I Built My Own Custom High Steer Arms!! 1 Ton LS Swapped FJ40 Build

[@rhyswilliams695]

Looking good. Remember, at full lock the tie rod will move closer to the axle. It may explain why the high steer kits go for 3” out front. I’m sure you’ll make it work!

[@saebbi]

Your panhard link and drag links will be so long, and have such low angle that it won't matter one bit, you'll be fine with a little length difference as long as you keep them at the same exact angle at ride height.

[@MrGrimCarnage]

FJ80 steering conversion is common on 40's. Every version I've seen has the box mounted just in front of the shock tower, or covering the front bolt holes if you remove the tower. If you space it right, the box will fit in between the tower and the front cross member with only minimal trimming to box the inside of the frame (that's how I did mine)......of course, you're using a spacer plate on the outside of the frame, which eliminates the need to box it. Moving it forward may give you enough room for the panhard bar mount.

[@MonkeyWithAWrench]

That DIY high steer looks like it will be solid once its burned in. the ONLY consideration worth mentioning there is that the Ackerman is going to be backwards from what it should be for on-road stuff, but for a crawler no one cares. Looking good!

[@austinniemela]

Thanks! Yes off-road won't matter at all! But I am having a hard time understanding how this would change the geometry as far as Ackerman. All I did was moved the tie rod forward, drag link wouldn't affect that geometry

[@MonkeyWithAWrench]

@@austinniemela Its really hard to explain through words, easy as pie to draw. but Ackerman is set by the tie rod ball joint position relative to the king pin (or in this case, ball joint) axis of rotation of the knuckle. imagine drawing a line from the axis the whole knuckle pivots on to the center of the hole on the factory steering arm. Your new ball joint position would need to land on that line, and if you shorten the wheelbase it typically needs more Ackerman angle. that is acheived by moving the tire rod ball joint outward if its in front of the knuckle. The drag link won't have an effect, you are correct there. Its all about the tie rod. I wouldn't sweat it in the slightest unless you're trying to make this truck handle like a Porsche. Most manufacturers fudge this pretty bad on trucks anyway, even if you preserved the factory spec on the axle, its likely still way off even in the factory application.

[@austinniemela]

@@MonkeyWithAWrench ok makes sense!! Yea I’m definitely not worried about it for an off-road rig!!

[@philgriswold2133]

Watching what you come up with stuff is amazing, I'm sure if we could see inside your brain, it would be even more amazing. The ability to just picture something, and then have the skill to make it, is astounding.

[@MassBreak]

This is work of humble hard working smart man looking 13:36

[@austinniemela]

Thank you I really appreciate it!

[@FlawedOffroad]

at full stuff on driver side the drag link/tie rod will run into eachother. I forget why you didnt keep the other box that was farther forward with a rear swinging arm. maybe it was too far? having it out front an extra inch or 2 keep those from hitting. also with the high steer the linkages may rub the bottom of frame at stuff(easy enough to notch) Those things are a packaging nightmare

[@FlawedOffroad]

check out fab rats, he did a fj45 crawler(same thing but truck) maybe you can find some inspiration there

[@austinniemela]

That box was way too far forward! I may have to notch the frame, not a big deal. Also the drag link and tie rod should interfere with each other if I keep my tie rod in the lower mounts

[@FlawedOffroad]

@@austinniemela yeah I saw that later as I watched more. And that crossmember makes it hard to have middle ground. This is why so many ppl do full hydro, i make it difficult and keep the drag link with hydro assist too haha.

[@freeidaho-videos]

Love the FJ. That steering box is limiting your build. It limits uptravel of the axle. It limits track bar options. A steering box with a rear facing pitman arm will fix all that. Steering boxes from square body Chevy's will work much better. That said, moving it forward solved some of the problems.

[@sherylryan7038]

When are you moving to Australia the fj will be right at home awesome content as usual 👏 👌

[@norego6237]

that 40 series power steering box is a bit of a collectors item over here in aus . something like 1 in 400 came with power steering , about 25 years ago i had a 45 series troop carrier and i tried to add it impossible to find ,now that i think about it , 35 years ago long before the internet . geeez that was a hard ridin wagon

[@MussaKZN]

Left hand drive doesn’t help Aussies 40s.

[@norego6237]

@@MussaKZN and prob no one looking over here either , when you see a real good 40/45 series nowadays they seem to be on 80 chassis

[@tombrenes2411]

Love all the hard work Awesome build series

[@dannywright3128]

Run the track bar behind the box off the back side of the axle off the top of the lower link ?

[@tomsloger4073]

Great video as always Austin ! You ability to fabricate parts is amazing, what a talent to have, Lookind forward to more content in the FJ.

[@joesobaski1966]

I think I like the cardboard episodes the most.

[@davefury66]

Great EP Austin 👍🏼😎💯

[@joesobaski1966]

Expecting big things with powder coating and paint commence.

[@MrGphelan]

Just a quick question Austin. Have you thought about doing a 4 link instead of 3 link? Also what are the benefits of running a 3 link over a 4 link? Just a thought since you were so concerned over the track bar location.

[@ToolsInAction4u]

Where will you attach the suspension on the driver’s side? Seems like very limited space.

[@samcanter1806]

Better get you a rear facing steering box

[@DuanDao]

That looks hella sweet man. Your fab skills just keeps getting better and better

[@austinniemela]

Thanks!!!

[@rxcalvosa]

Would turning the pitman arm upside down solve any problems by reducing the attack angle of the drag link?

[@leleimalefaoseute3425]

I love watching ur videos brada nd i wish i could live closer to your workshop so u can fix my car? Too bad im watching frm Samoa big fan of yours♡

[@austingranger4223]

4:06 thats what she said

[@elizabethpedro3103]

excelentt work love the fj...

[@utilityart]

Could you mount the panhard and the backside of the axle? Not sure if that makes for some bad geometry or not.

[@benjaminreinhardt259]

PLEASE put an FME on the engine air intake! (FME - foreign material exclusion)

[@moneysaversilver]

Can't wait to see the finished product one day

[@brianknight4595]

Have you the room for the hydro system !!! Cheers BRIAN

[@prawnstar502]

dope! keep up the good work

[@BTCisKing.]

Love the look of the front end.

[@danielMZ20]

Good job , watching you from Mozambique

[@MussaKZN]

Now I know why I was looking at a map of Africa. Mozambique. Its funny how Toyotas like Fj40 and Hiluxs or pickups are loved universally all over the world. Hi mate from Australia.

[@bishop2355]

Great Job!

[@kamgatombou2795]

Awesome work

[@johncourtneyscott2757]

Nice work man

[@kflo1219]

Love the vids bro! Keep ‘em comin!!

[@Poizdrc]

Panhard fit behind the axle housing? As long as ur angle and length are the same/close you should be fine.

[@pastorelmerventura]

Frist wach

[@paengsolo2047]

Your always interesting to watch will be waiting for the next video

[@CB-hr6zs]

Amazing stuff bro

[@emujoe2966]

Love your work