What parts am I missing for the mini-truck PS setup?

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CruiserStuff

CruiserStuff

Joined
Oct 9, 2008
Threads
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Lake Arrowhead, CA (was), Rocky Top, TN (is)
So, I've had this power steering set up sitting in my garage for a few years now and I think I'm finally gonna put it on the truck (my arms are so tired of snow plowing with manual steering).

If my memory serves (which is does NOT regularly) this is a JTO kit. Looks to me, though, that I'm missing some pieces here....

For one, I don't think I have a return line nipple. For another, I don't think I have the correct parts to mount the pump.

Could some of you who have done this conversion please let me know what I need so I can do this all in one shot. And if you could recommend people who I can purchase the missing parts from, it would be greatly appreciated.

3180804884_f8d3514abd.jpg


I know a lot of you prefer a sag pump, but I'm gonna use this one for now (since it's the one I have). Do you think the power steering cooler is something I should add as well?

Thanks in advance.....
 
At a minimum, you are missing the pump mounting bracket for a F/2F (or what ever engine you have) and the return line fitting at the box. The pump bracket is a tough one depending on what engine you have, but a junk yard is full of the return line fittings.
 
sor

from sor #95 is the stock one I think
looks kinda close to your pump--is there a part number on it?
099A6.gif
 
You should be able to use the stock bracket on a 3/79 as long as you have a compatible exhaust manifold. You still need to find the stock 2F bracket. Your pump looks like a Tercel pump and it might not work with the OEM 2F bracket, so you may need a pump too.
 
You are showing a solid axle mini truck steering box mount (79 to 85) and later model IFS steering box(86-95). They don't mix. If you use the IFS box that mounts on the side of the frame, the pitman arm will be moving backwards compared to the 60 box style. You can use that box, but it won't be a simple install as I think you are thinking. Here's a pic of the box that goes with that bracket.

I don't know what that curved bracket on the bottom is - maybe it holds that style pump (is that a stock mini truck showing?)? If not, Iron Pig and Marks Offroad sell a bracket that will mount in the smog pump location, however with the attached supply tank, it may well not fit there. The 79 to 85 minis had a separate tank on the fenderwell.

You're also going to need the short nipple that bolts into the top of the steering box for the low pressure return line back to the pump inlet.
Ed. just noticed PinHead mentioned this.

good luck
PS pedestal3.webp
 
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if #95 in the pic above is used? you'll still need a belt tensioner of some sort......(smog pump or idler)

make sure that gear box has 4.25 revolutions on the input shat or it won't have enough travel to obtain total turn..........
 
Man...sounds like I have a whole hodge-podge of parts here that won't work....a Tercel pump, a 79-85 box mount and an 86-95 box. Hmmm...this does complicate things.

Blue77FJ40 - my untrained eye doesn't see a difference between the box I have and the one you show in the pic you posted. Can you point out what the differences are for me, please?

Pin_Head - a Tercel pump, huh? That doesn't sound good - would that pump even work? If not, what pump would you recommend (and who sells the mounting bracket)? Remember, I'll be pushing snow and the plow assembly puts alot of weight on the front axle. Do you think the PS cooler would be wise or a waste of money?

By the way guys, I bought my star!
 
That looks like you have the correct power steering gear box to me. I think you are fine there. I ran a Tercel pump with my mini/hilux steering box and it worked great in the stock smog pump location. If you can lose the smog pump I would run it there. You may notice where I had to grind down the top front mount on the Tercel pump and shim with washers on the bottom mount to align it. You will also need to cut out a small section of the stock smog pump tension arm that connects to the water pump so the belt will clear it. I can probably dig up pictures of that angle if you need.
sag 083.webp
 
Cruiser - if your box looks like the pic I sent, you're good. It's kinda hard for me to see in that pic. John has better eyes than I do. It looked to me like a side mount. I hope I'm wrong.

I'm glad John sent a pic showing how your pump will mount, it's good to know that part will work if you use one of the brackets I mentioned before and can give up your smog pump.
 
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Blue77FJ40 said:
Cruiser - just look at the mounting bolts for the IFS box you have - it's meant to bolt on a vertical surface - the side of the frame. Now look at the pic I sent showing the 79-85 box - it is meant to bolt on the top of the frame or your bracket. To use the bracket you show (correct for a 79-85 box), you'll have to remove the stock rivet-mounted bracket on your frame and replace it with the one shown and best to use Grade 8 bolts.
Click to expand...

Look at his picture again. If that were a IFS box the high and low pressue fittings would not be where they are. He has the right box.
 
Hi CruiserStuff,

You have the correct steering box in that picture. :clap: It is exactly the same as the one that came off my `85 4Runner and that is what you need.

If the brackets that you have will mount up on your engine and the pulley lines up, then it should work. From what I have learned, most of the Toyota pumps put out about the same pressure and volume. The Saginaw pump puts out a higher pressure and more volume. If you use a Saginaw pump, you should add a steering fluid cooler to the system. A friend had the mini-truck steering conversion using the Saginaw pump and the fluid would boil over in the reservoir. He added one of the simple "U" shaped cooler (about 6 inches long) and it solved the problem. I know that my friend used the smog pump brackets to mount his pump. But, being in California you might still need that on your truck.

What I don't see is the bracket to mount the steering box to the frame. Are you going to fab one yourself?

Oops, I missed the frame bracket in the picture!
 
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Blue77FJ40 - Wow, I must be really dense (or maybe I haven't had enough coffee this morning), but I still don't still a difference. I'll look at mine again tonight and maybe post up some more pics of it so we can make 100% sure that I have a box that will work. Thanks man.....

John Smith - That definitely looks like my pump.... I'm in Cali and missed the smog cutoff by one year, so can I lose my smog pump? Of course, if it would work, I could replace the pump when I go to the smog nazis. What will pulling the smog pump do the rest of my system - would other things need to be modified for it to run properly? Sorry, still learning how all the components affect each other.
 
The Tercel pump works well on the F/2F smog pump bracket, but if you want to run the stock 2F pump and bracket, you will need the 2F pump.

All of these pumps, including the Saginaw, put out about the same pressure and volume, so it is an urban legend that the Saginaw puts out a significantly higher pressure.
 
Blue77FJ40 said:
You are showing a solid axle mini truck steering box mount (79 to 85) and later model IFS steering box(86-95). They don't mix. If you use the IFS box that mounts on the side of the frame, the pitman arm will be moving backwards compared to the 60 box style. You can use that box, but it won't be a simple install as I think you are thinking. Here's a pic of the box that goes with that bracket.

I don't know what that curved bracket on the bottom is - maybe it holds that style pump (is that a stock mini truck showing?)? If not, Iron Pig and Marks Offroad sell a bracket that will mount in the smog pump location, however with the attached supply tank, it may well not fit there. The 79 to 85 minis had a separate tank on the fenderwell.

You're also going to need the short nipple that bolts into the top of the steering box for the low pressure return line back to the pump inlet.
Ed. just noticed PinHead mentioned this.

good luck
Click to expand...
Looking at the pics the steering box looks to be from a solid axle toy truck so he can use that with the bracket he is showing to monut it to the frame.
I can't see it being IFS box. I will post a pic of the IFS box,if I find one.
Edit I must have been late on the post,
Anyway that box would have to mount to the RHS if it were for IFS.
Vic
 
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KY854RUN - Thanks for the input. I think what you're looking for (the bracket to mount the box to the frame) is in the top right hand corner of my pic - you can't see it too clearly. I think, though, that I need the right bracket to mount the pump/pulley. John Smith's pic shows the pump mounted to the smog pump location, which I think could work. Question is, though, can I lose my smog pump?
 
Besides not being able to register your '76 w/o the pump, the air rail will rust out quickly in the absence of air. If you have a 79 2F, I would get a 2F pump and bracket and leave the air pump.
 
CruiserStuff said:
Blue77FJ40 - Wow, I must be really dense (or maybe I haven't had enough coffee this morning), but I still don't still a difference. I'll look at mine again tonight and maybe post up some more pics of it so we can make 100% sure that I have a box that will work. Thanks man.....
Click to expand...

Don't thank me so quick, I think it's my eyes. I can see now that it's a top view of the correct box. At first, it did look to me like a side view of an IFS box, but as it had been mentioned, I was wrong.

CruiserStuff said:
John Smith - That definitely looks like my pump.... I'm in Cali and missed the smog cutoff by one year, so can I lose my smog pump? Of course, if it would work, I could replace the pump when I go to the smog nazis. What will pulling the smog pump do the rest of my system - would other things need to be modified for it to run properly? Sorry, still learning how all the components affect each other.
Click to expand...

You may want to touch base with other cruiserheads in your area re the smog pump. But to be safe, you always have the saginaw pump approach and there is plenty to search here for help on that. Let us know which way you want to go. In my opinion, Dorry has the best sag pump bracket for that.
 
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