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1986 CJ7 - 258ci engine (rebuilt) with dual outlet header, stock T4 transmission, Zoom high performance clutch, Dana 300 transfer case, custom drive shaft w/TJ yokes, Dana 30/AMC 20 front/rear diff (Alloy USA upgrade) and Ox lockers. Jeep was originally a basket case, purchased for $250, and I have spent over a year rebuilding it in my spare time in the "old school" way, with attention to keeping it as stock appearing as possible, but making improvements where needed.
Flaming River does make a nice column at either 2" or 1.75" diameter shaft and you can order them in 2" length increments.
For Power steering you may have to change your frame bracket as most PS gear boxes are 4 hole while your manual may be 3. Also the Manual Box is shorter versus the PS box so the steering shaft from the column may also have to be changed. Also the relationship of the pittman arm to the tie rod when changing from manual to power has to be considered because the two arms are not interchangeable and are of different lengths.
All of these variables are fairly easy to overcome when you know what to look for.............also the decision whether the bracket has to be changed or moved all figure into the final correct installation.
The best thing to do would be if you could find a factory PW installation in a similar vintage year CJ and take some pictures and measurements.
Junk yards could be a source for some brackets..........but I would stay away from used steering gears or pumps unless you have a known history on these Items.........There are some good aftermarket gear suppliers out there and if you decide to go that way discuss the valving of the gear box to suit your driving style.
I used a tilt column out of a mid 70's Camaro in my 75. It fit well and was cheap. The problem is not the column, it's the bracket that supports the brake and clutch pedals. That has to be heavily modified to make the column fit and to support the column. You can look at my build thread to see what I had to do: www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f98/bills-75-cj5-ground-up-rebuild-9190/
I'm about to replace everything involved with steering but I am having trouble finding out what the spline count of the steering gearbox is. Anyone know off hand?
Check out the BORGESON Steering site.sorry I don't have the link.They have a chart that shows the different size and spline count for several steering boxes. Also supply parts for about any configuration you can imagine. mike
1974 CJ5 pre restoration, 1970 DJ5a ( with roof and doors removed and cut down to CJ5 specs ) pre restoration, 2004 Ford Territory, 2004 Suzuki DRZ400E.
I used a tilt column out of a mid 70's Camaro in my 75. It fit well and was cheap. The problem is not the column, it's the bracket that supports the brake and clutch pedals. That has to be heavily modified to make the column fit and to support the column. You can look at my build thread to see what I had to do: www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f98/bills-75-cj5-ground-up-rebuild-9190/
Fantastic build Bill, and a great assistance to those of us preparing to embark on a similar journey. Thank you. I've been seeking info on putting a tilt column in my '74 CJ5 project and your pics and info are invaluable. Mind you, I've spent the last couple of hours poring over your build journey and almost forgot what I was looking for to begin with, lol!
Love your work, cheers for all the info.
Fantastic build Bill, and a great assistance to those of us preparing to embark on a similar journey. Thank you. I've been seeking info on putting a tilt column in my '74 CJ5 project and your pics and info are invaluable. Mind you, I've spent the last couple of hours poring over your build journey and almost forgot what I was looking for to begin with, lol!
Love your work, cheers for all the info.
Do it with greenbacks or do it with sweat equity, your pick.
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[STEERING COLUMN]
Yep - get the parts from any intermediate GM column, you won't find them at a parts store - but any junk / scrap yard will easily hook you up. Jeep used a GM tilt steering column.
I used one from a 96 Cherokee in my 77. I had to get a creative with the u joint but is bolted on and plugged in.
A Cherokee (small) or Comanche column will pretty much slide right in. wire is pretty much plug and play. Trick is to find one with a key in it.
It is pretty much just a GM column but if you take one from a Cherokee it says Jeep on the wheel.
Read more: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/need-steering-column-21968/#ixzz2ycGud2AQ
I pulled the column from a 87 GMC 1/2 ton, swapped the lower steering shaft from the Jeep column into it, I think it cost me a total of $60.00.
The bonus is it moves the dimmer switch from the floor to the column.
Read more: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/need-steering-column-21968/#ixzz2yllzs99W
I just did this exact replacement today, the steering shaft will collapse if your in a accident, mine had 2 plastic pins keeping it from moving. but i have seen some that will slide. Mine is a 1985 CJ7 . What i had to do was loosen the 4 bolts that hold the steering column in the dash and slightly putt the steering wheel up and into the passenger compartment. Not it only needs to move about an 1 1/2 and it will easily come off of the steering column. once you get to the point, remove the clip, then the cover and pop the bearing out and then the plastic retainer. Then put in the new plastic retainer and then the bearing (make sure to lube it) and then the retainer cup and then the clip. Then push the steering wheel back into the dash and on to the shaft and put back the bolt to hold the clamp and your good to go. Hope this helps.
Read more: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/upper-steering-bearing-6454/#ixzz2WQwloe3w
I disassembled the steering shaft in my Son's '80 CJ7 and replaced the upper bearing. When I began reassembly, the splined shaft coming out of the firewall only penetrates the coupler about a half inch. I noticed the shaft is notched to accept the pinch bolt. Does this shaft have a slip joint also? Help!
75 is a different animal than a 77. The floor is shaped differently and thus the pedals are all shorter than the 76+ ones.
Most folks swap to the pedal assembly from a 76+ CJ or YJ in order to use a GM column, which is essentially what an XJ column is.
You'll have to shorten those 76+ pedals, some holes won't line up, you need to cut a bigger hole in the dash, and the downstream steering linkage won't just bolt up.
I'd suggest trying to get everything - from steering box to the horn button - from the same donor CJ to make this mo' easy on yourself if at all possible.
earlycj5.net has a dedicated 72-75 CJ5 forum that is probably the best source of info for your Jeep. Old threads there will cover this swap in great detail so go check it out. Not knocking this forum but most folks here only speak 76 and up, and assume CJs are all like theirs, and will unintentionally steer you the wrong way sometimes. 72-75 intermediates are the real b@st@rd children of the CJs.
Another option is shortening your bus column or changing the angle, if you want to keep that old school vibe. That's way easier than swapping because that column is so darn simple inside it. You can get repro wheels and upper bearings, and Advance Adapters makes the unobtainium lower bearings for $25 or so, so it is possible to get it back to like new condition.
1974 CJ5 pre restoration, 1970 DJ5a ( with roof and doors removed and cut down to CJ5 specs ) pre restoration, 2004 Ford Territory, 2004 Suzuki DRZ400E.
Do it with greenbacks or do it with sweat equity, your pick.
{=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=}
[STEERING COLUMN]
Yep - get the parts from any intermediate GM column, you won't find them at a parts store - but any junk / scrap yard will easily hook you up. Jeep used a GM tilt steering column.
I used one from a 96 Cherokee in my 77. I had to get a creative with the u joint but is bolted on and plugged in.
A Cherokee (small) or Comanche column will pretty much slide right in. wire is pretty much plug and play. Trick is to find one with a key in it.
It is pretty much just a GM column but if you take one from a Cherokee it says Jeep on the wheel.
Read more: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/need-steering-column-21968/#ixzz2ycGud2AQ
I pulled the column from a 87 GMC 1/2 ton, swapped the lower steering shaft from the Jeep column into it, I think it cost me a total of $60.00.
The bonus is it moves the dimmer switch from the floor to the column.
Read more: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/need-steering-column-21968/#ixzz2yllzs99W
I just did this exact replacement today, the steering shaft will collapse if your in a accident, mine had 2 plastic pins keeping it from moving. but i have seen some that will slide. Mine is a 1985 CJ7 . What i had to do was loosen the 4 bolts that hold the steering column in the dash and slightly putt the steering wheel up and into the passenger compartment. Not it only needs to move about an 1 1/2 and it will easily come off of the steering column. once you get to the point, remove the clip, then the cover and pop the bearing out and then the plastic retainer. Then put in the new plastic retainer and then the bearing (make sure to lube it) and then the retainer cup and then the clip. Then push the steering wheel back into the dash and on to the shaft and put back the bolt to hold the clamp and your good to go. Hope this helps.
Read more: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/upper-steering-bearing-6454/#ixzz2WQwloe3w
I disassembled the steering shaft in my Son's '80 CJ7 and replaced the upper bearing. When I began reassembly, the splined shaft coming out of the firewall only penetrates the coupler about a half inch. I noticed the shaft is notched to accept the pinch bolt. Does this shaft have a slip joint also? Help!
75 is a different animal than a 77. The floor is shaped differently and thus the pedals are all shorter than the 76+ ones.
Most folks swap to the pedal assembly from a 76+ CJ or YJ in order to use a GM column, which is essentially what an XJ column is.
You'll have to shorten those 76+ pedals, some holes won't line up, you need to cut a bigger hole in the dash, and the downstream steering linkage won't just bolt up.
I'd suggest trying to get everything - from steering box to the horn button - from the same donor CJ to make this mo' easy on yourself if at all possible.
earlycj5.net has a dedicated 72-75 CJ5 forum that is probably the best source of info for your Jeep. Old threads there will cover this swap in great detail so go check it out. Not knocking this forum but most folks here only speak 76 and up, and assume CJs are all like theirs, and will unintentionally steer you the wrong way sometimes. 72-75 intermediates are the real b@st@rd children of the CJs.
Another option is shortening your bus column or changing the angle, if you want to keep that old school vibe. That's way easier than swapping because that column is so darn simple inside it. You can get repro wheels and upper bearings, and Advance Adapters makes the unobtainium lower bearings for $25 or so, so it is possible to get it back to like new condition.
I've been following this thread with great interest, thanks all for the links and info. The tip re the earlycj5.net forum is great but I've tried twice to register with them and each time I get a message two days later telling me I don't meet their membership criteria, ' sorry, your membership has been deleted '!! WTf? Do I need to be referred by an existing member or is this because I'm an Aussie and it's just petty jealousy, lol!! I can't figure it out, I've even emailed asking for an explanation but received the sound of one hand clapping in response. I've got an intermediate series 1974 CJ5 with the truck chest spear steering column and I've been searching everywhere to find out what will fit as a shorter and adjustable steering column replacement / changeover that might be available in Oz. We have tons of jeeps here, but mainly from the late 80's /90's on, so the Cherokee could be the go. I've read so many wildly varying posts re this changeover on major difficulties encountered through to bolted in and good to go, it's making my head spin! When you say the '96 Cherokee slides right in with some creativity on the u bolt, would this work for a '74 ? We also have GM here under the Holden banner since 1948, plenty of models over the years to pick from, I'm just clueless as to which ( if any ) might fit. I was injured in a work accident a few years ago and can't really walk much anymore, even with my cane, so I need to get my seating, posture and the steering wheel position spot on so I can get out and about again and get Jeeping ( if that's a word? ) I live in Noosa, Queensland and have awesome beaches, rainforest trails and incredible Fraser Island all right here, truly blessed, I just want to rebuild the old girl right the first time so it's research, research, research! Any and all info, links and advice greatly appreciated. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge experiences, triumphs and mistakes, it's fantastic help for a ' newbie ' , cheers.
Flaming River does make a nice column at either 2" or 1.75" diameter shaft and you can order them in 2" length increments.
