1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Unknown Steering Conversion

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Simplegreen21, Jan 3, 2019.

  1. Jan 3, 2019
    Simplegreen21

    Simplegreen21 New Member

    California
    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Hey guys,

    I have a 71 CJ5 and I am trying to get it back to a somewhat original state. One thing that was changed was the steering components. I tried to get some pictures, and hopefully they are somewhat helpful. Really what I am looking for is getting the steering wheel position and angle back to factory. Based on what you see in these pictures is that possible with the current setup? If not, what would I need to change? Thanks!


    Side view of shaft
    [​IMG]

    Top down view of steering box under/behind bumper
    [​IMG]

    View up under steering box.
    [​IMG]
     
  2. Jan 3, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    Sooo... you want to get rid of the manual Saginaw conversion and go back to a Ross box? Anything is possible, but you'd be taking a big step backwards.

    You'll need mostly all of the original components from a donor, since it appears they tore everything out when they did the conversion. Column, box, bellcrank and mount...
     
    fhoehle, jeepstar and 47v6 like this.
  3. Jan 3, 2019
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    Guys, Is it a manual vega box?

    I would either use that box or go power at this point.
     
    65CJ5 SRD likes this.
  4. Jan 3, 2019
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Maryland
    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,169
    I'm not crazy about that box placement or what I can see of the workmanship. Personally I'd cut that bracket off and fab something tighter to the frame rail with a custom or readily available type mount ( view stickied power steering thread on this site)

    A stock or postal column and brackets can be found to restore the interior scene easily enough.
     
    65CJ5 SRD likes this.
  5. Jan 3, 2019
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
    Messages:
    5,407
    one of the steering swaps . that someone just hung it lower than front crossmember . it it works just leave it
    or go power as suggested . we have a whole thread about steering . going back to ross steering box . wouldn't do it
    picture of column and dash , also the bottom of column where it goes in to floor would help
    Saginaw Power Steering (pics) Please Add Yours!
     
    47v6 likes this.
  6. Jan 4, 2019
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
  7. Jan 4, 2019
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2014
    Messages:
    2,137
    I think swapping out the OEM slop err steering is one of the best things next to 11” brakes. Less moving parts to wear out and your local flaps possibly has another box on hand instead of waiting for parts. It’s your rig though; do as you see fit.
     
    47v6 likes this.
  8. Jan 4, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2010
    Messages:
    7,110
    I don't think there's anything wrong with where your box is mounted...HOW it's mounted looks sketchy.
    As mentioned above, you can use a postal jeep steering column (if you can find one, they are getting scarce) to keep the Saginaw steering box while having original appearance.
     
    mike starck likes this.
  9. Jan 4, 2019
    mike starck

    mike starck Member

    salem,oregon
    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2006
    Messages:
    762
    You could remove all that was done and replace with all stock components ,should note be hard to find used part with all the Saginaw conversions going on. Or after getting all that mess removed install a quality Saginaw steering box (power or manual) with a '72 -75 cj5 column or a postal column to keep that original look and feel . I have a '69 cj5 w Saginaw power and love driving it. It as been my long time hunting/off road rig and had no special originality ,just a old jeep in need of some love. Now my 1971 cj5 Renegade II is a different story .No modifications here for comfort or otherwise. I do enjoy driving it on the street and have had it to the sand dunes twice.It is doable even with 31x10.50 tire (235-75's would be better) So there ya go follow your heart..
     
  10. Jan 4, 2019
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    Messages:
    3,784
    Post a few pics inside..........But from what I can see outside.......that setup and where it's mounted at a angle is pretty consistent with the 72 and later AMC CJ-5s ..........crawl under a later Jeep up through the 80's and look...........the angled mount is just the way it lays out with the Pittman arm keyed in that manner........I think he just used a bunch of parts out of a later Jeep ????

    That bracket looks a little rough.........might be able to clean it up and strengthen it some........or just start over ..........I'm also a big fan of Power Steering especially if your going off road with over-sized tires.
     
    mike starck likes this.
  11. Jan 4, 2019
    Simplegreen21

    Simplegreen21 New Member

    California
    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Hi guys,

    Thanks for all the replies! I don't mind leaving the steering components as they are if they are indeed better than stock. My bigger concern is the steering column height and angle. I think it would fit better if that was back to stock location. I apologize I should have posted more pictures of that part as well. It seems the consensus is that I should be able to get a steering column from a jeep of similar year or a mail jeep and replace this one. I am not very familiar with steering components, but if I do change the angle of the steering column will the new angle still work with the u joints?

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Thanks!
     
  12. Jan 4, 2019
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2014
    Messages:
    2,137
    An intermediate tilt column would bolt right in now. I see bubba did a number on the dash and floor. :n:
     
    Posimoto likes this.
  13. Jan 4, 2019
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    Messages:
    3,784
    An intermediate would require more surgery to the dash.........needs to go up several more inches...............Simplegreen go look at a later dash.......the later dash will fit in there like this one...........I suspect that the column is AMC Jeep.
    [​IMG]
     
    melvinm likes this.
  14. Jan 4, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    The column shown by the OP looks like a GM column. Jeep used the GM column in CJs from '76 on, and a later CJ could have been the source of your column. Prior to 1976, Jeep used a tubular column with the "bus wheel," an iconic large-diameter black steering wheel. The bus wheel is kind-of a good thing for manual steering, since its large diameter gives you extra leverage when steering. This can be helpful with manual steering and large tires typically used on Jeeps. Many of the postal Jeeps used a tubular column with a bus wheel, like the CJs. These were popular for conversion in CJ-5s, since they could be more easily adapted to Saginaw steering than the original column. I suspect you could just as well use an intermediate Jeep CJ column, which is a tubular style with bus wheel, meant to work with Saginaw steering. These parts may be more available than postal Jeep parts today. Another possibility is a column from Ididit or Flaming River, or another seller for hot rods. These parts are listed on Summit or Jeggs. The main issue will be appearance - the hot rod column will look like a custom installation.
     
  15. Jan 4, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    Intermediates never came with tilt. The picture above from Tarry is an intermediate Jeep.
     
  16. Jan 4, 2019
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2014
    Messages:
    2,137
    Sorry 76-86 tilt column. The dash has already been chopped and I suspect it'd bolt in fine. That column looks eerily similar to some used in later CJ's w/o tilt
     
  17. Jan 4, 2019
    Simplegreen21

    Simplegreen21 New Member

    California
    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Tim,

    You are correct, I would like the tubular style column with the bus wheel. You mention intermediate jeep CJ column, but upon doing some googling I'm not sure how to find something like that.
     
  18. Jan 4, 2019
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
    Messages:
    5,407
    I know where a 75 column is but it's a long way from you . he might ship
     
  19. Jan 7, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2010
    Messages:
    7,110
    The intermediate 72-75 column might be a possibility for you...it's a couple inches longer than the postal column.
    The large mounting plate where it attaches to the dash can be removed with a little bit of careful grinding, or you may want to utilize it considering how badly your dash has been hacked.
     
  20. Jan 7, 2019
    Simplegreen21

    Simplegreen21 New Member

    California
    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Thank you for all the replies! I'm still learning quite a bit so I apologize if some of the things I ask don't make much sense.

    I am having some trouble locating an intermediate column, I am mostly finding newer stuff like this.
    JEGS 70467: Universal Floor Shift Tilt Steering Column, Black, 2 in. Diameter, 32 in. Length | JEGS

    Would something like this work? Can I even attach a Jeep steering wheel to this?
    Nostalgia Steel Steering Column

    I guess what I am trying to get to is the wheel position like in this photo.
    [​IMG]

    It seem like the way mine is right now, it's lower down and at a less steep angle.
    I attempted to make a drawing of that what I think I should look like, does that seem like about the original height and angle?
    [​IMG]
     
New Posts