saginaw steering

im going to be putting 33s on my friends 53. when i drove my 55, with 33s, the old bell crank steering killed, it didn't help that i had one of those small steering wheels. my friends still has the stock steering wheel so i was wondering about doing the manual saginaw steering box, out front, or power steering. im just thinking that power steering would take to much power from the little flat four. has anyone converted to the manual saginaw and liked it. any thoughts on how to set this up with 33s and be able to enjoy the four wheeling trails, the jeep wont be driven on the streets just off road.

 

The search tool is your friend... this is the main post in the fabricator forum, but there are MANY others:
http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17911

 

thats why i asked if the saginaw manual steering box, mounted out front, is easier to steer with the bigger tires than the original steering box. you say it is a lot easier, thats great. do you think 32 inch tires, with the saginaw box and using the original steering wheel would be a good setup.

 

I ran the manual saggy box that came on my '72 with 35's and a small grant wheel for a while. I kinda resembled Popeye after that but it was manageable. Power is much nicer now, but with your current setup a manual box would be a big help.

 

right now it has the stock tires but i know the guy is going to want a lift and bigger tires. you see he is getting into four wheeling and he is going with me. i have a 55 M38A1 with a 350 sbc, 4 speed saginaw, dana 44 rear with 10 spline axles and a dana 25 front with 10 spline axles, im running a lockright in the rear and a powerlock in the front. also a trailmaster 4 inch lift with power steering and 33s. he just wants a capable jeep but not to extreme. at least not yet. so im putting a lockright in the rear and thought he would need at least a 2&1/2 inch lift and at least 31/10.50. thats why im checking into the steering for him.

 

I have a Saginaw manual box with 33 x 13.50 Super Swampers LTBs on my 73 Postal Conversion. It's a bit of a workout if your wheeling all day, but I kept up with all the other built rigs no problem. It's got to be a heck of a lot better than the Ross system.

 

i found a site that shows the chevy power steering pump mounted to the little 4 flathead. seems thats the way to go. guess it wouldn't rob the motor just for rock crawling.

 

share the wisdom what's the site?

 

well i didn't save the site just the pictures of the pump mounted to the engine. if you want the you'll have to email me direct and i can send them to who ever wants them, its a clean install. hotrod351@citlink.net

 

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17422&highlight=head+power+steering