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Saginaw Power Steering (pics) Please Add Yours!

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Mcruff, Aug 5, 2005.

  1. Feb 2, 2016
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2009
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    4,460
    IMO, definitely. I've been running a C3 Corvette box in my 3B for 40 something years. Something short of 3 turns lock to lock. As long as the rest of the system remains snug, there isn't a problem on or off road (assuming you have power steering). I rather enjoy it.
     
  2. Feb 7, 2016
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    5,349
    Besides slop in the steering their are several other things that cause the box to feel this way.
    To much hydraulic pressure in the pump, making it to easy. They are adjustable. And to little caster can cause it to wander all over the road.
     
  3. Mar 8, 2016
    Renegade ll

    Renegade ll Member

    Thayne Wyoming
    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2013
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    772
    Well I am getting close to finishing my power steering upgrade for the 71 cj5. I will add a few more pics when it is done. I made it kinda like Tarry99. I used the Advance Adapter conversion kit and went through the crossmember. As you can see I had to use a different drivers side exhaust manifold so it would not interfere with the steering.

     
  4. Mar 8, 2016
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Oct 29, 2012
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    Looks Good!
     
  5. Mar 8, 2016
    Renegade ll

    Renegade ll Member

    Thayne Wyoming
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    Feb 17, 2013
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    772
    Thanks for your help tarry99.
     
  6. Mar 8, 2016
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Oct 29, 2012
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    3,784
    No Problem anytime, Good Luck on your Project!
     
  7. Mar 11, 2016
    willysgatorjeep

    willysgatorjeep #showmeyourwillys

    Bagdad AZ
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2013
    Messages:
    21
    Here is a pic of my setup.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2016
  8. Aug 18, 2016
    CJ5Jeeper

    CJ5Jeeper Teacher Jeeper

    Apple Valley, CA
    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2015
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    86
    About a week prior to this year's Rubicon trip, while doing all my routine checks on the Jeep, I noticed a cracked steering box mount. Top quality bolt-on mounts can be purchased through M.O.R.E. if you have a '76 or newer CJ. I couldn't find anything bolt-on for CJ's prior to '76, so I made my own out of 3/8 steel plate and DOM tubing for spacers. Working with 3/8 steel takes patience, especially when drilling the holes. While I was at it, I purchased the collar for the steering box from M.O.R.E. and fabbed up my own steering box brace with my own tubing and plate steel. Most posts I've noticed on here are of Saginaw power steering conversions, but mine was already power steering. However, I always wondered why my steering box mount only had three holes when the box (gear) itself has four mounting holes. I guess manual steering box/gear mounts had only three holes and power steering mounts have four. A prior owner must have replaced a broken power steering mount with a manual steering box mount. I've owned the Jeep for 22 years, and I believe this is the last piece that a prior owner is responsible for. The new steering box and brace have made a huge positive impact with handling. The Jeep drives straight down the road with no bump-steer. I'm now even comfortable with my wife driving it (well, as comfortable as I can be). In the next few weeks I'll be replacing the tie rod and steering rod with DOM tubing and spherical rod ends (Heim joints). If you like the steering box mount, I still have all the templates, so fabbing one up wouldn't be too difficult.
    OLD BROKEN MOUNT
    [​IMG]
    MOUNTING PLATE WITH DOM SPACERS FOR STEERING BOX
    [​IMG]
    FRAME MOUNTS ALL TACKED UP
    [​IMG]
    FINAL WELDS
    [​IMG]
    FINAL WELDS
    [​IMG]
    ALL BOLTED UP
    [​IMG]
    NEW STEERING BOX BRACE
    [​IMG]
     
  9. Aug 18, 2016
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
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    8,513
    I see a gap between the bracket and the frame. Gap = no bueno.
    Did you put a space or washers in to fill the gap?
    Other than that it looks good.
     
  10. Aug 18, 2016
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Oct 29, 2012
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    Yep I seen the same thing.............never going to get it tight with a gap.
     
  11. Aug 18, 2016
    CJ5Jeeper

    CJ5Jeeper Teacher Jeeper

    Apple Valley, CA
    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2015
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    Good eye, that was an older picture. The gap was there due to some steel that had been added to the bottom of the frame to reinforce the steering box area. At the time, the steel didn't extend to the shackle mount, and I didn't have time to fix that prior to heading to Rubicon. However, I corrected that after returning from the Rubicon trip.
     
    jpflat2a likes this.
  12. Nov 5, 2016
    shaun

    shaun Member

    Lebanon, Ohio
    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2015
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    390
    Does the Saginaw box matter which vehicle it comes from?
     
    Mark T. likes this.
  13. Nov 6, 2016
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Oct 29, 2012
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    3,784
    Yes, Many different configurations of Saginaw power steering gears exist that have been made by the GM subsidiary for many years for other car manufactures. Assuming your sticking it on a early Jeep with the old Ross steering there are many photos in this section that give you many ways the folks have adapted there's .................take a look under a late seventies / early eighties Jeep CJ-5........the basic components exist there including the addition of a Dana 30 front end......which will have a standard Tie rod from spindle to spindle..........The standard gears are normally referenced by either being a series 700 or 800 gear box. These should be 4 bolt mount with a 13/16" x36 spline input shaft.............the option on these boxes is variable ratio steering......or originals can be modified by competent steering gear re-builders , which for a short wheelbase Jeep is a nice improvement.

    Keep in mind your original steering column will also have the need to be modified to make this change as well the front axle spindles if you retain the Dana 27 axle........
     
  14. Nov 7, 2016
    mortten

    mortten I can’t put my finger on it 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Peninsula, Ohio
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    Don't use a box from an Astro van. They are reverse rotation. DAMHIK.
     
  15. Nov 7, 2016
    shaun

    shaun Member

    Lebanon, Ohio
    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2015
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    390
    What about from a Cherokee? has a three bolt mount? if that doesn't work I might be looking for the 70s 80s cj5 box. but if what I have on hand works for my 62 cj. I'll use it
     
  16. Nov 22, 2016
    Bajatransit

    Bajatransit Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2016
    Messages:
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    I've gone through this entire thread and have one question. I saw on one build where the install for steering gear was below the crossmember and avoided all of the work needed to go through the crossmember. I am assuming that that build underneath the crossmember was allowable because of a lift kit. Am I correct in this assumption?
    I understand that there's trade-offs in this. The lower the steering gear the more likely you might hit it on a rock. But by lowering it it also decreases the inherent angles from gear to steering column. I also understand that it's a custom install every single vehicle. Does anyone have any thoughts on this though?

    I am going to be installing 2.5 inch springs, with a 1.5 inch shackle kit. I'm wondering if I will be able to go under the crossmember with this amount of lift. Thanks
     
  17. Nov 22, 2016
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Baja...............I think you just need to get your springs in..........load the vehicle as if all the weight is in it to establish ride height and see what you have........

    Going under normally increases the angle or angles coming from the column which may add the number of joints necessary to travel around the obstacles between there and the steering gear input shaft , it will also make it more challenging getting the Pittman Arm / drag link to your spindles flat at ride height to minimize any bump steer.............and Yes ground clearance on all those parts is a concern.........and everyone's install is a little different.
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2016
    Bajatransit likes this.
  18. Dec 22, 2016
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sheboygan
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    to all the people with a ross box that did a manual steering swap...I would like to do a manual steering upgrade. the reason I don't want to do power steering, is limited hp, lack of mounting hardware on the fhead, etc.
    where can I get a new manual steering box from? year, make, model?

    my other question to anybody, down the road, after this conversion and enjoying it for a bit, I want to do an electric power steering upgrade. does a manual steering box work for an electric power steering upgrade? are they compatible I guess is what I'm asking about?
     
  19. Dec 22, 2016
    45es

    45es Active Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Naches, WA
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    You can look at RockAuto.com for something like a 1960 Chevrolet Bel Air with 283 v8. That model year had both manual and power steering option.
     
  20. Dec 22, 2016
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Aug 10, 2003
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    I thought everybody was using the CJ-5 manual Saginaw gear.

    More Information for LARES 1034

    The core is pretty high for these at $75, so you might want to look around for a used one. Any '72-up CJ-5 would be fine. I found 2-3 dozen nation-wide on car-part.com Should not be hard to find. Your cheapest source will be private party from someone who is upgrading to power.
     
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