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1973 Cj5 To Power Steering Or Not To Power Steering That Is The Question.

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by Mazinger, Mar 31, 2017.

  1. Mar 31, 2017
    Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    Hi Guys As you guys have seen i have another thread going for a Brake Booster Upgrade on my 73 CJ5.
    when i got the car and drove it two upgrades came to mind better brakes and better steering.
    i will be doing a brake booster on my jeep and then going with discs instead of drums in the front.
    second upgrade is to change steering characteristics and this is what this thread is all about thanks for all help guys!
     
  2. Mar 31, 2017
    Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    OK this is where i am with this Steering upgrade i am trying to go three different possible routes along with their pros and cons

    1. going with the PSC Power Steering Conversion Kit
    i spoke to them and they said it should bolt on to my 73 CJ5
    Pros
    kit comes with everything except for hard to find passenger side power steering brackets and extra crank that bolts on to harmonic balancer to drive the power steering pulley (which i managed to get :D)
    it takes most of the guess work of getting all the parts in one kit instead of finding which ones work thru trial and error
    very reputable company and all brand new components

    Cons
    Very Expensive
    Not really sure if everything will bolt on will probably have to make the hoses anyway
    steering box is not a variable ratio one its locked at 16:1 not necessarily bad, but i hear variable ratios are better

    2. going with a wagoneer or other similar car Power Steering Conversion that has variable Ratio
    i have no clue what parts i need my jeep is currently all stock

    Pros
    will probably be alot cheaper
    variable power steering on cj5 from what i hear is the way to go especially on the highway

    Cons
    Will need to find out what parts work with what ( this is where i need all your help and input(y))
    parts are used or remanufactured

    3. going with a quicker manual steering box or steering quickener
    i dont really mind the manual steering feel is just the amount of turns i takes from lock to lock i already tightened the box the most i can

    Pros
    would be the cheapest option as i would probably just need to add a part to my current setup or just change the manual steering box to one from another vehicle with quicker ratio (i need help with anybody that has done this on what parts or box to use:n:)
    would not put more stress into my steering box bracket as i currently have the manual steering bracket mount with three holes and if i add power steering it requires four hole mounts or to add a brace

    Cons
    does not mitigate the feel of the road as power steering does
    i decide to install slightly bigger or wider tires later it will be harder to steer

    well this are the three routes im thinking of going once again thank you guys for sharing all your knowledge and insight on the three options (y):lol:
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2017
  3. Mar 31, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    People with the 258 seem to have a lot of trouble with power steering conversions. The usual route is to pick parts from a wreck and bolt them on to the Jeep. If you have the right parts, it all should bolt on. However, it seems like most buy just the pump brackets and think the parts are going to bolt on, and nothing ever lines up. Mixing parts from different sources never seems to work out quite right.

    The PSC kit doesn't seem like much of a kit, since the hard parts to source are the engine brackets and the pulley. You can buy a suitable reman pump and gear from the parts store for a couple hundred bucks. Very common parts. For a '73, the pump mounts on the passenger side of the block, and a single-groove pulley bolts to the front of the engine. Any hydraulics shiop can make the hoses you need, but they will be long, since they cross over the engine to the opposite side.

    You mention a Wagoneer - most Wagoneers are V8s, and nothing except the pump and steering gear from a V8 car will work for you. You should focus on mounting the pump on the engine, and connecting the belts - that's the hard part. The pump and gear are generic and were used in millions of vehicles. You have your choice of dozens of sources for these parts.

    If you had a V8 engine, it would be easy - almost any Wagoneer could be a donor. But most manual steering CJs from that era are inline sixes, it seems. Budget models.

    The point of the slow steering gear is the amount of effort needed to turn the wheels when you are going slow. That's also why you have that big bus wheel - for leverage over the steering. I have never heard of anyone swapping in a faster manual gear. Indeed, the power gears of choice are the ones with the slowest ratios, or with variable ratio.

    If you search, you'll find lots of old threads that discuss this topic. We've gone over it many times.
     
  4. Mar 31, 2017
    Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    ok thanks timgr yeah i saw that late model cj5s and cj7s are easier to do conversions with also helps if your vehicle came with the V8.

    yeah i agree with you the PSC is kind of pricey for it not to bring all the brackets.

    i guess option 2 would be what i want to do i already have the following components

    1. Powersteering pump and brackets passenger side
    2. extra crank that bolts in the front of the harmonic balancer to drive the power steering pump

    what i need is the following this i what i need everyones advice on
    • :n:

    3.
    Hoses which we already establish i should just get made at a local shop
    4. new steering shaft or adapter for my current stock one to the power steering box.
    5. Power steering box with variable ratio what kind would work with my 258 6 cylinder
    6. what kind of pitman arm from what model would work

    ok i think the ones i need most of the help figuring out are 4 to 6 please be as specific as possible and provide links or pictures if possible thanks again:watch:
    • (y)
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2017
  5. Mar 31, 2017
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Tim always makes a good point
    but to me it seems if you get all the brackets from a later model 6 ( still V belt type) . and I mean all the brackets and pulleys / also make note of year of vehicle
    I don't see why you couldn't put pump on drivers side and alt on left
     
  6. Mar 31, 2017
    Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    i already found and got the brackets for the passenger side mounted power steering pump i guess the question now is what kind of shaft or adapter do i need as well as what steering box is variable and will bolt on and what pitman arm to get?
     
  7. Mar 31, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Crank? You mean pulley?
     
  8. Mar 31, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    The gear from a S10 4WD or Blazer 4WD is a variable gear, and popular as a replacement gear. It only has 3 tabs though.
     
  9. Mar 31, 2017
    Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    yeah crank pulley is what i meant to say heres a picture of it pulley.jpeg
     
  10. Mar 31, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    That's a very scarce part.
     
  11. Mar 31, 2017
    Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    yeah i was lucky enough to find this and the passenger side power steering and brackets just need to know what kind of shaft or adapter i need and what variable steering box and pitman arm to place it with so im very close i would say the hardest things to find are behind me
     
  12. Mar 31, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    You need the bell coupling for the power steering equipped CJ - Jeep PN 998710. The power steering gear bolts in, but the manual steering bracket only has 3 tabs. Factory PS pitman arm, Jeep 999416. Steering gear is up to you. You can buy a reman replacement gear for a '73 CJ, but it won't be variable ratio. Supposedly the S10 gear bolts in to a Wagoneer, but I can't vouch for CJ compatibility. Probably. The junkyard S10 gears are very good - the more modern design is very durable, and the S10s and Blazers 4x4s are comparatively new.
     
  13. Mar 31, 2017
    Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    would this kit be same as the jeep bell coupling you listed does it bolt in to my current shaft ?
    is this the same pitman arm like the one you listed with the jeep part number?

    i will have to look in to the steering gear compatibility is the picture below what the 4 hole mount bracket looks like?

    J991539U_319x369.jpeg
     
  14. Mar 31, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Yes. Yes. The part number is unambiguous. Unless I looked it up wrong ...

    It is a 4-bolt mount but I don't know if it's the right one. IIRC the correct mount fits tightly into the frame, with a machined surface top and bottom. That one does not look right. Commando maybe?
     
  15. Mar 31, 2017
    Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    awesome i will be ordering those two parts then i still have to do some more digging but i believe the wagoneer steering box should bolt on minus the fourth bolt ill probably run it that way until i can find the very rare four bolt mount hopefully. would there be any issues just using the three bolts?

    also you are a walking encyclopedia of Jeep Timgr the pic was a commando bracket
     
  16. Mar 31, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Nope, the three bolt mount will work fine - it's just not as strong.
     
  17. Mar 31, 2017
    a72cj

    a72cj Member

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    I used an XJ steering box. Three bolt mount and the steering column splines match up perfectly I've had it in for about five years of trail riding and the three bolt is holding up​
     
  18. Apr 1, 2017
    Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    That sounds like a viable donor what model year cherokee xj steering box should i ask for? What kind of pitman arm did you use with it? Did you have to use the bell coupler for the shaft that timgr mentioned? Whats the steering ratio on that box is it variable?
    Thank you
     
  19. Apr 1, 2017
    a72cj

    a72cj Member

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    It was a 1992 Cherokee Sport that I totaled by hitting a deer broadside at 60 mph. I got a pitman arm from quadratec specifically for a 72 cj with power steering. My bell coupler from my existing steering fit right on the new box. I can't tell you the ratio of the box but I can tell you it feels good on the highway and on trails.
     
  20. Apr 1, 2017
    Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    Awesome was your jeep sport 4wd 6 cyl?
    So let me see if i have this correct your 72 cj5 had manual steering and the exact same shaft from your manual steering went in the cherokee steering box without needing an adapter or bell coupler?
    Its looking like this is the way to go i was looking at the power steering box and it has three mount holes just like the manual box has!
    download (1).jpg
     
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