Steering box


The place to put your L, R and S "Build Off" story.

Yard Art
Yard Art

Posts: 53

Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 4:31 pm

Post Wed Mar 07, 2018 4:05 pm

Steering box

Has anyone had any luck being able to tighten up the steering box adjusting screw.

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

Posts: 8936

Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 12:45 pm

Location: Canada's left Coast

Post Wed Mar 07, 2018 6:25 pm

Re: Steering box

The situation with these old steering boxes is wear. The old IHC is going mostly forward in a line most of the time. The ancient design of the steering and the less than desirable road s of a half century ago mad it necessary to correct the direction the truck wanted to go. The nearly constant correcting of the steering wheel made for extra wear on the "gears" in the steering box in the center position. It is possible to adjust for this wear on centre, but the steering gears may become too tight as the steering heel is turned from left to right lock. The wear off center will be very little or nothing. Changing lubricants will not make a difference. The gears are worn out and it very likely there are not replacement parts.
I converted an otherwise stock R120 to poser steering because of the worn out steering box and no parts. That was over 30 years ago. The power steering box I bought and installed was a Saginaw (GM) from a Dodge Ramcharger 4X4. I presume the pickup 4X4 trucks had the same steering box. This box was my choice because it is the same configuration and the original. If you decide to go this route, be prewarned, this is not a simple toss some parts at the truck, slam the hood and drive away.
If you do decide to install a Saginaw steering box, I can offer suggestions and post what I did to make it work safely and reliably. The OEM steering column may be modified and reused, but there are more modifications. My choice was to replace the IHC column with a 1977 Chevy Van tilt column. ,https://www.flamingriver.com/ http://www.heidts.com/parts/columns/ and http://www.borgeson.com/
are three good options for a new column just like to old Chevy Van Saginaw. These column have wiring for turn signals and parts are available.
Attachments
R120 dash SW.jpg
I would rather have tools I do not need than to need tools I do not have
Thinking risks being controversial and possibly being offensive

Rookie
Rookie

Posts: 1

Joined: Thu May 01, 2014 1:37 am

Post Sun Oct 28, 2018 9:41 pm

Re: Steering box

nikkinutshop wrote:The situation with these old steering boxes is wear. The old IHC is going mostly forward in a line most of the time. The ancient design of the steering and the less than desirable road s of a half century ago mad it necessary to correct the direction the truck wanted to go. The nearly constant correcting of the steering wheel made for extra wear on the "gears" in the steering box in the center position. It is possible to adjust for this wear on centre, but the steering gears may become too tight as the steering heel is turned from left to right lock. The wear off center will be very little or nothing. Changing lubricants will not make a difference. The gears are worn out and it very likely there are not replacement parts.
I converted an otherwise stock R120 to poser steering because of the worn out steering box and no parts. That was over 30 years ago. The power steering box I bought and installed was a Saginaw (GM) from a Dodge Ramcharger 4X4. I presume the pickup 4X4 trucks had the same steering box. This box was my choice because it is the same configuration and the original. If you decide to go this route, be prewarned, this is not a simple toss some parts at the truck, slam the hood and drive away.
If you do decide to install a Saginaw steering box, I can offer suggestions and post what I did to make it work safely and reliably. The OEM steering column may be modified and reused, but there are more modifications. My choice was to replace the IHC column with a 1977 Chevy Van tilt column. ,https://www.flamingriver.com/ http://www.heidts.com/parts/columns/ and http://www.borgeson.com/
are three good options for a new column just like to old Chevy Van Saginaw. These column have wiring for turn signals and parts are available.


Do you have any pics of this? I recently aquired a 53 R that the previous owner installed a Chevy 350 and cut the stock column in half. I've been searching for a power steering box and have heard about the ramcharger and toyota boxes, but haven't seen any pics installed on ANY brand 50s trucks

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

Posts: 8936

Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 12:45 pm

Location: Canada's left Coast

Post Sun Oct 28, 2018 11:10 pm

Re: Steering box

Here are a few pictures. There is a ton of work to get to this point. I have a machine shop. If you do not have a machine shop, you will need to spend money in one. This steering box is from a Chevy Malibu.
I cannot lead you through this build. I started off with less information than I have given you, here.
Attachments
STEERING BOX TACK WELDED IN PLACE..jpg
Saginaw power steering adapter to an L110 frame.jpg
ADAPTER PLATE
SAGINAW  SIDE MOUNT  2.jpg
SAGINAW STEERING SIDE MOUNT
I would rather have tools I do not need than to need tools I do not have
Thinking risks being controversial and possibly being offensive

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