help with 40 series power steering

[fjn00b]

Bit of back story first, i purchased a front end axle, arms, box, column etc from another 40 that had been converted. Now i'm attempting to fit these to my 40.

I've started trimming the shock mount and put it roughly in place, haven't drilled the chassis yet. It was my understanding that i had a 55 column but today i discovered it was just a 40 column. Now it looks like it will fit just fine however im concerned about the angle.

Heres is a pic


So i'm chasing some advice, is this acceptable. Should i stop and start chasing another column. I want to get this sorted before i mount the box in place.

Thanks.

[Fakey]

Doesn't look too bad, I've seen worse on factory steering set ups. If you clamp the box to the chassis an turn the shaft by hand, does it bind in the U/J's at all? Do you know what that other intermediate shaft is out of?

[fjn00b]

it seemed to move left and right OK. i need to bring the steering box closer a little more but i need to grind off some more shock mount to do that.

not sure what the intermediate is out of.

i'll keep grinding and re-test to be sure.

just wanted to make sure before i kept going. i wasn't sure if that angle would be OK or not.

thank you

[shorty_f0rty]

Was your original steering strong arm (eg: not 40 series power steering) ?

You might find the column is longer being non-powered 40 steering.. if you can get 40 column from a power steering version and it will be a little shorter.

[Fakey]

If the steering column was shorter then that intermediate shaft looks like it would be too short as well. When I converted my 40 I shortened the original column and got a local engineers shop to cut new splines on the end of it. If you really wanted to get better angles you could shorten the column an get new splines cut then use a 70 series intermediate shaft shortened to suit as well.

Bit hard to see but it shows how close to the firewall the column was cut

Edit: I used a 70 series steering box so it sat quite a bit further forward than yours but you get the idea

[fjn00b]

Hey guys thanks for the info.

I'd have to pull the column out and compare with my original column, from memory it was shorter so i guess it might have been out of a 40 with factory power steering so its a bit shorter than the strong arm column.

I'm going to hit it again this afternoon and see how it turns and go from there. I'd rather not have to chop and change more at this stage if i don't have to. But i also want it to work.

I'll let you know how i go this afternoon.

Cheers.

[fjn00b]

did a bit more grinding today and i've found a spot for it that seems to work.

it feels pretty smooth can't feel any binding its moving freely so for now i'm going to go with this setup and see how it goes.

thanks for the input guys.

[jackass]

If your playing with colums etc you could look into 60s they heve tilt and switchs on the colum easy to use , needs mods to fit and wiring tho. do you have a bearing pillow near the uni to keep it from flexin?

[Shadow]

It might be just me but that looks dodgy as hell the way it comes through the firewall so far

It really should be supported somewhere close to the uni

Fakey's setup looks 1000% better.

I am using an FJ55 column in my 45 cab, on an 80 series chassis. the 55 column is definately the way to go!

[RAY185]

It needs a support bush at the end of the column. So does Fakey's.

[Fakey]

Mine was supported by a new nylon bush I made up to replace the factory rubber one that is captured in the end of the steering column in the firewall right beside the uni you can see in the pic. A mate of mine bought a Bj40 with a 70 series column in it. It didnt have any of the stalks wired up but the ability to adjust the wheel was great compared to my standard 40 column

[fjn00b]

support bush?

i might end up doing it the same as fakeys, i ended finding a few examples on the webs which look the same as mine.