What I have here is a steering box that's been moved to the outside of the frame for a V-8. While the workmanship is crude it does have potential to look right. It's been kicked out about 2" with no regard for the pittman arm location. It actually steers real easy but the angle is not right. I know it's a forged part and if I heat and bend it it needs to cool slowly so as not to make it brittle. What's some of your thoughts and other than MII or other IFS get-ups, what have you AD V-8 owners done for steering box mods using a stock or dropped axle. Thanks in advance.
Just finished doing this to mine. Bought a 4"pitman arm from CPP to complete the steering conversion kit that PO had already installed....works great.
Thanks for your input, but I'm not sure of what you mean. I ***ume you've got an 8 in there. Where's the steering box? Mine was moved outboard for engine clearance by using a piece of 1 1/2 X 3 channel welded to the side of the frame. Now the drag link runs at a funky angle. I've been looking at this for a while. Like I said above it steers quite easy but it's wrong. I've never driven the truck just been towed by way of needing to be in it and steering. Maybe I'll go out and shoot a few pics and post em.
Here's the pics. Why it was done: http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r103/Highlander809/dash_steering015.jpg How it was done: http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r103/Highlander809/dash_steering017.jpg The resulting misalignment: http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r103/Highlander809/dash_steering013.jpg These were taken with the wheels straight. Dig that funky drag link, huh?
Why not just flip the link to the other side of the arm? If it's tapered,... somewhere out there is a bushing that can be inserted into the arm (after drilling), and it has a tapered inner hole.
I just sold a complete stock column with box to 'the Duke' today. It is from a 55S1 truck and he's only looking at using the column part to mount to a late model box. If you want to convert back for any reason, PM him and maybe he'll p*** it on with some type of trade for yours, he lives in Detroit.
Just went back and looked at your pictures, what about like a dropped pitman from a Jeep put on upside down? It might fit the change you are looking for and they usually ran Saginaw boxes in the old CJs.
Hmmm...sometimes you look at something so ****in long you can't see anymore. There's some merit to this thought one way or another. I need to run through full travel and see the logistics of that change. I'd need to modify the drag link to get the ball stud "on the other side" in a manner of saying. Maybe make my own like a mini tie rod. Danimal, thanks for the thoughts but my steering box is in great shape. It was just changed in a somewhat crude way. I'd like to see some other V-8 steering mods that use the stock or dropped axle. I need it there for rams horn manifold clearance. And yes I know those aren't rams horns...but it will be.
You might want to drive it first. My 50 was done just like that when I got it. Steered easy enough. But it had some bump steer and it turned real sharp right turns, but real shallow left turns. (Made a drive through a real challenge if someone was right on your ***) I still drove it as a daily for a few years that way. (I Pacer-ized it in the late 80s)
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