66 K-10 Steering Box

[chtr65]

I have a 66 K-10 manual steering gear box with 2 cracks in the main body. Is this thing worth repairing, or do I put it in the landfill?

[57taskforce]

Might be a good time to convert to power steering??

[special-K]

I'd normally give up on a box with broken case, but is that a hard unit to find? I imagine, so. My guess would be '60-'69. So, yeah, might want to consider going to newer steering and gain p/s.

[chtr65]

This steering box is an extra. Mine is in nice condition. I would much rather keep the truck as it was from new. I know the movement is towards power steering on these old trucks, but it is not going to be an easy add on. I have the original 292 six in the truck. I suspect I will put it away in a box for now. I just don't like to trow anything away.

[Short 3/4]

Originally Posted by chtr65

This steering box is an extra. Mine is in nice condition. I would much rather keep the truck as it was from new. I know the movement is towards power steering on these old trucks, but it is not going to be an easy add on. I have the original 292 six in the truck. I suspect I will put it away in a box for now. I just don't like to trow anything away.

I would definitely keep that old box. Never know when you might need to replace an internal part on that good one you have. If there's one thing I've learned in all my years of living with an old car/truck problem, it's- Never throw anything away!
I agree that power steering is more trouble than it's worth. Don't know why people think they have to take a nice simple old truck and complicate it with a bunch of add-on power crap. For the record, my 62 year old wife has no trouble driving my truck, or her 65 V8 Mustang with manual steering, and she is not a big woman. Just saying...

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Short 3/4

I would definitely keep that old box. Never know when you might need to replace an internal part on that good one you have. If there's one thing I've learned in all my years of living with an old car/truck problem, it's- Never throw anything away!
I agree that power steering is more trouble than it's worth. Don't know why people think they have to take a nice simple old truck and complicate it with a bunch of add-on power crap. For the record, my 62 year old wife has no trouble driving my truck, or her 65 V8 Mustang with manual steering, and she is not a big woman. Just saying...

I guess I like power crap.... brakes that stop much quicker, steering that is easier to handle when not moving etc. I’m all for leaving original, original. I’m all for simple as well. But I wouldn't call things like power steering or brakes crap.

[chtr65]

Thanks for the comments. I guess I will keep it on the shelf for future needs. I like the power brakes and power steering as much as anyone. They're both important safety features when it comes to driving in todays traffic. I just like to keep things original. I have added a NOS GM power brake booster set up to the truck. But with the steering, I am somewhat reluctant to add something that isn't factory. Just my thoughts.

[Short 3/4]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

I guess I like power crap.... brakes that stop much quicker, steering that is easier to handle when not moving etc. I’m all for leaving original, original. I’m all for simple as well. But I wouldn't call things like power steering or brakes crap.

I admit, a very poor choice of words. Started out just trying to support his choice and sort of got carried away. There are lots of ways to enjoy these trucks and the bottom line is whatever makes you happy is the right choice. Sorry to derail this thread, I apologize.
Tom

[special-K]

I don't throw good things out either. I have some 2wd manual steering boxes from low mile C/30s that got converted to 4wd. I figure they are good for any number of things, possibly non-automotive. I have some granny 4spds too, same reason. I might want to make a merry-go-round or something

I kept this '69 W200 manual. I was young and never gave the effort a thought. I got the "Armstrong steering" comments all the time.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by special-K

I don't throw good things out either. I have some 2wd manual steering boxes from low mile C/30s that got converted to 4wd. I figure they are good for any number of things, possibly non-automotive. I have some granny 4spds too, same reason. I might want to make a merry-go-round or something

I kept this '69 W200 manual. I was young and never gave the effort a thought. I got the "Armstrong steering" comments all the time.

The older pickups were somehow engineered for manual steering. Let's see, I had a manual C/10 and a manual C/50 (both 1965) and neither of them were terribly hard to drive. The folks I worked for in the winter had a 65/66 K20 all manual and I don't remember it being hard to steer. We used it mostly to feed cows in the winter. They also had a 46 and a 47 dump truck and some old "Advanced" pickups and a Dodge power wagon. I guess that I worked so hard that steering those old trucks was taking a break

But we had a 1977 C/10 Suburban with manual steering and it was awful! You would literally lift yourself off the seat trying to turn at low speeds. The 73-87 steering wheel was smaller and more vertical than the older pickups.

[special-K]

Yeah, the steering wheels did shrink to a car size in '73. On the Dodge I had put one of those foam grip wheels with 3 chrome spokes drilled with holes. But NOT the size you most commonly saw, which was a small diameter. It was made FOR trucks and only slightly smaller than original. Got it from Dick Cepek. It made the truck easier to turn due to larger diameter and soft grip. That truck was not so easy to steering with those tires the truck was not engineered for. It definitely took Armstrong to steering it. Ironically, the tires were Armstrong brand. I used to parallel part that thing no problem. I didn't want power steering, though. That box had a 1/3 turn play in it. I ordered every possible wear part for it and rebuilt it, when most would have converted to p/s. That box was a Ross unit, same as what Dodge used in early-50s trucks. I used a shop manual from the early-50s. Kinda odd how it was an esarly-50s (maybe late-40s) design that they stopped using on anything for years, but then began again on the '60s Power Wagons. It was also used on their early vans, but reverse movement due to being mounted in front of the axle. That's what Dodge first gave me. Got the whole steering box rebuilt and installed only to find if I turned right the wheels went left! I had to raise hell to get the dealership to except my return of (now used) parts that 'they' ordered wrong from my 'correct' information

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by special-K

Yeah, the steering wheels did shrink to a car size in '73. On the Dodge I had put one of those foam grip wheels with 3 chrome spokes drilled with holes. But NOT the size you most commonly saw, which was a small diameter. It was made FOR trucks and only slightly smaller than original. Got it from Dick Cepek. It made the truck easier to turn due to larger diameter and soft grip. That truck was not so easy to steering with those tires the truck was not engineered for. It definitely took Armstrong to steering it. Ironically, the tires were Armstrong brand. I used to parallel part that thing no problem. I didn't want power steering, though. That box had a 1/3 turn play in it. I ordered every possible wear part for it and rebuilt it, when most would have converted to p/s. That box was a Ross unit, same as what Dodge used in early-50s trucks. I used a shop manual from the early-50s. Kinda odd how it was an esarly-50s (maybe late-40s) design that they stopped using on anything for years, but then began again on the '60s Power Wagons. It was also used on their early vans, but reverse movement due to being mounted in front of the axle. That's what Dodge first gave me. Got the whole steering box rebuilt and installed only to find if I turned right the wheels went left! I had to raise hell to get the dealership to except my return of (now used) parts that 'they' ordered wrong from my 'correct' information

Supposedly some of the early sailing ships had wheels like that because the sailors were used to tillers!

I knew a guy that rebuilt a VW transaxle and ended up with one forward gear and four in reverse

[Short 3/4]

Originally Posted by special-K

I don't throw good things out either. I have some 2wd manual steering boxes from low mile C/30s that got converted to 4wd. I figure they are good for any number of things, possibly non-automotive. I have some granny 4spds too, same reason. I might want to make a merry-go-round or something

I kept this '69 W200 manual. I was young and never gave the effort a thought. I got the "Armstrong steering" comments all the time.

Wow, great flashback. I also had a 69 Power Wagon in the 70's, back when my hair also went down to my shoulders. Mine was white with a blue grill. Also had manual steering, which was never a problem. Didn't have large tires on it, but it did have a heavy old big block over the front axle.
Had a one ton square body company truck in the late 80's with manual steering. Worst truck I've ever driven. That small steering wheel just didn't work, and obviously they changed the gearing on the box, probably to get people to spring for the more expensive power set up. The 66 with manual that I drove to and from work on the other hand, was absolutely no problem to drive, go figure.

[chtr65]

Interesting comments. I took delivery of the truck about 1 1/2 years ago. I drove it from the trailer to my shop, about 1/8th of a mile. First time I had driven an original 4X4. I didn't think the manual steering was not that bad. The original big steering wheel helps. I think of it as part of the character of the truck. The steering box in question was an extra that I acquired along the way. The manual steering box on the truck is in nice condition, although I may have it sent out to have rebuilt. Any suggestions as to where to send it for rebuilding?

[Short 3/4]

Originally Posted by chtr65

Interesting comments. I took delivery of the truck about 1 1/2 years ago. I drove it from the trailer to my shop, about 1/8th of a mile. First time I had driven an original 4X4. I didn't think the manual steering was not that bad. The original big steering wheel helps. I think of it as part of the character of the truck. The steering box in question was an extra that I acquired along the way. The manual steering box on the truck is in nice condition, although I may have it sent out to have rebuilt. Any suggestions as to where to send it for rebuilding?

I had mine rebuilt by a local shop with part from local parts store. Same place also did a 66 2wd box for me some years back and both came out great. My advice is to find an independent shop where either the owner or mechanic has a few gray hairs. Most old timers have rebuilt a bunch of these things. Apparently fairly easy to rebuild, but if you adjust it wrong it's easy to ruin it, so one of the few jobs I leave to the pros.
Good luck,
Tom

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Short 3/4

Wow, great flashback. I also had a 69 Power Wagon in the 70's, back when my hair also went down to my shoulders. Mine was white with a blue grill. Also had...

Pretty cool we both had the same truck on opposite coasts in opposite colors . I used the factory color when I painted it. But I used a '68 donor for most of the body when I restored it. That cab was starting to rust when I bought it in '77

[Short 3/4]

Originally Posted by special-K

Pretty cool we both had the same truck on opposite coasts in opposite colors . I used the factory color when I painted it. But I used a '68 donor for most of the body when I restored it. That cab was starting to rust when I bought it in '77

Ya, bodies not a strong point on those old Dodges. Been meaning to post a picture on the "other makes" thread if I can get my wife to show me how