ok heres the deal starting to tear into a project cruiser 68 fj40
i am doing a stock spring soa for now, the front axle i am buying has toyota truck outers with discs, reversed perches and high steer conversion on it, the guy I am buying from says youll want to convert to power steering for the high steer as well as change your steering for it as well. My question is what exactly is the the high steer going to do for me and does anybody know how to set you linkage up for this? 2nd ?'s theres a bracket ive seen out there that alows you to use a 79-85 mini truck p/s setup has anyone used this? or heard any horror stories? Thanks in advance to anyone that can enlighten me!!!
:beer: :smokin: :usa:

Originally posted by smack
ok heres the deal starting to tear into a project cruiser 68 fj40
i am doing a stock spring soa for now, the front axle i am buying has toyota truck outers with discs, reversed perches and high steer conversion on it, the guy I am buying from says youll want to convert to power steering for the high steer as well as change your steering for it as well. My question is what exactly is the the high steer going to do for me and does anybody know how to set you linkage up for this? 2nd ?'s theres a bracket ive seen out there that alows you to use a 79-85 mini truck p/s setup has anyone used this? or heard any horror stories? Thanks in advance to anyone that can enlighten me!!!
:beer: :smokin: :usa: hy-steer puts all teh steering above your springs and out of harms way. youll want to do teh saginaw conversion(most popular) you need a box and lines and a gm pump, then you get brakets for both and your turnin those 35's with one finger all day long! jiMMy

Cool thanks for the reply that makes sense, i have a saginaw pump and steering box i just need to figure out how i can use my stock column when i convert any ideas or pics? i know i have to weld a bracket to the inner frame rale, no big deal there but I cant figure out how to do the steering linkage from the column to the p/s box. I guess thats what i get for always doing sh#t myself rather then buy a expensive kit!

you can buy all the steering linkage you need from AA (advance adapters); check out their website. the saginaw conversion works really well; i've done a few of them and my 45's got that setup in it. make sure you get a 4 bolt 4.25 turn box or it'll make for a scary ride at high speeds.:rasta:

Lots of power steering info on woody's sight.

www.ih8mud.com

To mount the steering box to the frame you must make a plate that is drilled for mounting holes and spacers. The plate needs to be welded to the frame. You should also box the other end frame rail for strength. Also weld a scab plate to the outside of the frame rail that the box mounts to.
You might have issues with making a mounting plate if you have SOA shackle reversal, and you want to use a four bolt box.
For the steering column your gonna have to cut the rod approxiamately 3" down from the flange. You will need to get 2 double ended joints, and a rod, to make a shaft to interconnect the steering column rod to the boxes splined shaft. You will also need a teflon bushing to mount inside the column to take out the steering shaft wobble.
This is probably confusing as hell, but its not that hard.
Somebody on here with hella digi camera skills can probably post pics and show what I'm talking about. I'm not sure but I think Woodys sight might list tech articles with pics. I think there was also a tech article on this on the POR tech site.
Power steering hoses can be an issue cause your going to have to get a custom hose made for the pressure side. A equipment rental place or tractor repair facility can make hoses to specs.
:skull:

SWEEEEET!!! Thanks for the info. so i should do the soa first and then the p/s?

yep!

Yeppers...check my site...lotsa links on there.

You can just as easily do the PS conversion before as after the SOA work, but with the hi-steer setup you could hold off on linkages until the SOA is done.

I personally like the Scout Saginaw setup, since it doesn't cut thru your front frame crossmember. It's also a cheaper and equally effective conversion.

The mini truck conversion works great, I have it- and like the road feel of it better than saginaw, but if you plan on running anything bigger than a 35x12.5 it won't take it. I think my 33"s are pushing it.
In the woods and on the rocks no question- saginaw.

Here is my Saginaw PS writeup.

http://www.off-road.com/tlc/tech/saginaw/

i was kinda wondering about the mini truck set up/ it looks like it might be easier to fab up but not as robust/ cool write up Eric I dig the p/s cooler i think that i will do the same thing. well i will start in on it this weekend, be aware i might be asking freq ?'s so if you see my post, dont hesitate to reply and tell me what you think!! thanks in advance!:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

Has ;anyone pressed a Bearing onto the steering shaft to stabalize it

we used one from the hardware store, it fits right into the main tube and has a 3/4" inside race Worked perfect and it was $10 for two

makes for a clean shaft w/o a bracket to the frame

Originally posted by Frosty4x
Has ;anyone pressed a Bearing onto the steering shaft to stabalize it

we used one from the hardware store, it fits right into the main tube and has a 3/4" inside race Worked perfect and it was $10 for two

makes for a clean shaft w/o a bracket to the frame

I was thinkning of doing that but it is actually easier just to use a carrier bearing that has holes that are the same as are already there. fairly cheap too..

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
i started cleaning up the saginaw box i have and relized it is only 3 bolt, back to the junk yard in search!!!!

After looking in the junk yards for ever, I finally figured out that the 4bolt saginaw box. Is more common on early chevy cars.
I pulled mine off a early nova or chevelle cant exactly remember. What a difference
4.25 turns makes. Hope that helps.

What do you like about the 4 turn vs the 3 turn box? I have always used 4 turn boxes, but wheeling my wife's Jeep with a 3 turn box was nice for off road. On road, it is real twitchey (sp?) I have not asked someone who has used both on the same vehicle.......thanks.

Originally posted by Frosty4x
Has ;anyone pressed a Bearing onto the steering shaft to stabalize it

we used one from the hardware store, it fits right into the main tube and has a 3/4" inside race Worked perfect and it was $10 for two

makes for a clean shaft w/o a bracket to the frame

Depending on which year Cruiser you have, you can also run a nylon bushing instead of the bearing. I like the pillow block bearing for later model Cruisers since it will almost bolt up to the stock 4 bolts. This is how I set up mine....


http://www.off-road.com/tlc/tech/saginaw/images/pillowblock.jpg

http://www.off-road.com/tlc/tech/saginaw/images/ujoint.jpg

I've tried both 3 turn and 4 turn. The 3 turn does not like LC. Mine was all over the road, on the trail my turning radius was very limited. I pulled the 3 turn box of a jeep wagoneer. Now I have the 4 turn box and wow what a difference, on and off road. Highly recommend the 4 turn box.
Ava makes a spud shaft that brings the splines of the gear box out past the crossmember, for a better angle on you,re steering shaft.

so how do you know if you have a 3 or 4 turn box?
if someone will let me e-mail a pic of the box i have, I could get another opinion on whether it is worth using or not thanks

Turn the input shaft all the way till it stops, then mark a spot on the shaft and on the gear box. Start turning counting how many times the marks meet, untill the box stops turning. The pitman arm will go from one end to another with in 3.25 turns or 4.25 turns.

Originally posted by smack
so how do you know if you have a 3 or 4 turn box?
if someone will let me e-mail a pic of the box i have, I could get another opinion on whether it is worth using or not thanks

Pictures will do no good. The box is identical between the three turn and the four turn. Bolth work but the 4 turn is a LOT nicer... Twitchy steering is a pain with big tires and quick turning...

I have run both. The four turn is nicer..... I do not know how the turning radius will be different between the two boxes. Bolth have the same throw on the pitman arm... :confused:

If in your junk yard ventures you find a 4 turn let me know I'll be more then happy to take it off your hands :p
There are no 4 turn boxes in FL.

I also ran a three bolt chevy s10 gear box for along time and they are usually a 4turn box. I never had any problems with it and always used it real hard at rubicon and fordyce. I changed it because I started running 1ton drive train. If you cant find a four turn 4bolt box at the junk yard and you dont want to spend the money on a new one. Then just find a good 3 bolt 4turn box off a full size chevy truck or s10. My experiance with this has been good in the past. Just be sure to brace the gear box.
I dont know why the 3turn gave less turning radius then the 4turn but I did get a better turning radius out of the 4turn box.