Lets Talk Steering One More Time Herms Kit or Saginaw

Hi everybody, I have read everything I can see on possible steering conversions for my flatty (1943 GPW). I have a buick v6 conversion and a re-cored stock radiator. Does Herm's reverse power steering kit interfere with the stock radiator? if so can I work around it by a little grinding and moving the bracket forward? or is it a lost cause? Anyboody have experince with a this? or am I looking at a saginaw conversion out front. I like herms kit but have read good and bad comments.

Sorry for kicking it around again............................I would post some picutres but can't seem to get it to work anybody else figure it out?

Thanks,

Chris

 

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?88412-Herms-Manual-Steering-Upgrade

Read this thread if you haven't. I like Herm. Known him for a LOT of years. I cannot recommend this conversion because of the problems with mounting clearances, drag link/pitman arm clearances, radiator clearances, power steering pump clearances, etc., etc., etc.

I suggest going Saginaw. Tried, true, works, and not as many issues.....

 

couldn't have said it any better than Nick

 

Yup, I agree with Nick. I completed Herm's manual conversion about a month ago, and even though i am happy with the result, clearence issues (had to buy an aftermarket radiator) and a lack of detailed instructions made it one hell of a headache to install.

 

I'm in the middle of using his because I'm also running a full length Ramsey PTO winch and there is NO room for a saggy conversion. I'm convinced I will be able to make it work but as stated above it's a lot of work! If I didn't have the PTO winch I'd do it the other way for sure!

 

Just be prepared to do some welding, and buy a new radiator...

 

I have sourced a saginaw box from a yj and think I will go that route. I think I can make it working going under the GPW front cross member with no cutting. Thanks for the input everybody.

 

on my 3b I was able to go under my cross member without cutting. I used a stock cj5 manual box and steering shaft.

 

Thanks Windyhill, if you don't mind maybe I can send you some pictures once I get things mocked up, to see it you can spot any issues before I make it permanent.

 

Here is a pic of a Saginaw box on my 3B

 

I was ready to go Saginaw and had the bracket and box. Then I acquired a PTO winch so I bought a Willys Overland France stock box and stayed stock with all new components including the cross tube bracket. My 47 came with a real ugly Saginaw conversion which I ditched. Had to replace the frame horns and cross tube which had been discarded by PO. So my new cross tube came without the steering/bellcrank bracket. Carl Walck was kind enough to cut one off a junk frame for me.