Power steering install issues on my 1978 FJ40 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter 78fj40mg
- Start date
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I forgot I was driving my 40 today
snapped some pics.....there is tons of clearence between the hose and belt
snapped some pics.....there is tons of clearence between the hose and belt
your correct, I guess I had not read all of the tread yet.
maybe just the hose would be enough? but now that I look at it, the latter houseing sticks up higher as well
I am going to run into this on my 78 I had planed on doing PS on......oddly its a very late 78 with no holes in the block for the pump bracket
maybe just the hose would be enough? but now that I look at it, the latter houseing sticks up higher as well
I am going to run into this on my 78 I had planed on doing PS on......oddly its a very late 78 with no holes in the block for the pump bracket
looks like its time for a new belt
I have one(3 actaully of that part #) hanging on the shelf.....it will be going on this week.
looks like its time for a new belt
orangefj45
Supporting Vendor
Did the pulley arrive? Did that take care of the problem?
Georg @ Valley Hybrids
Georg @ Valley Hybrids
78fj40mg
TLCA #23510
- Thread starter
- #107
Finally got around to removing the old steering gear box and mounting bracket by cutting off the rivet heads drilling and pounding the remainder of rivets using a rebar with one end shaped into pencil point as recommended by Danny pngunme the removal process was easy although tedious. Thanks Danny!
Then I installed the new bracket and new PS gear box
I purchased the PS bracket from Georg orangefj45 and fits nicely on the frame rail, thanks Georg!
I used the existing mounting holes on the frame rail from old steering bracket to install the new bracket, perfect fit!
Upon completion of installing the PS box I noticed the PS shaft doesn't line up with the steering column shaft, what did I do wrong?
I tried to align the two shafts to no avail
Does anyone see where I failed in the installation process?
Vertically it aligns well, however, horizontally it is off by +/- one inch
Please help me figure this anomaly out,
I appreciate all your input in advance!
Then I installed the new bracket and new PS gear box
I purchased the PS bracket from Georg orangefj45 and fits nicely on the frame rail, thanks Georg!
I used the existing mounting holes on the frame rail from old steering bracket to install the new bracket, perfect fit!
Upon completion of installing the PS box I noticed the PS shaft doesn't line up with the steering column shaft, what did I do wrong?
I tried to align the two shafts to no avail
Does anyone see where I failed in the installation process?
Vertically it aligns well, however, horizontally it is off by +/- one inch
Please help me figure this anomaly out,
I appreciate all your input in advance!
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Mike - Its not a failure until you quit trying to solve the problem. Its just an obstacle to overcome.
You might consider a Borgeson "DD Steering U Joint" ... Glen had to remove the steering column and cut off the factory rag joint. Then drilled the column, he installed a grade 8 bolts, I had it tack welded back for extra support. He also installed a lower steering column bearing on the firewall to stabilize the column due to the universal joint. Works like a charm for me. HTH
You might consider a Borgeson "DD Steering U Joint" ... Glen had to remove the steering column and cut off the factory rag joint. Then drilled the column, he installed a grade 8 bolts, I had it tack welded back for extra support. He also installed a lower steering column bearing on the firewall to stabilize the column due to the universal joint. Works like a charm for me. HTH
orangefj45
Supporting Vendor
Exactly. You're dealing with a 40+ year old vehicle ....... a little patience will go a very long way. There's no need to get frustrated and throw in the towel.
I deal with this stuff every day.
There are numerous reasons why the shaft might not line up. Usually it's collapsed or improper body mounts or a bent frame. So I would start by checking the body mounts.
Unless you're the original owner of the cruiser, you'll never know it's entire history. It may have been in some sort of accident and the frame might not be square anymore.
Either way, it's not the end of the world.
You can always cut a slightly larger hole in the firewall "cup" and use a u-joint. We've had to do so a couple of times. But we've installed a lot of these setups without any alignment issues.
Take a deep breath. Inspect things closer and make it happen.
Georg @ Valley Hybrids
I deal with this stuff every day.
There are numerous reasons why the shaft might not line up. Usually it's collapsed or improper body mounts or a bent frame. So I would start by checking the body mounts.
Unless you're the original owner of the cruiser, you'll never know it's entire history. It may have been in some sort of accident and the frame might not be square anymore.
Either way, it's not the end of the world.
You can always cut a slightly larger hole in the firewall "cup" and use a u-joint. We've had to do so a couple of times. But we've installed a lot of these setups without any alignment issues.
Take a deep breath. Inspect things closer and make it happen.
Georg @ Valley Hybrids
78fj40mg
TLCA #23510
- Thread starter
- #110
Erik, that looks like a great solution! Did you encounter the same misalignment issue with your install? Others have used the same setup as mine with great results, so now I'm wondering if I messed up somewhere along the install, I don't know if I need to drill new holes in order to align the shafts, however, there's no room on the bracket to move the PS box to a more aligned location. It's only a one inch difference but the rag joint will not allow it.
78fj40mg
TLCA #23510
- Thread starter
- #111
Georg, thanks for your valuable input! I'm not frustrated yet, just trying to figure things out. The body mounts are spot on all around the rig, the frames appears to be true as well just by eye balling it. I think Murphy's law has kicked in with this mod but not sure as yet.
orangefj45
Supporting Vendor
Murphy has a destinct affinity for you Mike!!!!!
I'm not sure the bracket I had was as nice / thick as the one you got from George :
Glen @lextechautomotive handled my conversion for me.... a bit more than I wanted to have to figure out - so my hat is off to you, Sir! He elected to use a bushing on the firewall to secure the shaft bottom of the column so that the steering wheel stayed parallel to the dash, and I didn't drive down the road with an offset steering wheel. I was happy with his recommendation. Check your alignments, the steering wheel mounts, etc.... The Borgeson universal joint was $150 - but it made for a 'bolt on type of fix.' Check some build threads out and see what others have done, maybe a search for 'PS column alignment' also.
Stumpalama
Forum Junkie
Is there room to redrill the holes more inboard on the pedestal?? How does the new mount compare to the stock mount as far as hole alignment? I understand the angle and distance may be different, but the relationship of the holes should be similar...maybe?
orangefj45
Supporting Vendor
I just looked at the pics again. When I checked them out earlier ( and responded ) I was looking at them on my phone. Now I'm using a bigger screen and I'd have to say that's the worst mis-alignment I've seen. It's somewhat perplexing since the cruiser supposedly has good body mounts and hadn't been in an accident....... Along with the fact that vertically it looks just about perfect.
Mike, could you try yo install the pitman arm and relay rid to see how much clearance you gave between them and the frame? That should help narrow things down.
Hth
Georg @ Valley Hybrids
Mike, could you try yo install the pitman arm and relay rid to see how much clearance you gave between them and the frame? That should help narrow things down.
Hth
Georg @ Valley Hybrids
78fj40mg
TLCA #23510
- Thread starter
- #116
It turned out to be a simple fix after repositioning the PS Box a few times, all it took to properly align the box were two 1/16th inch washers as depicted in pics below.
The PS box shaft is now in perfect alignment with the steering wheel column
Installed the pitman arm temporarily to check for interferences
The relay rod is now a bit closer to the frame rail, however, with a few adjustments it should fine
The relay rod appears to happy with the new pedestal bracket and PS box, however, I noticed some interference with the two lower bolts which come in contact with the relay rod, I'll trim the bolts and that should solve the problem.
Next I'll remove all the PS system components for painting and then final re-assembly.
The PS box shaft is now in perfect alignment with the steering wheel column
Installed the pitman arm temporarily to check for interferences
The relay rod is now a bit closer to the frame rail, however, with a few adjustments it should fine
The relay rod appears to happy with the new pedestal bracket and PS box, however, I noticed some interference with the two lower bolts which come in contact with the relay rod, I'll trim the bolts and that should solve the problem.
Next I'll remove all the PS system components for painting and then final re-assembly.
GA Architect
SILVER Star
Question: How did adding 1/16" washers under the left (to the photo) two bolt holes on the mounting plate shift the PS box to the right (to the photo)?
Original:
The Fix?
Final product?
If it works, Kudos!
Original:
The Fix?
Final product?
If it works, Kudos!
Stumpalama
Forum Junkie
Good problem solving! Can you feed the bolts in from the outside with the nuts on the inside? Then you won't have to cut the bolts and the bolt head is still probably lower profile than the nut.
Stumpalama
Forum Junkie
The box as tilted down and to the left, I suspect. The shims canted the left side up and to the right just the right amount.
78fj40mg
TLCA #23510
- Thread starter
- #120
Question: How did adding 1/16" washers under the left (to the photo) two bolt holes on the mounting plate shift the PS box to the right (to the photo)?
Original:
The Fix?
Final product?
If it works, Kudos!
GAA, the washers actually changed the angle of the box which had a very short pivot point on the box mounting plate and that was enough to re-align the PS box, I was amazed as well. I may need to tweak it a bit more during the final installation and adjustment period, but now I know the trick. I was really determined to fix it as inexpensively as possible and I didn't want to spring another couple of hundred $$$ to buy a double steering U-joint and also a bearing bushing for the bottom of the steering column since I had recently purchased a brand new rag joint.
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