I am needing help. I had a local parts place order a used power steering box for a 79 4x4 pickup. It looked totally different from the picture in Wally Kandel's article. I tried to tell them at the parts place I believe the one the ordered was for a 2 wheel drive. They are arguing with me. Can someone telll me exactly what is picturee in Walley's article or give me a part number I can give these idiots. The one they got only had a two bolt bracket on it where it would bolt to the frame and the pitman was above the main gear box where the one pictured has a four bolt bracket and is below the main box.

 

I'm not familiar with the Wally Kendel article. Here is a link to the FTE article by fergie and AX;
https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...60_Trucks.html

From what I remember its a 79-85 Toyota 4x4 box. I havn't had any luck tracking down the orginal Toyota part number

Bobby

 

I always read these "Toyota steering box" threads to just gather infromation, as this is a mod I will most likely do. But one thing that is hardly ever mentioned and never pictured is the power steering fluid pump. It most be simple to adapted the pump because nobody ever writes about that. I assume these boxes do require a pump.

Sorry for the hi-jack.

 

Every power box requires a pump. I've addressed the pump issue several times. Typically the easiest thing to do is use the pump that matches your engine that way you don't have to worry about trying to fabricate bracketry, align pulleys etc.

There are some issues with this however. The Toyo box will have metric fittings, your chosen pump may have standard fittings. There are several ways to address this, you can have a pressure hose made at your local hydraulic shop, you can spend the big bucks and buy an aftermarket hose (there are several vendors) you can make your own. I made my own. I'm running a GM pump and a Toyo box. I took a pressure hose and cut the hard steel line, I then slipped a metric fitting on it and reflared the end I cut off thereby giving me a shot hard line with a male fitting on either end; one metric, one standard. I scrounged the wrecking yards and found a pressure hose from some inport sedan that had a male fitting on one end and a female fitting on the other (I don't remember what make and model the hose came from). I was able to connect the female fitting of this hose to my homemade hard line with the metric/standard fittings.

Just for note: the toyo box has 2 different size fittings, I'm probably wrong on this but I think the pressure port is 17mm and the return is 16mm (don't quote me on those sizes as I can never seem to remember them correctly) I just remember that they are not the same.

Bobby

 

bobbytnm, I think I was wrong. the article is the fte article, some of the pictures were by Wally. The parts place I am dealing with is telling me that 79-85 years cannot be correct. They were the same in 79 and 80 but were changed after that. All I know is the one they got for me looks totally different from the picture in the article. I need some ammunition to use to be able to tell these idiots I am dealing with how stupid they are.

 

Here is the one I used 79-84 & some 85s if I'm not mistaken. I took the end fitting and had a local shop make hoses.

 

I knew there was a slight difference between the years but I thought it was some minor differences as to where the fittings are located.

Take them the pic that Jaye posted and see what they say. Maybe they got you the 2wd version or an earlier year. Maybe specify another year...81 or 82 or so

Bobby

 

Before I go back to the parts people, I would like to here from fergie and/or AX

 

I just had the parts place refund my money so I can go somewhere else. They could not figure out what they needed to order for me.

Is it absolutely necessary to replace the tie rod and tie rod ends? I am on a budget right now. But if for safety reasons it is necessary I will order them when I order the conversion kit for the toyota steering.

 

Aren't there any local pull-a-part type yards in your area? I got my toyo box from a local wrecking yard (naturally it was right before a great pull-a-part type yard opened up) I think I gave right at $100 for the box, hoses, pitman arm, drag link, rag joint, and intermediate steering shaft.

I understand the budget thing, my budget is pretty non-existent at the moment. There's no sense in replacing the center section of the tie rod unless is severely bent and mangled, after all its just a chunk of pipe with threaded ends for the tie rods, not much to go wrong. Mine had a bow in it, I was able to straighten it back out pretty easy. The tie rods themselves aren't too bad, I think they run about $10 to $20 bucks a throw. I think I got the ones for my 49 down at NAPA for about $15 each.

Wouldn't it be cool to be able to open up one of the catalogs, CCP, etc and call em up and be able to say, please send me the complete toyo steering conversion kit.....oh...and toss in the disc brake conversion kit while you're at it.

I know, I know....I have some pretty wild fantasies.....lol

Bobby

 

I ran the original tie rod & ends for over 15 years with the toyota box and had no problems however when I sat my truck on another frames last year I got one from MF & tie rod ends from Auto Zone. I think Cardone sells them remanfactured for $275 that way you know it works I know you are on a budget again the pull-a-parts lot may have them also.