1981 Steering Gear Box in 1982 Truck; No Dice - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

epon · 12-31-2013, 10:35 PM

Attempting to fix my leaky steering gear box input shaft on my 1982 305 C10 RWD by swapping out the steering gear box from a 1981 350 c10 RWD parts truck and the pitman arm isnt lining up with the shaft from the gear box. Looks like its the same gearbox from 73-87 so I'm not sure what to do. Anyone been down this road before?

81 box on the 82 frame and suspension -

82 box -

I'm not entirely sure the gearbox and pitman arm havnt been changed before so who knows what POs used but the distance from the base of the gearbox to the center of the shaft that holds the pitman arm seem different to me.

TIA

buddy_1 · 12-31-2013, 10:52 PM

Looks like someone did some rigging on the parts truck. Show me a pic of the old box vs. the new from the top. I've got a 85 box on a 78 frame. Only difference was the hose fittings went from standard to metric threads. You should also check the pitman arms for dimensions.

epon · 12-31-2013, 11:01 PM

Parts truck is an hour away, so no can do on measuring pitman arm. Pitman on the 82 looks to be overall 7" and center to center on the holes about 5.5". Maybe I can see if the parts shop has one tomorrow to compare.

81:

82:

buddy_1 · 01-01-2014, 12:01 AM

Those are two different gears. From the looks of your frame your truck has been heavily modified/lowered. Did you do the drop? If not, can you still get in touch with the builder? That gear looks like a later model, 88 or up maybe. Gonna need to find out what model he used.

epon · 01-01-2014, 12:05 AM

I didn't do the fab work, he said it took all 82 parts when I asked about that. Maybe it slipped his mind. I have his email but I think he got tired of me asking questions

I'll drag the steering box that came off of the truck with me to the parts shop, maybe they can match it. Thanks!

buddy_1 · 01-01-2014, 12:31 AM

Good luck

epon · 01-01-2014, 12:47 PM

Called a few shops this morning. One offered a sport and a standard gearbox for the 1989 RWD C1500. Guessing the sport is the quick ratio but neither were in stock. Another shop had only one listing and (no distinction of sport or non) its in stock so I'll run over to contrast and compare.

buddy_1 · 01-01-2014, 01:07 PM

Might even compare it to a S-10 model.

epon · 01-01-2014, 02:17 PM

For some reason my brain had gone out on me. :screwy: After fresh eyes on it this morning I determined the casting numbers to be the same, difference in measurement was angle of observation. Gear box in; lesson learned. Thanks for the help anyway buddy_1

buddy_1 · 01-01-2014, 02:57 PM

That 82 gear casting looks so much smoother than the other, it looked like the newer units. Glad it worked out for you. Buddy

12-31-2013, 10:35 PM	#1
epon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Arizona Posts: 174	1981 Steering Gear Box in 1982 Truck; No Dice Attempting to fix my leaky steering gear box input shaft on my 1982 305 C10 RWD by swapping out the steering gear box from a 1981 350 c10 RWD parts truck and the pitman arm isnt lining up with the shaft from the gear box. Looks like its the same gearbox from 73-87 so I'm not sure what to do. Anyone been down this road before? 81 box on the 82 frame and suspension - 82 box - I'm not entirely sure the gearbox and pitman arm havnt been changed before so who knows what POs used but the distance from the base of the gearbox to the center of the shaft that holds the pitman arm seem different to me. TIA __________________ '82 C-10 SWB / C'd, Z'd, Body'd and Bagged / Shaved firewall, wiper cowl, drip rails, stake holes and tailgate/ 20" & 22" Milanni Voodoo '81 C-10 SWB Parts Truck IRC - http://webchat.snoonet.org/#baggedtrucks

12-31-2013, 10:52 PM	#2
buddy_1 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Humble, Texas Posts: 185	Re: 1981 Steering Gear Box in 1982 Truck; No Dice Looks like someone did some rigging on the parts truck. Show me a pic of the old box vs. the new from the top. I've got a 85 box on a 78 frame. Only difference was the hose fittings went from standard to metric threads. You should also check the pitman arms for dimensions. __________________ I know the "VOICES" aren't real but they have some great ideas. 1978 GMC Sierra Classic C25 1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo 1997 Chevy Cheyenne K2500 1999 Polaris Sport 400

12-31-2013, 11:01 PM	#3
epon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Arizona Posts: 174	Re: 1981 Steering Gear Box in 1982 Truck; No Dice Parts truck is an hour away, so no can do on measuring pitman arm. Pitman on the 82 looks to be overall 7" and center to center on the holes about 5.5". Maybe I can see if the parts shop has one tomorrow to compare. 81: 82: __________________ '82 C-10 SWB / C'd, Z'd, Body'd and Bagged / Shaved firewall, wiper cowl, drip rails, stake holes and tailgate/ 20" & 22" Milanni Voodoo '81 C-10 SWB Parts Truck IRC - http://webchat.snoonet.org/#baggedtrucks Last edited by epon; 12-31-2013 at 11:06 PM.

01-01-2014, 12:01 AM	#4
buddy_1 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Humble, Texas Posts: 185	Re: 1981 Steering Gear Box in 1982 Truck; No Dice Those are two different gears. From the looks of your frame your truck has been heavily modified/lowered. Did you do the drop? If not, can you still get in touch with the builder? That gear looks like a later model, 88 or up maybe. Gonna need to find out what model he used. __________________ I know the "VOICES" aren't real but they have some great ideas. 1978 GMC Sierra Classic C25 1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo 1997 Chevy Cheyenne K2500 1999 Polaris Sport 400

01-01-2014, 12:05 AM	#5
epon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Arizona Posts: 174	Re: 1981 Steering Gear Box in 1982 Truck; No Dice I didn't do the fab work, he said it took all 82 parts when I asked about that. Maybe it slipped his mind. I have his email but I think he got tired of me asking questions I'll drag the steering box that came off of the truck with me to the parts shop, maybe they can match it. Thanks! __________________ '82 C-10 SWB / C'd, Z'd, Body'd and Bagged / Shaved firewall, wiper cowl, drip rails, stake holes and tailgate/ 20" & 22" Milanni Voodoo '81 C-10 SWB Parts Truck IRC - http://webchat.snoonet.org/#baggedtrucks

01-01-2014, 12:31 AM	#6
buddy_1 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Humble, Texas Posts: 185	Re: 1981 Steering Gear Box in 1982 Truck; No Dice Good luck __________________ I know the "VOICES" aren't real but they have some great ideas. 1978 GMC Sierra Classic C25 1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo 1997 Chevy Cheyenne K2500 1999 Polaris Sport 400

01-01-2014, 12:47 PM	#7
epon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Arizona Posts: 174	Re: 1981 Steering Gear Box in 1982 Truck; No Dice Called a few shops this morning. One offered a sport and a standard gearbox for the 1989 RWD C1500. Guessing the sport is the quick ratio but neither were in stock. Another shop had only one listing and (no distinction of sport or non) its in stock so I'll run over to contrast and compare. __________________ '82 C-10 SWB / C'd, Z'd, Body'd and Bagged / Shaved firewall, wiper cowl, drip rails, stake holes and tailgate/ 20" & 22" Milanni Voodoo '81 C-10 SWB Parts Truck IRC - http://webchat.snoonet.org/#baggedtrucks

01-01-2014, 01:07 PM	#8
buddy_1 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Humble, Texas Posts: 185	Re: 1981 Steering Gear Box in 1982 Truck; No Dice Might even compare it to a S-10 model. __________________ I know the "VOICES" aren't real but they have some great ideas. 1978 GMC Sierra Classic C25 1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo 1997 Chevy Cheyenne K2500 1999 Polaris Sport 400

01-01-2014, 02:17 PM	#9
epon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Arizona Posts: 174	Re: 1981 Steering Gear Box in 1982 Truck; No Dice For some reason my brain had gone out on me. :screwy: After fresh eyes on it this morning I determined the casting numbers to be the same, difference in measurement was angle of observation. Gear box in; lesson learned. Thanks for the help anyway buddy_1 __________________ '82 C-10 SWB / C'd, Z'd, Body'd and Bagged / Shaved firewall, wiper cowl, drip rails, stake holes and tailgate/ 20" & 22" Milanni Voodoo '81 C-10 SWB Parts Truck IRC - http://webchat.snoonet.org/#baggedtrucks

01-01-2014, 02:57 PM	#10
buddy_1 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Humble, Texas Posts: 185	Re: 1981 Steering Gear Box in 1982 Truck; No Dice That 82 gear casting looks so much smoother than the other, it looked like the newer units. Glad it worked out for you. Buddy __________________ I know the "VOICES" aren't real but they have some great ideas. 1978 GMC Sierra Classic C25 1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo 1997 Chevy Cheyenne K2500 1999 Polaris Sport 400



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