is there a difference between steering boxes?

[biohazard cj]

i have a 78 CJ5 , i guy i bought it from said with the erlier cj;s with power steering they have a extremly bad turning ratio and kinda sloppy, or causeing a sloppy feeling and not being able to turn as sharp.. after 79 tho they redesigned the internals forthe box giving it a more favorable ratio, longer throw (for tighter turning) and a better feeling more like later model cars like today. (figurativly speaking) has anyone heard this before. if so, will the box for the newer cj's fit my 78. if not, does anyone out there know of a good HD box that actually feels good?

it can be hard to drive mine i kid you not with my hand at 12 o clock , i can move to between 11 and 1 o clock before wheels actually start to turn, and also i cant even make near of a u turn on a 3 lane road. where my tj could u turn in a 2 lanes i kinda miss that

 

[Kane]

I never heard of the box being different from 78 to 79. The only differences I know of are the 3 bolt and 4 bolt mount. My box came out of a 78 GM car and it turns very tight. Did you check the adjustment bolts on the from the axle? They have a bolt and jam nut on each side steering knuckle that stops your tire from steering to tight so it wont rub the frame. If they are adjusted to far out then it will stop to tires from turning and hinder your turning radius. that slop in you steering more than likely os from you linkage and not the box. Each little u-joint on the shaft and then the joint that mounts to the box will wear and the combination of all that wear tranlates to the steering becoming very sloppy. If you have a tilt steering column then you will also have one more u-jiont that can wear.

 

[coldwater]

I have never seen any diference in the 2 boxes. I would suggest that someone may have swapped in a generic Sag. box that simply fit the Jeep. There are 2 ratio boxes, the sedan type, with a slower response, and the sport type with a quicker response. A jeep needs the sport box with a quick ratio.

 

[biohazard cj]

ok cold water that makes complete sense. how would i obtain a sport box? i mean simply if i go to my parts guy i wont be able to tell. the difference. either way i want a new box mine is leaking and it looks far to old to even try to repair it. as far as messing with the adjusting bolt on the box iv done that with heavy duty internationals and had extreamly little satisfying results. i will check today the colum joints and also thos jam bolts.

thanks both you!

 

[CJ]

Look for a box with '76' on it -->> http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/power-steering-conversion-874/#post6751

 

[LongHorn]

ok cold water that makes complete sense. how would i obtain a sport box? i mean simply if i go to my parts guy i wont be able to tell. the difference. either way i want a new box mine is leaking and it looks far to old to even try to repair it. as far as messing with the adjusting bolt on the box iv done that with heavy duty internationals and had extreamly little satisfying results. i will check today the colum joints and also thos jam bolts.

thanks both you!

How about a box for a "Transmission /AM","Z/28",or a"Corvette".

 

[biohazard cj]

long horn, a box for thos cars will bolt up to a cj? i would assume you are talking about a 70s car? and CJ where would 76 be stamped on it?

 

[CJ]

Yep - he is talking about any mid year that has a saginaw box. I believe the 76 is cast into the housing (not sure exactly where).

 

[coldwater]

How about a box for a "Transmission /AM","Z/28",or a"Corvette".

Well, you could poke around the bone yards and come up with right box, but remember, you may get another worn out box, or one that has bad seals. Over time, I have pretty much found that with some items, like my steering, It's better to just take the core to the parts joint, and buy a new or reman unit, and forget about it. I do NOT recommend trying to rebuild a steering box. It's not an easy job, requires special tools, and is best left to those with the proper training. I have in the past plugged in used boxes, but I eather used them on trail jeeps, or knew the donor vehicle and what was wrong with it before using the parts.

 

[LongHorn]

Well, you could poke around the bone yards and come up with right box, but remember, you may get another worn out box, or one that has bad seals. Over time, I have pretty much found that with some items, like my steering, It's better to just take the core to the parts joint, and buy a new or reman unit, and forget about it. I do NOT recommend trying to rebuild a steering box. It's not an easy job, requires special tools, and is best left to those with the proper training. I have in the past plugged in used boxes, but I eather used them on trail jeeps, or knew the donor vehicle and what was wrong with it before using the parts.

You could buy a rebuilt or new replacement for a T/A, Z/28 0r Corvette.

 

[coldwater]

You could buy a rebuilt or new replacement for a T/A, Z/28 0r Corvette.

Roger that cup cake.

 

[LongHorn]

GM Box Interchange

A list of direct bolt-on boxes and some that need modifications. (Note this list refers to Saginaw 605 Power boxes but would probably apply to manual as well.

Interchange #706

Buick Special 64-70 Camaro 67-74 Chevelle 64-70
Chevy 65-70 Firebird 67-73 Grand Prix 69-70
Monte Carlo 70 Monza 75-79, 8cyl Monza 78-80,6cyl
Nova 68-70 Olds 64-70 F-85 64-70
Pontiac 64-70 Skyhawk 75-80 Starfire 75
Starfire 76-80, 6 cyl Starfire 77-79, 8cyl Sunbird 76-80
Tempest 64-70

Fast Ratio Box: 20/1 # 7806396 Cast No. 5679142
Monza/Vega Box: 16/1 # 7819935

On some 64-70 the drag link hole on the pitman arm may need to be enlarged.

The following boxes will fit but may need to have the pitman arm and/or the rag joint changed or and extra bolt hole boss taked off the steering box. Make sure you compare the input shaft length or the length from the bolt holes to the end of the input shaft to your power box.

Interchange #999

Apollo 73-75 Omega 73-79
Chevelle 71-77 Skylark 75-79
Monte Carlo 71 Regal 73-74
F-85 71-72 Nova 71-79
Lemans 72-77 Cutlass 76
Ventura 71-77 Phoenix 77-79
Century 73-74 Tempest 71
GMC Sprint 71-77
Cutlass 73

Interchange #989

AMC Ambassador 70-2
AMC 77-80
AMC Spirit 79-83
AMC Hornet 70-77
AMC Concord 78-83
AMC Matador 71-76
AMC Gremlin 70-78

Interchange #1034

Jeepster 72
Jeep 73-83
Jeep CJ & DJ 72
Jeep CJ 84-86

List was derived from Hollander Interchange Manual


Fast ratio Power Steering- Saginaw 605

Use box from 1977-81 Camaro/Firebird with disc brakes (or any 800 series box used in Novas, full size GM, etc), gives approx 3 turns lock to lock, versus original power steering 4.5 turns.

All later model boxes require the 1964 - 72 Chevelle pitman PS arm (required change) when used on earlier Chevelles.

Steering shaft comes in two diameters, get the appropriate flex coupling lower half in the same style as original to match the boxes shaft.

1982 or 86 to 92 Camaro Z-28/firebird Transmission -AM are 2 turns (12:1) lock to lock, Use original end cap to get the right stops on 2 turn boxes to decrease turning radius.

Later model boxes (1980 and up) use “O” rings instead of flared input and output lines.

Later model internals can be swapped into early boxes to eliminate problems with line fittings and stops or pump can be modified by changing outlet valve (this requires verification) or swapped to accept "O" ring hosed.

 

[DHugg]

Longhorn, I don't want to have to do this job (replace box) again, so I went with a once-in-a-lifetime replacement, purchasing an AGR Super Box II. I will have years to chase down other problem solutions that I discover in the '80 CJ7 .

I like prowling junkyards and fabricating great (in my own eyes) solutions out of material at hand better than about anybody, but I sorta feel that the steering should be rock-solid and ultra-reliable. I flew airplanes all my life, so I hate it when the engine or controls fail; I'm sure I have those same feelings about my Jeep repairs. But still, it would've been great to strip a steering box of a low-miles wreck and install it, but the search takes time and this CJ is my only wheels.

 

[lukemon]

I agree. sometimes it is just too easy to go and buy one that is nice and shiny in a box!

 

[Petescj]

I wanna steal your avatar. It would be nice and new to me.

I agree. sometimes it is just too easy to go and buy one that is nice and shiny in a box!

 

[lukemon]

it's not an avatar; it's an actual picture of me after I bought that stupid PS90x workout program. now I can actually sit in my CJ5 and not suffer from "belly steer"!

 

[Petescj]

Send it to me I could use it myself.

it's not an avatar; it's an actual picture of me after I bought that stupid PS90x workout program. now I can actually sit in my CJ5 and not suffer from "belly steer"!