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

Tom,
Can you do some pics. When I did mine I looked at the Jeep shaft and wondered about something like you are doing.

 

Doug,

In response to your email, I'm not too swift with the digital camera yet but the swap is pretty simple as far as the use of the intermediate shaft. The trunion bucket is held in place by a snop ring, it's easy to change. The int. shaft is collapsable so length is likewise. Securing the lower part of the column requires some fabriation using the original firewall plate and modifying it with parts from a later column's firewall plate/clamp. The color code on the wiring is the same for all the columns (I think), but making a nice adaptor to match a newer switch might take a bit of tinkering. Find an always hot wire and a flasher for the four ways and you're about done. email me again if you need more help.

Tom

 

I was wondering how this conversion compares to the Trans Am WS6 box conversion which I did on my 69 GS400 convert 20 years ago. I find that was an excellent swap great feel and reduced ratio under 3 turns. I need to do my 64 Protouring Skylark and may use the jeep box has anyone used both these??? and what is your opnion of the diferances o No: thanks guys


Ken

PS I have done 20 or so Firebird box swaps and find the to be great but am willing to learn

 

Tom,
Thanks for the info. Don't need it right now but i may be changing the whole steering column in the future.

Ken,
The main difference is the Jeep box has more degrees of arc at the output shaft. Thus giving you a tighter turning radius.

 

EXACTLY which years Cherokee box will work?

EXACTLY which years Cherokee box will work?

A pal will GIVE me a box from a '91, it has a mounting bolt busted off but I should be able to remove that and tap for a new one.

Can you supply part numbers for these pump parts below?

"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."

I doubt I can find a junker with the required stuff around here. Thought maybe NAPA or Car Quest (or even Rock Auto) might have them new. FYI, Rock Auto has power steering pump rebuild kits for $12. I'm wondering if that will have the valve, etc. Hoses are available separately also.

Thanks.

 

Gary,
I thought you wrote the bookon some of this stuff. Much of what i've printed out has your name on it. The full piece was elaborated on by Jim Shea. Lots of info in links this past year. Box years are 92 1/2 to 98 best I can tell. Hoses are listed in the NAPA book but will require modification with rebending and putting the proper fitting on the pump end of the pressure side hose. Pumps from '70 and newer are supposedly OK. At some point they went from a flare fitting to an O ring fitting. I just cut the end off mine and put a simple flare for the '78 pump I'm using. Good luck.
Tom

 

Well yeah, sort of...

I did nothing with the pressure valve, etc. quoted in my post above. I'm probably going to move from the Monte box to the Cherokee box (found the Chevelle webpage) and wonder if the valve and spring in the pump are necessary and available. My Monte box worked fine until it started to leak at the Pitman, possibly because I sandblasted the whole thing and might not have protected the seal well enough. I can get a pump rebuild kit for the Firebird pump from Rock Auto and pilfer valve, etc. from that if included in the kit (my pump is fine but someone said we need the high pressure valve) or I can get a rebuild kit for the Monte box for cheap but might still need the valve, etc. FYI the Monte SS box is $234 and the Grand Cherokee box is $334 from Rock Auto (AC Delco remans).

Just trying to sort out the little items I might need before I undertake this again and don't want to wing it for parts but get the right stuff first time out.

 

Box is easy to identify. There is a "Z" cast into the top of the box. This will be to the left of the hose connections. If the box was installed on the frame, you would see it to the left of the hoses close to the frame.

 

Phil,

The box is not the issue for me, it's the valve, spring, etc. that was stated to be needed in the pump. o No:

 

I'm using my original spring. The steering is a little firmer at slow speeds. But at faster speeds, it's really great. I was thinking about getting the other spring just to try it out, but I'm really not all that unhappy with the steering as it is.

I mean really, how often am I going to be going slow???? o No: :3gears: :Brow:

 

Well yeah, that's kinda what I was thinking but at the same time wondering what the reason is to use the high pressure spring and stuff other than ease the steering feel (opposite of what I'm after anyway), like maybe damage to parts or a safety issue, etc.

Looks like I'll buy a $30 rebuild kit for the Monte SS box and call it good'nuf.

Thanks.

 

Jeep Cherokees/Comanches are still scarce in junkyards because so many of them are still on the road after 10 years.
My 1992 Comanche 4.0L HO will take any full-size, stock truck in a 0-50 dash, and it has 216,000 original engine miles. Just a great vehicle that I plan to hold onto.
I just finished a brake overhaul on it today. May it see 300,000 miles with me driving it.... :3gears:

Russ Waters
1970 Skylark Convertible 455

 

FYI...

I am currently doing this swap....with the G Body box. I won a "grand national" box off of ebay, stamped with the Z and part number 26000525.

right after i got it, i saw another one on Craigslist off of a "Monte SS". this had the rag joint, steering rod, and one hose fitting, so I decided to go get it for $25. It also has the Z on it, as well as the same part number. I figured I'd swap this one into the Regal.

I noticed that the Pitman arms were different (as strange as that seems).

Even stranger,

The GN box was approx 2.75 turns lock to lock, while the MONTE SS BOX WAS A LITTLE OVER 4...both of these boxes have the same Z stamp as well as casting numbers. :Smarty:

I was a bit dissapointed, but the rag joint, steering shaft, and fittings were worth the $25.

Just letting you know for reference. The reason I quoted the car names is because I can't prove what cars they actually came out of.

If anyone has any other input that would be nice to hear. Or, if anyone would like to have a nicely painted black 4 turn "monte SS" box, let me know...:Brow:

 

Ian, When you checked the lock to lock turns, did you note the degree of the arc on the steering shaft / pitman arm? Some boxes, notably 'F' body - Firebird, Camaro - have limiters in the box preventing them from full movement. That could explain the 2 = turn box, but 4 turns on a 12:7 box seems like a lot. Can't think of anything else and don't really have an answer.

Tom

 

I'll have to check that out again tomorrow, they all seemed very similar, All I was really counting was the # of times the "input" shaft spun around from lock to lock.

I tried googling the pitman arm part number for the "Monte SS" box, but nothing came up.

I do have all 3 boxes out of the car, so I'll be able to check it pretty easily.

Just letting everyone know that a Z box doesn't exactly translate into "quick ratio" ....which I assumed it did.

Watch out, mine might be going up on evilbay soon lol

 

Please read this thread
http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=165394