steering question (saganaw swap)

[buzzinhalfdoz]

ok the tub has been off the frame( for floor patching and braceing) for a couple weeks now and all the welding and fab work is almost finished. i will soon be starting on the frame, i have been researching the saganaw conversion for a while now and am confused on the knuckle and tie rods and pitman to use .
i have a box off a 1972 amc matador (looks just like the box on my friends 1976 cj). i can mount the box no problem and run the steering shaft, but dont know what to do for a pitman and a set of tie rods and the correct knuckle to attch them to, my cj is a 1970 CJ5 , 134 , 3speed all stock running gear.
ps - someone please list what Transfer Case , transmition , and rear , and front end i have.
thanks
pss - any recomdations on a windshield frame, mine is rusted beyond repair?

 

[Sasquach]

Your front axle should be a 27 I think, the Transmission a T-90 the Transfer Case a dana spicer model 18 twin stick and the rear a model 44 with 2 piece axle shaft.
If you are set on making this steering change I would go with a change to a model 30 axle up front to complete the upgrade.
Personaly I would keep it stock and correct any issues needed.
Trying to make this a later jeep will have you chasing your tail and the cool thing about what you got now is not everybody has one.
Just my 2c

 

[buzzinhalfdoz]

from what i have read the ross steering on these things are just real bad, my wife will be driving and i need power steering .

 

[tarry99]

ok the tub has been off the frame( for floor patching and braceing) for a couple weeks now and all the welding and fab work is almost finished. i will soon be starting on the frame, i have been researching the saganaw conversion for a while now and am confused on the knuckle and tie rods and pitman to use .
i have a box off a 1972 amc matador (looks just like the box on my friends 1976 cj). i can mount the box no problem and run the steering shaft, but dont know what to do for a pitman and a set of tie rods and the correct knuckle to attch them to, my cj is a 1970 CJ5 , 134 , 3speed all stock running gear.
ps - someone please list what Transfer Case , transmition , and rear , and front end i have.
thanks
pss - any recomdations on a windshield frame, mine is rusted beyond repair?

The easy answer first: Find another 1969-1975 Windshield frame with the curved top glass.....check Craigs list E-bay and local wrecking yards. The aftermarket ones are cheaply made and have problems fitting some holes.

I don't know anything about a Matador steering box.....AMC in the late 70's through the mid 80's used a series 800 HD Saginaw steering gear on the Jeep CJ5 's It has a large 67 cast into it with the numbers on top of each other...........by far the best steering gear made and still duplicated. This gear was in a lot of GM products but also found it's way into many other car manufactures to this day........do yourself a favor and find a 79-80 CJ and crawl under it with a Camera as this will resemble in part what your early setup will look like when finished. I agree with putting a Dana 30 front end in there but the steering can be adapted to your early model 27 front end with some changes that I can help you with later. As far as the correct Pittman arm that again as is mounting the box a trial & error program that needs to be put together while the box mounting is in progress......there is several to choose from.

The steering column also has to be modified.........First off the Ross gear box comes off and the steering shaft has to be cut out. This along with the original column has to be shortened to be reused. A new bearing or bushing needs to go in the end of the newly shortened column............

Placing the steering gear in the correct forward position on the frame is a trial & error method. All of the correct steering geometry starts there........the goal is simple , but it does take time. The box should be mounted to accomplish several things like getting the drag link coming from the sector shaft and Pittman arm in the correct angle and orientation to the Passenger side spindle. It should also be mounted high enough to clear any obstacles on the trail and still provide the proper angle from the input shaft rearward that is suitable to attache your steering arm coming from your column with the use of either 1 or 2 u-joints......
In the photos below on my 1965 which is just like yours I like to cut a hole in the cross member that holds the radiator and send the input shaft through there and on to the column..........Mine does have a Dana 30 in front and and some extras like a sway bar , but you should be able to get the Idea.......over on the EarlyCJ5 site in the tech section there is numerous photo's of steering gear installs................Hope this helps!
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[buzzinhalfdoz]

thanks, those pics help a loooooooot.
i now feel comfortable instaling the box mount and the colum.
still confused on the knuckle change and what tie rods to use , and pitman choice?
ps i will be using my 27 for now.
pss tub is now welded patched and painted,and i have started stripping the componets off the frame for welding and painting.