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#1 |
Senior Member
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Location: Lewisberry, Pa.
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66 K-10 Steering Box
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?
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#2 |
All about them K’s
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Location: Land of Entrapment
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
Might be a good time to convert to power steering??
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Tyler '57 3100 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=813888 '72 K20 Cheyenne: 5” lift, 35’s, front dana 60 blah blah blah… http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=662879 ‘69 K10 SWB: 4” lift 33”s… in a million pieces http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=805206 '98 Silverado LT K2500HD ECLB Vortec 454/4l80E: 6" lift 35x12.5x20’s |
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#3 |
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
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.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#4 |
Senior Member
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
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.
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#5 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Los Osos Ca
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
Quote:
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...
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65 short stepside K10 292-SM420-T221 8 lug closed D44 front NoSpin HO72 4.10 rear |
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#6 | |
All about them K’s
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
Quote:
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Tyler '57 3100 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=813888 '72 K20 Cheyenne: 5” lift, 35’s, front dana 60 blah blah blah… http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=662879 ‘69 K10 SWB: 4” lift 33”s… in a million pieces http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=805206 '98 Silverado LT K2500HD ECLB Vortec 454/4l80E: 6" lift 35x12.5x20’s Last edited by 57taskforce; 01-06-2021 at 01:10 AM. |
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#7 |
Senior Member
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
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.
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#8 | |
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
Quote:
Tom
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65 short stepside K10 292-SM420-T221 8 lug closed D44 front NoSpin HO72 4.10 rear |
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#9 |
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
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.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#10 | |
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Location: Montana
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
Quote:
![]() 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.
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Current/past Chevy/GMC trucks: 1958 Chevy C-60; 1965 GMC C-50; 1965 Chevy C-10; 1971 Chevy K-10; 1973 Chevy K-20; 1976 GMC C-20; 1977 Chevy C-10 Suburban; 1980 Chevy K-10; 1989 Chevy K1500; 1991 GMC V1500 Suburban; 2016 Chevy K2500 HD Other vehicles: 1988 Jeep XJ; 2011 Toyota 4Runner |
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#11 |
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
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
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#12 | |
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Join Date: May 2015
Location: Montana
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
Quote:
I knew a guy that rebuilt a VW transaxle and ended up with one forward gear and four in reverse ![]()
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Current/past Chevy/GMC trucks: 1958 Chevy C-60; 1965 GMC C-50; 1965 Chevy C-10; 1971 Chevy K-10; 1973 Chevy K-20; 1976 GMC C-20; 1977 Chevy C-10 Suburban; 1980 Chevy K-10; 1989 Chevy K1500; 1991 GMC V1500 Suburban; 2016 Chevy K2500 HD Other vehicles: 1988 Jeep XJ; 2011 Toyota 4Runner |
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#13 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Los Osos Ca
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
Quote:
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.
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65 short stepside K10 292-SM420-T221 8 lug closed D44 front NoSpin HO72 4.10 rear |
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#14 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Lewisberry, Pa.
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
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?
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#15 | |
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
Quote:
Good luck, Tom
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65 short stepside K10 292-SM420-T221 8 lug closed D44 front NoSpin HO72 4.10 rear |
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#16 | |
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
Quote:
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__________________
"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Los Osos Ca
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Re: 66 K-10 Steering Box
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
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65 short stepside K10 292-SM420-T221 8 lug closed D44 front NoSpin HO72 4.10 rear |
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