cj7 PS upgrade

[jgjeeper]

Aright I'm new (to this forum) and am hoping somebody here can help me. I'm looking for an upgrade to the PS box for 1980 CJ7 . The stock box is now leaking and has a lot of slop. I've read a lot of complaints from guys that put rebuilts in and have them wear out fast. All my searches seem to hit threads that are guys upgrading from manual steering and from what I've read it sounds like the input shafts are a different size from cj's that came with PS. A friend sent me a link that shows the FSJ guys like to swap in Chevy S10 4x4 boxes ('94-'04) and he put one in his YJ. Of course I can't find anything on whether or not those would work in a CJ. I'd like to put a PSC box in but don't like the $$$. Anybody have any cheap ideas for a swap?

 

[CJ]

Hey jgjeeper and :ww: to the site! :chug

All CJ's use the common saginaw steering box. They were used on millions of vehicles, most notable the GM intermediates. I have a box from a 76 GM and it works great.

Are you looking for a pump and lines also?

 

[jgjeeper]

Thanks for the welcome.
I already bought a psc pump to put in but stopped when I noticed the leaking box. Why open up that mess twice I figured. So CJ are you saying that an S10 box would be a bolt in? Cause that's what i'm looking for so hoping not to need new hoses either.

 

[BusaDave9]

I'm in the same boat. The input shaft on the gearbox of my '79 CJ5 is leaking bad. So i lookup new AGR gearbox. It's $370 - ouch. So now I'm settling for used but when I look over the new options they have:
'72 - '78 Jeep
'88 - '98 GMC new body style
'80 - '91 GMC old body style
Etc, etc
I'm wondering what the difference is. It's got to be either the input shaft coupler or the mounting bolt holes.

 

[jgjeeper]

Well as far as the mounting bolt pattern goes i think the pattern is the same for A LOT of boxes. It's just the # of bolts, 3 or 4.
I don't want to be spending all kinds of time on this project and don't want to have to do this over in a couple years. It's looking like I'll be forced to go the expensive route so I can get something that will last and be bolt in.

 

[CJ]

All saginaw boxes have the same bolt pattern, they bolt in.

 

[jgjeeper]

by bolt in i also mean that the input shaft is the same and hose fittings are the same. if i have to mess around with getting new custom hoses or different shaft ends and what not i'm no better off then spending all the money up front on a psc box. and that has the bonus of being heavy duty. no sense in going through a ton of work to get something that isn't any stronger than a stock replacement box.

 

[CJ]

Inlet and outlets should be the same, they all use 45 deg. flare. I have never seen a different steering shaft diameter, but, to be sure - measure.

My box came out of a 76 Camaro or a Malibu (can't remember - killed those brain cells ), any sginaw should swap in.

 

[Bulto]

I installed a YJ wrangler power steering box to my CJ5 with only a modification the steering shaft end. Works great!!

 

[Biggregb]

Inlet and outlets should be the same, they all use 45 deg. flare. I have never seen a different steering shaft diameter, but, to be sure - measure.

My box came out of a 76 Camaro or a Malibu (can't remember - killed those brain cells ), any saginaw should swap in.

I have been reading several threads about converting from manual to power steering and I have a couple of questions.
I have a 76 CJ5 with manuel. I have a couple of pumps with brackets and hoses. So all I should need is a Saginaw box and coupler to convert to PS, right? What about the pitman arm? My CJ is lifted and my pitman is an after market dropped arm can I still use it or will I have to find a dropped pitman that fits the saginaw?

 

[Sasquach]

When I did mine I used a P.S. intermidiate steering shaft that has the correct spline for the P.S. box...no coupler used, and yes you need a P.S. dropped pitman arm. Both of those items I got from 4WD hardware.

 

[Biggregb]

When I did mine I used a P.S. intermidiate steering shaft that has the correct spline for the P.S. box...no coupler used, and yes you need a P.S. dropped pitman arm. Both of those items I got from 4WD hardware.

Thanks!