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Posted by Dylan Robinson [75.93.175.225] on Friday, October 09, 2009 at 11:54:09 :
In Reply to: Power steering posted by Matt Maund [174.140.71.8] on Friday, October 09, 2009 at 09:30:41 :
I made my own mount. It was very simple to do, just lay the steering box bolt pattern out on a piece of 3/8" plate, drill the holes. Next measure the distance that the little "hump" sticks out on the bottom of the gearbox, then cut appropriate spacers out of 3/4" shafting, drill mounting bolt size (7/16" I think) through them. Bolt steering box to plate through spacers, and tack spacers in place. Next cut a piece of 3/8" plate wide enough to fit inside the frame rail covering the mounting holes for the original steering box. Bevel the edges pretty good so that the plate fits flush against the inside web, clamp in place with C-clamps. Using a set of transfer punches, mark the mounting holes clearly, then mark the steering box output hole using a soapstone. Once everything is marked, take the plate out of the frame rail and drill the mounting holes, and tap out to 5/8" fine. Next using a torch, follow the output shaft hole line that you marked with the soap stone, clean up with the diegrinder and flapper wheel. Bolt this plate to the frame. Clean paint and dirt off the top frame rail, with grinder and flapdisc. Now have your buddy hold the steering box up to the frame, while you take a magic marker and mark the frame rail to clear the steering box, making sure your column, and output shaft alignment look "pretty good" (doesn't have to be exact, but the closer it is the less you'll have to modify other things later). Cut along your line with a thin disc on your 4" grinder, diegrinder, torch, etc. removing material and checking for a good fit as you go. Once you have the framecut and deburred, clamp the steering box and plate as tight to the rail as you can (note: the steering box output shaft boss needs to be flush with the inner side of the frame rail, trim your steering box plate if you need to bring it in tighter. Tack the two plates together lightly. Now go ahead and hookup the steering arm, and shove the steering column down from inside the cab. Check to make sure that the steering arm will clear the bolt heads on the outside of the frame through it's travel range, and check steering column angles etc. for comfort, rubbing etc. Once everything is satisfactory, weld plates together (on the truck, so that nothing moves). Next take the assembly off the truck, and put two triangular gussets on the bottom between the two plates with 1/4" plate to strengthen the piece. Next with assembly off the truck put 5/8" bolts through plate and tack nuts to the plate on the back side where possible (always leave a little space between the nut and the plate so they don't "Jam") then run a chaser through the plate and the nuts to "align" the threads. Assemble and double check alignments, then dissassemble for paint.
Dylan