OK, who's done a Jeep steering box conversion and can guide me??

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by 70 gsconvt, Sep 23, 2004.

  1. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    Hi, I've been seeing bits and pieces of using a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee steering box to replace my original one. I know I would also need new hoses and a new rag joint from a mid-80's Chevy truck. Here are my questions:

    1. Could I just go to my auto parts store and have new hoses made up with the correct standard and metric ends on them rather than using adapters on the steering box?

    2. Will I be reusing my original pitman arm without modifications?

    3. Does this box bolt right up in the stock location?

    4. Exactly what modifications are needed for the rag joint area? Or is there another option here?

    I'm looking to do this as a winter project along with my brake upgrade and electric waterpump/fan swap. Trying to make the car handle/brake/perform a little better all around. Thanks.

    Phil
     
  2. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    Well, I checked my car out.

    Holy cow!! 4 and 1/3 turns lock-to-lock!!

    Anyway, I checked with NAPA and they have a Monte Carlo SS steering box in stock for $187, no core, 2.5 to 4 turns lock-to-lock. I'm thinking I may go this way. Then all I need is the new rag joint and adapters for the lines. We'll see............
     
  3. sailbrd

    sailbrd Well-Known Member

    Phil,
    I did it last year and it worked great. Got all my parts from the junkyard.

    1. Box bolts right up and pitman arm works fine.
    2. Need a rag joint from a mid 80's GM light pickup because the spline on the box is different.
    3. Will need hi pressure valve out of a newer PS pump. Got mine out of an 80's Firebird. I think it is a 1 inch fitting on for the high pressure hose. Take the hose (take both,) the fitting, the oriface behind it and the spring. This should fit into your old pump and will increase pump pressure. Basically it just a smaller hole. Again I got this all from a 80's Firebird.

    That should do it. I think I did everything for about $60.

    The key to the quick boxes is the "Z" on the box casting. The 90's Jeeps work good because of the angle of rotation. Do not see much use of buying new because these boxes are just about indistructable.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2004
  4. LAKOTA

    LAKOTA Sungakan yankahaypi mita

    What is the advantage of doing this conversion?

    Thanks,

    Patrick
     
  5. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    Boy, we must not wreck many Jeeps Grand Cherokee's around here. I've called just about every yard around, only found 2 that had anything and they want $75 plus a core for them. For that kind of money I'd rather just get a new one.

    That rag joint is $110 from the dealer. I did find it on GMPARTSDIRECT.COM for $63. Other than that, the adapter fittings are also about $8 each.

    I did just get emailed from a guy on the TurboBuick board who says he has one for me for $70, shipped. I'm looking into that right now.

    Oh, the advantage is a quicker steering and better feel. The old steering boxes are approximately 4.5 turns lock to lock. The newer ones are about 2.75 turns lock to lock. This will allow for quicker steering. Also, there will be slightly more effort to the steering. I know how I've felt having the "ease" of the steering sometimes being a bad thing. Most people have only driven variable assist steering that gets easier only at slow speeds. It can sometimes be uneasy on the highway with such "easy" steering.

    I'm just trying different things and see how I like them and bringing my car, technology-wise, into at least the late 20 century.

    Phil
     
  6. sailbrd

    sailbrd Well-Known Member

    I will check my place on Sat. I may buy up a few of them. My problem right now is I have to have help to pull the boxes because of a broken collarbone. $110 for a ragjoint :jd: Will let you know what I find out.
     
  7. NOTNSS

    NOTNSS Gold Level Contributor

    Phil,

    I'd go with the Jeep box since it's supposed to keep the turning radius down. The Monte box is good but pretty wide circle. I'll probably look for a Jeep box soon and do my swap over. The road feel is excellent, especially with suspension upgrades.
     
  8. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    I was contacted by a guy with a box out of a 1987 Grand National. I will be doing this setup. I just need to get the ragjoint and adapters. I got my hand on a G-Tech and will be doing some 60-0 runs to compare to my ceramic brake update and also some skidpad runs if I can find a parking lot to do a 200 ft. circle.

    Also wanted to say that if anyone else out there is contemplating do this but thought that parts would be hard to find, fear not. I put a post on the TurboBuick board and got a number of responses form guys/shops/companies that deal exclusively with those g-bodies cars (Monte SS's, Olds 442's, and the GN's). Mine was $70, shipped to me out of a 70K car. So go for it, with a new rag joint from gmdirectparts.com ($74, shipped) and the couple adapters, Weatherhead $7.99 each, the whole thing should be done for about $160. More than others are doing it for, but rag joint is new. Oh yea, and $4 for a can of detail grey from Eastwood to make it pretty.

    Phil
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2004
  9. 70purplerag

    70purplerag Silver Level contributor

    I would be interested in getting the parts for this conversion. Found a box on e-bay $75 plus shipping. If someone had access to a good yard and could put a "kit together" this would be a real nice upgrade...

    Kevin :3gears:
     
  10. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    I ended up going with a place in MD called GBody Parts. You can access them at GBodyparts.com. Ask for Brian. Nice guy. Box was $70, including shipping out of a 1987 Grand National with 70K. He seems to have a number of cars available for parts.

    I'm still looking into having the pressure hose made so that one end will fit into my 1970 pump/resevoir and the other into the newer gear box. I'll let everyone know how I do and what the cost is if it will work. The other return line is the easy part.
     
  11. joecool

    joecool Cool old dude

    Steering box

    Hi, Just did this swap yesterday. Used a steering box out of a 87 MONTE CARLO SS. Also a rag joint from a mid 80's CHEVY SUBURBAN. Also got a P/s pump fitting from a 85 BUICK REGAL. Used hoses from a 85 Cutlass. Everything bolted together without a problem. Excellent road feel, unlike previously when car had no feel at all. My car is a 70 GS. Thanks, JOE :cool: :) :)
     
  12. sailbrd

    sailbrd Well-Known Member

    It is very important that you get the metric fitting and valve behind it or you will not have enough pressure for the steering box to work properly.
     
  13. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    What, please elaborate on this. Are you talking about the stuff on the pump/resevoir? We need a really good thread on this with pics and all. Maybe I'll take the ball and run with it and really go through the process on my car.
     
  14. 87GN_70GS

    87GN_70GS Well-Known Member

  15. NOTNSS

    NOTNSS Gold Level Contributor

    Doggonnit, I did the Monte SS conversion a year ago or so. Now it's leaking. Anyone know details on a new seal kit, how-to, tools required? Or is it to be left to the pros? Might have to look for a replacement gear ($70) at GNparts.com listed here.

    Thanks.
     
  16. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    What's leakng? At the steering box or one of the lines or at the resevoir? I just finished mine a few weeks ago and love it.
     
  17. into_l

    into_l Well-Known Member

  18. NOTNSS

    NOTNSS Gold Level Contributor

    I'll have to look lots closer but it appears to be at the seal on the bottom where the pitman arms goes on, above the splined output.
     
  19. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    Ouch, that doesn't sound good.
     
  20. tburgeson

    tburgeson Roadmaster

    I replied to an old thread a week or so on this topic. I too, just finished a '96 Grand Cherokee box into a '64 Skylark. I changed the steering column to a two piece unit such as '68 to '72. Instead of swapping the rag joint, I used the Jeep intermediate shaft and put the trunion bucket from a GM car (1" spline to main column) in place of the "double D" hook-up. The main column can be any 30" GM column but only '68 has no key/ignition switch built in. I chose to spend some $$$ and have a custom column built which gave me tilt, four way flashers and a modern, serviceable turn signal switch. I had to adapt thr wiring but that was no big deal. I used the hoses off the Jeep but had to rebend them a bit and flare the pressure side going into the pump (have a later model GM pump). Use the '64 pitman arm. It works great. You cannot believe the difference in the stering. Now for the "F" body suspension and brake upgrade in the Spring after the car comes out of storage (%$@%*WINTER)!!! Got all the parts, just need the time. Ain't life great?

    Tom
     

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