Outer Limits 4x4 Board

i think i have most aspects of this proceedure under control, i.e. brake lines reach, wiring, what to dowith the fenders, but one thing i can't get my head around is what to do with the steering column on a non power steering 40, as the column is solid (no slip joint) and solid mount to the steering box.

how do people get around this problem, 2 inch body lift in a 1976 fj40...

Why do you want to do a body lift? If it is for tyre clearance you can usually solve the problems by fitting longer springs, as you are already thinking about. There are several options for your steering if you decide to do a body lift. There is an old thread in here somewhere with some solutions. Basically you can lower the steering colum where it goes through the firewall. Unless you keep the shaft parallel to original (that is lower it at the steering wheel end as well) then there will still be an odd angle where it connects to the steering box. You could try lifting the steering box. When i did a body lift on a 40 years ago what i did was
- shorten the steering colum
- lower the steering colum where it goes through the firewall
- use a uni joint and splined slip joint from a 60 series to connect to the steering box
the uni joint fixed the difference in angles between the shaft and steering box and the splined slip joint allowed for flex and movement. I had the splined section welded to the steering shaft. ( material analysis, weld procedure, x ray weld inspection etc etc). It was fully legal. On my current 40 i modified the suspension instead of doing a body lift.

i've already got the clearance from the springs...

basically this came about because i was going to borrow some 35's from a friend, who said sure they fit, but at full suspension compression they'll scrub on what's left of the guards, cutting into them... as they weren't my tires, i declined to borrow them

his point stuck with me though, no matter how much spring lift you give it, there will still be contact from the lip of the rear guard under compression... if you lift the body, suspension travel is the same, but with not contact...