Power Steering Box Choice

Hello all,

I have a 63 CJ5 with a power steering box but no connections. Since i have the rare 198 Buick V6 Fireball in it, i had to source a pump, brackets and have hoses created. I have all of those and have hooked it up but since it has not been used as a power box i am thinking i do not want to fill it as all my fluid will probably just blow out of all the dried seals. Plus since i know it hasnt been used with fluid, i am just thinking in should just put in a new box. Is there a standard bolt in box that is the best to use? Suggestions?

 

Where is your current steering box? The more common conversion was the Saginaw steering box where it's fabricated to the front of the frame just behind the front bumper and the second is the reverse ford box that fit in the original ross steering box location. Either way I would suggest getting a new box here: RedHead Steering Gears - Manual & Power Steering Gear Box

 

I ran a Saginaw power box on my Tux for many years with no pump hooked up. I looped the hoses together on the box after filling the box with power steering fluid through the short hose used to loop.
If you acquired the pump and brackets, I would fill it with fluid and see what happens. There's a good chance it will work fine. At worst, it could leak, so you could consider replacing it then.
-Donny

 

Here is what i have now...

 

I'd also recommend that you run it as is and see if it leaks. It looks like yours is a four bolt box. Any 3 or 4 bolt box should fit with no problems. It's hard to recommend one without knowing what you are running now. There are different ratios available that you could use to quicken or slow down your steering response. Here's an excellent source of information on different gear boxes. The site is geared towards sports cars, but its the same basic info. I used a box from a mid 90's Grand Cherokee as it's a quick ratio box.

Jim Shea’s Steering Papers » A, B & F Car Steering


http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-c...4/AF-CarFastRatioGearBeingRevised15AP2012.pdf


How To Identify Your Steering Gear Box - Lee Power Steering

Mike

 

Can you post a photo of your pump and brackets? I acquired a pump and brackets for my 198 and I believe the bracket is homemade, but looks nicely done. I'm just curious how mine compares with mounting and whatnot. Thanks

 

Did the same on my race truck. Wasn’t a Saginaw, just a ford rack and pinion, 4 seasons no issue.

 

As stated above, I've ran a Saginaw (off any amc car, actually a GM box, early firebird rebuilds were available at most parts stores), for 5+years with no pump. Looped line and filled with ATF.
Really not hard to steer, even when not moving, it was so good I never added the power? A shorter Pittman would make it evev easier to turn!

 

I've set two jeeps up with complete YJ power steering setups. Both drive great at low speed and freeway speed. Steering ratio is designed for shorter wheelbase vehicles.
YJ saginaw steering box, YJ saginaw pump, YJ stock hoses. For pitman arms there are a variety of YJ options from stock to drop to correct bump steer.
I did have to straighten out one end of the hard line by hand just a tad.
For really big tires you can swap the YJ box for a 98-99 Durango box that will bolt right in.
Why make things complicated with a mish mash of parts or guess work?
I can go to just about any auto parts store in small town USA and walk out with off the shelf items.

 

Sure. I had to do a lot of research to find the brackets as i was able to find the originals. Not easy. I will get a picture in the next day or two. Nice to have a fellow 198'er! We are rare birds now a days.

 

I would be interested in seeing these pics as well. The passenger side bolt holding my pump to the engine block just sheared off today. I know the driver side of my bracket isn’t original (it is just a couple pieces of c channel welded together) but I’m curious what the whole bracket is supposed to look like, and how/where it is supposed to attach to the engine block.