power stearing gear box

[DJH]

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]

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]

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

[68gmsee]

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]

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

[tkmad]

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.

[DJH]

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]

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]

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

[68gmsee]

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]

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

[neonlarry]

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.

[68gmsee]

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.

[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.

[68gmsee]

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]

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]

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.