javier would charge for labor. It was my first "real" wrenching project and I think that it took me a full weekend, the most time consuming part being the removal of the rivets that secured the original steering box pedestal to the frame. I'm sure that they could do it faster (as I hope I could do with the benefit of hindsight). Perhaps a day or less of shop time?
I was then able to get the various steering rods dialed in enough to be comfortable with driving it at 40 mph or less, then went straight to a neighborhood shop (but not Javier's) for a proper alignment. This might've cost ~$200
So in my case it was ~$800 in parts and ~$200 in professional labor. Plus the cost of beer since I remember it being hot. I think that parts might end up costing you more though. The pump mounting bracket I bought is an aftermarket solution designed to mount the pump off of a stock FJ40 2F engine block using the bolt holes originally used for the smog pump (AKA air pump which I removed during the conversion). I'm not familiar with your diesel but I suspect that you'll pay a rarity premium depending on which pump you use and how easily it can be mounted to and driven from your engine.