Power Steering issues

[byates2]

Im trying to convert my 67 c10 from manual steering to power steering. I tried putting the power steering gear box on and it wont line up. Has anyone done this before?

The Gear box seems to be hitting the core support and will not sit flush with the frame!! Any ideas!?!?

[Bob 68327]

You will probably have to trim the core support bracket and your frame doesn't have the recess for the box so you will either have to cut it out or heat it with a torch and bend it in to match the gear box. The 67 didn't come with a power gear box they came with power assist steering which used the manual gear box and a slave cylinder on the front suspension and that's why you are having trouble .... Bob

[byates2]

Would cutting a notch out of the frame like that weaken its integrity?

[Bob 68327]

yes you will need to fab and weld in a piece to conform to the contour of the box and keep the frame strong.

[Bob 68327]

I will look tomorrow for better pics but here is one if you look close you can see the notch on a 67 frame that i cut . Keep in mind that this is before the patch was welded back in the frame .

[byates2]

Originally Posted by Bob 68327

You will probably have to trim the core support bracket and your frame doesn't have the recess for the box so you will either have to cut it out or heat it with a torch and bend it in to match the gear box. The 67 didn't come with a power gear box they came with power assist steering which used the manual gear box and a slave cylinder on the front suspension and that's why you are having trouble .... Bob

How would i be able to dimple it? Just simply heating it up and pounding it into shape? Would there be a possibilty of screwing up the screw holes, like pounding them out of place so they wont line up with the gear box?

[Zeke's Garage]

I did this upgrade to my '67, and used a PS box that came on my '70 (not sure if it was original or not). I had to notch the bumper bracket for the end of the box to clear, and just used some flat washers to shim the box away from the frame maybe 1/4". I know that this changes the center position of the pitman arm, and there may be other strangeness in the steering because of it, but honestly it is SO much nicer to drive now that I'll never notice that 1/4" of shift.

Do you know what year your PS box is made for?

[byates2]

Originally Posted by Zeke's Garage

I did this upgrade to my '67, and used a PS box that came on my '70 (not sure if it was original or not). I had to notch the bumper bracket for the end of the box to clear, and just used some flat washers to shim the box away from the frame maybe 1/4". I know that this changes the center position of the pitman arm, and there may be other strangeness in the steering because of it, but honestly it is SO much nicer to drive now that I'll never notice that 1/4" of shift.

Do you know what year your PS box is made for?

Yea i went to autozone and ordered it from a 68 p/u

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by byates2

Yea i went to autozone and ordered it from a 68 p/u

Sorry for the hijack but have a quick question for byates2.

I went to Auto Zone and they didn't have one in stock for me to look at. Do you know if your is 3.5 or 4.5 lock to lock? Also, what part number did you order?

Mine came out of a late 70's or 1980 truck and is the 3.5 lock to lock. Has number 5686815 stamped on the end cap.

[byates2]

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

Sorry for the hijack but have a quick question for byates2.

I went to Auto Zone and they didn't have one in stock for me to look at. Do you know if your is 3.5 or 4.5 lock to lock? Also, what part number did you order?

Mine came out of a late 70's or 1980 truck and is the 3.5 lock to lock. Has number 5686815 stamped on the end cap.

Id have to look, im not sure what number it has on it. But i read somewhere that the 68's were a 3.5 lock. I'll check the numbers and get back to ya on that!

[byates2]

looking at the reciept, it says the part number is #858670 but i'll let ya know what number is on the gearbox itself!

[68gmsee]

10/4. thnx.

[byates2]

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

10/4. thnx.

Yea looking at the gearbox it has the same # yours does it also has another # on that reads 7802644

I think the gearboxes are the same for quite a few years! I did some research looking for powersteering to put on my 67 cuz they didnt come with it that year and it looked to me like they were all the same and i looked as far as 77 so i dont know.
Thats why i orded the next year up cuz i figured it would be close enough to mount and it will with some slight modification.

[stsalvage]

here is the one we all for get the factory box has more turns.The ones they sell you are Wrong. I've bought 3 of them dam things. and i always cum up short on my steering.If you can get a 4 1/2 turns get it cus the ones they sell are like 3 or 2 3/4 and we have a longer travel steering meaning to lock to lock we have to have more do to the new trucks have the steering box in the inside of the frame so more means when some moron take haft the drive way while your turning to a drive way you wont have to stop and back up to get another shot at it