Project Wrong Way Saginaw Power Steering Install

[BenjaminCA]

I should note, the FJ40 Saginaw power steering install is being done by the opposite of a professional. In every way possible. You may have some criticisms and feedback, please let them fly. Even if I don’t do it, someone else will find it helpful information. With that, here is part one…

 

[TreadingLight]

I'm looking forward to watching this. I hope to do this to my crawler project, with the added challenge of shoehorning the steering shaft around the 1hz.

 

[BenjaminCA]

I'm looking forward to watching this. I hope to do this to my crawler project, with the added challenge of shoehorning the steering shaft around the 1hz.

Oh that’s a rad swap. Not much room for steering stuff there?

 

[TreadingLight]

It is going to be super tight based on the 1hz swaps I've looked at.

Enjoyed the vid. Looking forward to the next installment.

 

[BenjaminCA]

If it looks like I'm making progress, don't worry I'm not. In this episode I manage to cut two holes, and lift up the power steering box and set it down again 69 times... give or take. Ran into some fitment issues, but we shall overcome. Enjoy the struggle, provide input if you got it. Like share and subscribe.

 

[559Fj40]

My 40 has a shackle reversal so I’m not sure how much different the front of my frame looks compared to yours, but attaching some pics of my Saginaw setup anyway. Might be nice to see multiple setups to help figure out what you need. Saw in the vid that you wanted it set lower so that the bottom bolts didn’t mess with the spring hanger and mine is mounted low like that. I am also a bit further forward as well. The hoses aren’t all nestled into the frame crossmember.

Lower Bolts

Upper Bolts

Mounting location a bit further forward on the frame rail.

 

[PidgeonGuggolo]

Hey Ben

Look at how this guy did it:

Build Post in thread 'Ed’s Un-Did FJ40'

Jan 5, 2026

Box mock-up. This would have been a good 4 turn box except the PO ground the 36 spline 13/16” input shaft down into some janky square drive thing instead of buying an actual u-joint

The frame horn has been straightened here also. We made a relief cut in both the upper and lower horizontal frame horns, then pushed it square. You can see the lower relief cut just in front of the rearmost DOM insert. It’ll all get welded back up

Burning in the plates once we were happy with everything. Old Japanese steel CAN weld pretty good if you control the heat and it’s clean...

• Rock40

• 
• 

You can see his cutouts in the first post. That guy seems to be a master. Like the one you are becoming. Hope this helps out.

Cheers from Switzerland, keep it up. Enjoying the show. Brought my wife a bit more into the whole Land cruiser world.

 

[POPO AGIE]

Your plasma cutting needs more practice but your welds look so much better then mine. When I installed my FJ105 steering box I also drilled and installed DOM tubing with ~1/2" ID with plate on both sides of the frame box. I did the same for the F250 shock towers.

 

[POPO AGIE]

Found the photo of the kit to mount the steering box.

 

[pbgbottle]

Hey Ben

Look at how this guy did it:

Build Post in thread 'Ed’s Un-Did FJ40'

Jan 5, 2026

Box mock-up. This would have been a good 4 turn box except the PO ground the 36 spline 13/16” input shaft down into some janky square drive thing instead of buying an actual u-joint

The frame horn has been straightened here also. We made a relief cut in both the upper and lower horizontal frame horns, then pushed it square. You can see the lower relief cut just in front of the rearmost DOM insert. It’ll all get welded back up

Burning in the plates once we were happy with everything. Old Japanese steel CAN weld pretty good if you control the heat and it’s clean...

• Rock40

• 
• 

You can see his cutouts in the first post. That guy seems to be a master. Like the one you are becoming. Hope this helps out.

Cheers from Switzerland, keep it up. Enjoying the show. Brought my wife a bit more into the whole Land cruiser world.

This is 4x4Labs Saginaw kit. Check their pics on this link. That’s the bottom of the frame.

Saginaw Steering Box Mount for 40 Series Land Cruiser

SAGINAW STEERING BOX MOUNT KIT The best modification you can do to an early Toyota Land Cruiser is power steering. Period. The Saginaw power steering conversion is nothing new but the 4X4LABS frame plate kit addresses much more than just adding the gear box. Proper box placement, frame...

4x4labs.myshopify.com

 

[BenjaminCA]

Appreciate the help gangsters. I sourced a mounting plate from Advanced Adapters to try and make the process a little easier on me. I still managed to struggle. Drilled some smaller holes, and sweat a lot for the cause. Happy pride month.

 

[POPO AGIE]

Appreciate the help gangsters. I sourced a mounting plate from Advanced Adapters to try and make the process a little easier on me. I still managed to struggle. Drilled some smaller holes, and sweat a lot for the cause. Happy pride month.

A set of transfer punches would help with locating where the holes in the frame. Maybe a mag base drill if it will fit makes the drilling a lot easer. When I drilled my frame for the steering box and the shock towers my drill was to heavy in the horizontal and had to assist the magnet with a c clamp. When I did the tire carrier I had to drill all 8 holes by hand because my mag base would not work.

 

[BenjaminCA]

A set of transfer punches would help with locating where the holes in the frame. Maybe a mag base drill if it will fit makes the drilling a lot easer. When I drilled my frame for the steering box and the shock towers my drill was to heavy in the horizontal and had to assist the magnet with a c clamp. When I did the tire carrier I had to drill all 8 holes by hand because my mag base would not work.

Yeah man. Pushing on it with my chin and trying to get eye level did not go easy

 

[POPO AGIE]

Yeah man. Pushing on it with my chin and trying to get eye level did not go easy

I feel your pain. I just drilled a bunch of 1/4" holes in both aprons to attach the sheet metal for the Metal Tech fender kit. I used the tires as a surface to press against and stabilize the drill.

 

[POPO AGIE]

Yeah man. Pushing on it with my chin and trying to get eye level did not go easy

Try it with progressive lenses and rotate your head just enough the each eye is looking through a different area of the lens. Sometimes I just have to take them off.

 

[69LC]

Rachel’s comments were priceless!

 

[Unimogguy]

The banter you and Rachel have crack me the f—k up!

 

[BenjaminCA]

Rachel’s comments were priceless!

She’s getting better at throwing her opinion around, which isn’t typical for a woman…

 

[BenjaminCA]

The banter you and Rachel have crack me the f—k up!

Thank you bro, we shoot for a comedy. At least I do, and she tries to stop me.

 

[Jdc1]

Thank you bro, we shoot for a comedy. At least I do, and she tries to stop me.

When mine gives me that look, I pleasantly remind her that she chose me out of every human on the planet….

Looks great, can’t wait to see the test run.