OK i give up! I am headed for a spring over as soon as the 420 swap is done. Where can I find the best price on the double steering arm? If you have a used one let me know. I am also looking for a front housing to speed up the swap. I do not need the guts. Thanks for any help!

Mike

Well, if you do the mini-truck knuckle/Birf swap at the same time, you might be able to use a mini double arm.

There are several companies that offer them. The only one I can remember off the top of the old noggin is All-Pro OffRoad.

http://www.allprooffroad.com/steering.html
Go here and scroll down to the Standard Crossover Steering. The arm is advertised as $250, but I think they lowered the price to $199, just havent updated the page yet (I THINK). On their homepage, its on sale this month for $189

http://www.aqualu.com/Acc%20Pics/4034%20Steering%20Arm.html
This is the arm for stock FJ40's & 45's

just make it, you need and extra drivers side arm, cut it, flip it over, weld i on with a peice of 1/4" plate as a brace and some good strong welds, shebang! speaking of... anyone have a spare drivers side arm? i need to make mine. Matt:rasta:

if you get pulled over by the cops the will write you up. Unless its a trail specific rig.... then go ahead and make one:smokin:

Dan

COP? look at your steering setup?? not where i come from! :flipoff2: guess things are different over there.. HAHAHAHA :D :D Matt

I dont know about you guys, but here in NY, we have yearly Safety inspections. These are needed to keep your registration.

They would definately fail you for a welded up arm.
And I'm sure it would be a complete PIA to switch everything back to stock just for the inspection & then take it off again.

Also, think of the other people who share the road with you. I wouldnt want to be playing russian roulette with home brewed steering components.........

Unless its a trail rig only, then go for it. :D

i made one for my truck and there is no way it is going to break. I used 3/8 plate to brace it and with it painted it looks as good as any arm you could buy. I doubt any safety inspector would find it unsafe. if you make it right you shouldnt have to worry about it coming apart.

Just make one like fixxer says. I've built several, including the one on my current rig. Make sure you know what you're doing before you strike an arc to it.

That metal requires a preheat and make sure you have the right rod and a good welding machine, I use a Miller, DC, .
When I make mine, I use at least a 5/8" thick gusset plate for the reinforcement. Grind a nice deep chamfer on each side so you can get a couple of good stringers at every point of contact. I tack it with 6010 and then weld it out with 7018.
I also let mine cool down slow like maybe stuff it in a bucket of sand or somthing similar. No hurry, check it in the morning. I'd paint it real good right away, cause a fresh weld seems to love rust.

( That's how I do mine, you and everyone else on this board can do it however they like, cause I sure as fawk don't want to be held responsible )

If you are not a welder find someone who is. Remember your life depends on it. It'd be a bummer to roll on the freeway at 60 because you lost your steering.

SRC has a good article on a double steering arm, and I think there may another at IH8MUD, read them all prior to this project.

have not done mine yet but the one i bought for my soa w/ dana 44 front has a 1" raise in it to clear springs. i bought it used by it originally was made by grady at extreme off road in rancho cordova ca another source is rockstompers.com or look at general chit chat post about tie rod behind axle is not for 60's any more. seen gradys work up close and been to his shop steering is one thing to leave to the pros to make. just my .02.

Nadas for safety inspections here, ahh... good ol' New Mexico. :D Anyway, as long as its welded by someone with enough knowledge and skill, is going to be just as safe if not safer than one you buy, if you want it to be. if you spend enough time on it, groove the welds and slow the quench like reddog said, its going to be indestructable.

I'll post some pics of mine when is done, with my NEW DIGITAL CAMERA! well, my moms, but still, I LOVE XMAS!!!!:D

I have very little welding experience so I need to buy one. Do you have any leads on the best place to get one?

Mike -

Contact Danny Warden (530-622-9242) in Placerville or Butch Lewis in Napa (707-257-3454) for a 2x steering arm. Both have high quality parts for SOA conversions. Might talk to Butch about his rear sping perch/shock mounts also.