power stearing gear box - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

DJH · 06-25-2008, 06:30 PM

I have been around this board for a few years now but never had many questions that havent been answered by others asking. But I just realized my 68 frame that I sandblasted POR15 and painted doesnt have the dimple for power stearing. Is a problem to shim the box out the 3/8 to 1/2 inch I need or do I realy need to hit her with a BFH? Thanks for the input in advance. Dave

**Classic Heartbeat** · 06-25-2008, 07:45 PM

Break out the heat!! Break out the BFH!! Suck it up and go to town!! The answer is yes. Unless you want to run the steering gear off center. WES

DJH · 06-25-2008, 08:05 PM

I was just wondering if the differance couldnt be made up in the tie-rod adjusters?

68gmsee · 06-25-2008, 08:33 PM

I've got mine shimmed on my 68 GMC and haven't had any problems yet. Had it realigned and been driving it for about a year. Not sure if the gear box makes any difference though.

neonlarry · 06-25-2008, 09:08 PM

I'm with WES on this, thats one of my "you might be a redneck if".

DJH · 06-25-2008, 09:15 PM

my intention was not to "red neck" it I was going to machine some spacers.
I am not sure about heating up a frame and creating a weak spot in a factory know potential weak spot.

68gmsee · 06-25-2008, 10:27 PM

No, it doesn't look "redneck". You hardly notice it and have to really look to see it -at least on my truck. You should have a dimple already on the frame like mine does so you won't shim as much as you would if it were a completely straight frame like on a 67.

If you want I can take some pics tomorrow so you can decide.

68gmsee · 06-25-2008, 10:28 PM

Oh, and forgot to mention, I just used washers...

68gmsee · 06-26-2008, 03:27 PM

Here's what mine looks like. I'm assuming yours has the dimples since it's also a 68. If it has a straight frame without the curvature, then supposedly it's a 67 frame (?) As you can see it's very hard to see the shims.

I believe I had to bend (form) the bumper bracket, though.

tkmad · 06-25-2008, 09:11 PM

I see no problems with shimming. The bolts are loaded in tension so there is no extra force on them. You can adjust it out with the rod ends or just put the pitman arm on one notch over.

tkmad · 06-26-2008, 04:57 PM

Did you just use the standars PS hoses for a '68?

68gmsee · 06-26-2008, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkmad

Did you just use the standars PS hoses for a '68?

I did mine about 10+ years ago, so my memory is fuzzy. I had it stored until recently. I got the gear box from a j-yard and I believe I took every thing of a late 70's truck. Not sure on the rest of the stuff.

The main reason I shimmed mine instead of dimpling in the frame, was because I had thought of putting this truck back to it's original condition at some time in the future. Not sure if I'll do that now though.

neonlarry · 06-26-2008, 05:11 PM

Heating up the frame, unless you go past orange red, will not create a weak spot. These frames are not hardened.
Now the steering gear is hardened in the center where it gets the most use, running it off center means using it most of the time on a non-hardened area.

Indyuke · 06-26-2008, 08:04 PM

From what I've heard the '73 and newer steering boxes are variable rate. If you decide to go with a variable rate box and shim it out, then your steering will be very twitchy and unstable on the highway.

68gmsee · 06-26-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indyuke

From what I've heard the '73 and newer steering boxes are variable rate. If you decide to go with a variable rate box and shim it out, then your steering will be very twitchy and unstable on the highway.

Mine doesn't seem to be. It's pretty steady. However, I forgot to mention that I think mine came from a late 70's Dodge truck. Looks identical to the one on my 69.

Longhorn Man · 06-26-2008, 10:50 PM

this is not a weak spot on the frames, only the 4X4 trucks crack there.
It is a bad idea... many people get away with it... kinda like putting axles shafts in the rear that are too long.
It can bite you in the ass... and when it does, it's a HUGE bite in the ass.

smoknbarrels · 06-26-2008, 10:50 PM

mine used to be shimmed with washers.. it was one of those things that was really anoying to me, so i heated it and hit it.. but don't just start bashing it with a hammer, you'll make it look really ugly really quick.!
what I did was find a large solid rod or really thick pipe and put it against the just heated frame spot and hit the pipe with a mofo hammer.. it gives you a near factory looking divot in the frame with little work.

06-25-2008, 06:30 PM	#1
DJH Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Franksville WI 53126 Posts: 56	power stearing gear box I have been around this board for a few years now but never had many questions that havent been answered by others asking. But I just realized my 68 frame that I sandblasted POR15 and painted doesnt have the dimple for power stearing. Is a problem to shim the box out the 3/8 to 1/2 inch I need or do I realy need to hit her with a BFH? Thanks for the input in advance. Dave __________________ 72 LWB fleet 402 with a/c 68 SWB fleet 327 (frame-off in progress) 03 GMC 1500 collector of 1/18 diecast cars (not NASCAR) Franksville WI (15 mi. South of Milwaukee)

06-25-2008, 07:45 PM	#2
Classic Heartbeat Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!! Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512 Posts: 10,766	Re: power stearing gear box Break out the heat!! Break out the BFH!! Suck it up and go to town!! The answer is yes. Unless you want to run the steering gear off center. WES __________________ On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys

06-25-2008, 08:05 PM	#3
DJH Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Franksville WI 53126 Posts: 56	Re: power stearing gear box I was just wondering if the differance couldnt be made up in the tie-rod adjusters? __________________ 72 LWB fleet 402 with a/c 68 SWB fleet 327 (frame-off in progress) 03 GMC 1500 collector of 1/18 diecast cars (not NASCAR) Franksville WI (15 mi. South of Milwaukee)

06-25-2008, 08:33 PM	#4
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: power stearing gear box I've got mine shimmed on my 68 GMC and haven't had any problems yet. Had it realigned and been driving it for about a year. Not sure if the gear box makes any difference though.

06-25-2008, 09:08 PM	#5
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,746	Re: power stearing gear box I'm with WES on this, thats one of my "you might be a redneck if". __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

06-25-2008, 09:15 PM	#6
DJH Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Franksville WI 53126 Posts: 56	Re: power stearing gear box my intention was not to "red neck" it I was going to machine some spacers. I am not sure about heating up a frame and creating a weak spot in a factory know potential weak spot. __________________ 72 LWB fleet 402 with a/c 68 SWB fleet 327 (frame-off in progress) 03 GMC 1500 collector of 1/18 diecast cars (not NASCAR) Franksville WI (15 mi. South of Milwaukee) Last edited by DJH; 06-25-2008 at 10:20 PM.

06-25-2008, 10:27 PM	#7
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: power stearing gear box No, it doesn't look "redneck". You hardly notice it and have to really look to see it -at least on my truck. You should have a dimple already on the frame like mine does so you won't shim as much as you would if it were a completely straight frame like on a 67. If you want I can take some pics tomorrow so you can decide.

06-25-2008, 10:28 PM	#8
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: power stearing gear box Oh, and forgot to mention, I just used washers...

06-26-2008, 03:27 PM	#9
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: power stearing gear box Here's what mine looks like. I'm assuming yours has the dimples since it's also a 68. If it has a straight frame without the curvature, then supposedly it's a 67 frame (?) As you can see it's very hard to see the shims. I believe I had to bend (form) the bumper bracket, though. Attached Images

06-25-2008, 09:11 PM	#10
tkmad Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thousand Oaks Ca Posts: 51	Re: power stearing gear box I see no problems with shimming. The bolts are loaded in tension so there is no extra force on them. You can adjust it out with the rod ends or just put the pitman arm on one notch over.

06-26-2008, 04:57 PM	#11
tkmad Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thousand Oaks Ca Posts: 51	Re: power stearing gear box Did you just use the standars PS hoses for a '68?

06-26-2008, 05:11 PM	#13
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,746	Re: power stearing gear box Heating up the frame, unless you go past orange red, will not create a weak spot. These frames are not hardened. Now the steering gear is hardened in the center where it gets the most use, running it off center means using it most of the time on a non-hardened area. __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

06-26-2008, 08:04 PM	#14
Indyuke Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lake Stevens, WA Posts: 623	Re: power stearing gear box From what I've heard the '73 and newer steering boxes are variable rate. If you decide to go with a variable rate box and shim it out, then your steering will be very twitchy and unstable on the highway.

06-26-2008, 10:50 PM	#16
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: power stearing gear box this is not a weak spot on the frames, only the 4X4 trucks crack there. It is a bad idea... many people get away with it... kinda like putting axles shafts in the rear that are too long. It can bite you in the ass... and when it does, it's a HUGE bite in the ass.

06-26-2008, 10:50 PM	#17
smoknbarrels Registered Mail Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 513	Re: power stearing gear box mine used to be shimmed with washers.. it was one of those things that was really anoying to me, so i heated it and hit it.. but don't just start bashing it with a hammer, you'll make it look really ugly really quick.! what I did was find a large solid rod or really thick pipe and put it against the just heated frame spot and hit the pipe with a mofo hammer.. it gives you a near factory looking divot in the frame with little work. __________________ '67 chev 496, lwb to swb, bagged - pro street project Last edited by smoknbarrels; 06-26-2008 at 10:51 PM.



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