why is my steering box shimmed?

[1972BackInBlackC10]

the steering box on my truck is shimmed and I have no idea why, I was planning on swapping the steering and lowering kit from my truck onto my 2wheel drive blazer. but now I don't know if i can because the steering box isn't shimmed on the blazer

the vin on the cab says its a 68 but I don't know if its the original frame, it looks like it was swapped to a 5 lug set up because all the brakes, steering etc front to back are new and the rear diff and spindles etc have been painted. any help to figure this out so I can swap my stuff over to my blazer would be appreciated, also the blazer is a 71 yr model

[68350]

If its a 68 frame, the frame isn't dimpled for the steering box. So my guess is when they swapped the suspension and added power steering, the box hit the frame so they shimmed it to account for it not being dimpled

[kwmech]

I've never seen a 68 frame that wasn't dimpled. 67s were flat, as they had power assisted steering

[1972BackInBlackC10]

the frame looks dimpled in the pics?

[CaptRMW]

Compare your '71 to the '67 frame and you will see the difference. It should be an easy bolt up swap with no shims needed. ( a cave man could do it)

[michael bustamante]

i shimmed my p steer box on my 67 with no issues. same way too, 3 washers on each bolt

[1972BackInBlackC10]

ill go take a look and post some pics of the two

[1972BackInBlackC10]

first pic is the blazer and second pic is my truck. I feel like a goof now, when ever people referred to the frame being dimpled for the steering box I always thought they were referring to the dimpled areas where the bolts go through. Now I know what your really talking about seeing the difference between the frames

With that said will I be able to just swap everything over and not have to adjust anything to make up for the shims?

[hugger6933]

Yes bolt up the box no shims. Jim

[1972BackInBlackC10]

I think im going to use this steering box on the blazer that way I can keep the pitman arm, idler arm, tie rod end etc all together

[hamjet]

I see more of a concave to the 1st truck over the 2nd which has more of a straight frame where the box is.. I can't see it working without shims. edit.. I should have read it better yes going to the 71 no shims needsd, sorry..

[EARNHARDT#3]

The shims really aren't the best method because it throws the steering geometry off a bit. The other method known as "heat and beat" entails heating the frame horn with a torch and beating it with a BFH. I don't own an acetylene torch setup so I used mapp gas and got it pretty darn close. Just had to use 1 washer on the bolts. In 2 years I've made many improvements on my '67 but that power steering has been by FAR the best one. I was lucky to find the pump/brackets/pulleys for my online 6 amongst a parts lot on Craigslist for $100.

[special-K]

What you have is the steering box that belongs on your '71 adapted to work on the '68 frame. So yes, it will bolt right on the '71 with no shims needed.

[1972BackInBlackC10]

so when I put the steering box and the steering parts on the blazer will everything be good? or am I gonna have to get a wheel alignment done to make up for the shims? im worried my steering will be out of whack once I switch it over because of the shims

[RichardJ]

>>The shims really aren't the best method because it throws the steering geometry off a bit. The other method known as "heat and beat" entails heating the frame horn with a torch and beating it with a BFH. I don't own an acetylene torch setup so I used mapp gas and got it pretty darn close. Just had to use 1 washer on the bolts. In 2 years I've made many improvements on my '67 but that power steering has been by FAR the best one.<<

Actually the 1 washer is perfect. It would seem strange, but the center line of the P/steer pitman shaft is closer to the mounting pad surfaces by the thickness of the 1 washer.
I set the manual box on a flat steel table surface and measured to the center of the pitman shaft. You can't set the P box on a flat surface because it is too fat. I placed 1/2" spacers under each of the mounting ears and took the measurement, table to pitman shaft center. After the 1/2" was subtracted, the P/steer box was found to be shorter by the thickness of some washers I had.

I heated the frame in the area between the bolt holes with a Rosebud and tapped it in.
The Sag box casting wasn't very smooth so I cleaned it up with an angle grinder. I coated the box with chalk and checked the fit without the washers and the high spots were easy to see. A little heat with a couple of taps and a little more grinding and it fit.
I spot welded the washers to the frame, because it proved to be very difficult getting them in place with one set of hands.

P/steer was a great improvement, especially with a smaller steering wheel. I have to put AC and more suitable highway gears as #1 and #2, but the much faster steering ratio with easier maneuvering is right in there. Just because it's an old truck, doesn't mean you have to sweat and feel like your wrestling a bear parking it.

[67 chevelle]

adding power steering should not effect your alignment ,
some 67s had the dimple in the frame and a power steering box , mine does
some 68s had ram assist , mine did , it made the list of parts longer to convert [centerlink]