Gearbox "lock to lock 3 turns"

[N2GMTrux]

Does anyone know what year model (71 to 87) Chevy truck or van powersteering gearbox had three turns lock to lock that would fit my 71 C-10.

[Brad]

Mine is from a '77.

[N2GMTrux]

I've been looking at the boneyards and all the trucks I've found are missing the P/S box. But I did locate a 78 Chevy van which I bought my tilt column from. Will the van P/S box work or is it strictly just a truck gearbox.

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by N2GMTrux

I've been looking at the boneyards and all the trucks I've found are missing the P/S box. But I did locate a 78 Chevy van which I bought my tilt column from. Will the van P/S box work or is it strictly just a truck gearbox.

I'm not famaliar with 2wd trucks or vans but the one determining factor if the van box will work on your truck would be if it mounts on the same side of the frame. I think 2wd trucks mount on the inside of the frame? 4x4's mount on the outside of the frame. Van boxes mount??? Dunno!

You'll need to swap out your pitman arm with the one on the van box.

Other options would be S-10 and cars. Alot of them use the same Saginaw steering box as the older trucks but they might have different internal stops and the newer ones will have different style fittings for the hoses.

I just put a Monte Carlo box on my wife's 95 S-10 Blazer last night, and I have one off of an IROC Camaro on my S-10. The Camaro box on my S-10 steers great but it won'tlet it turn as short as the original box would.

[N2GMTrux]

Thanks for the info! I'll have to really look into the mounting of the box. Hopefully I can find a box soon,,,,,,It sure is hard to shift gears "3spd" on the column and make a sharp turn with no power steering.

[Green Machine]

Don't know if this helps but we replaced the leaky PS gear on our 71 C20 with a unit from a 78 c10, the 78 unit does require less turning lock to lock than the original did.

[N2GMTrux]

Thanks,,,,,I,ll keep checking the salvage yards until I find a 77 or 78 with three turns lock to lock.

[Green Machine]

Get the rag joint with the box, the shaft size changed some year in there, the old rag joint won't work.

[dingo_dan_22]

I threw one on from a 74' . Bolted right up and was the right length with the right rag joint and pitman arm. The original should have the same internals up to 76'. Reman part #'s change in 77'.

[arkracing]

I don't think a Van box will work - input shaft has a differant angle than a regular truck I believe, but don't quote me on that.

If you don't have power steering, why not just get a P.S. box from a '73-87 truck with the Pump, Lines, and pulley set up. You will probably have to change your waterpump to the later long style to configure with the later pump/pulleys. Get the Alt. Braket as well - as that will change.

Not as hard as it sounds and then you don't have to worry about strong arming it while worrying about shifting

Just a thought

[454_72_4X4]

Input angle would be different on a van but only because the entire box is tilted.

The long waterpump style brackets and pump will definately be easier to find.
You could get the pump and brackets off of a van also, (as long as it's smallblock powered), but the lines probably won't work.

[N2GMTrux]

Thanks for all the info,,,,,the van P/S ox will not work due to the angled connection. But I did find a P/S box from a 1977 C-10 with three turns lock to lock. Thanks for all the info!!!