Steering Box nightmare!

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Tue Dec 05, 06 5:46 pm

Hi, I'm looking to convert my 73 Duster from power steering to manual but am not sure about how to get the right fitting shaft to Pitman arm combo. I believe there are a few different ones? Alternatively can you get the power steering box re-furbed as it's leeking like an old lady. Bought the car with a knackered power box, bought another, (wrong one), bought a 2nd one & had it fitted & it's puking fluid out. So now I'm £350 poorer & looking for the cars 4th steering box in 6 months! Anyone got any advice please?

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Tue Dec 05, 06 6:31 pm

The steering shaft will be longer for the manual box. I sleeved the exisiting shaft with heavy wall tight fitting tube, welded and pinned then used a Borgeson joint again welded and pinned to attach to the box spline.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Dec 05, 06 7:26 pm

I did the same sorta bodge as kev, as mine was a power steer colum

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Tue Dec 05, 06 8:02 pm

CRAIG wrote:I did the same sorta bodge as kev

How very dare you!

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Tue Dec 05, 06 8:03 pm

And that universal joint. Bit "Massey Ferguson" ain't it?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Dec 05, 06 9:08 pm

Its actually off a volvo, the Massey one was a bit too big.

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Tue Dec 05, 06 9:15 pm

paolo_mangusta · Post by **paolo_mangusta** » Tue Dec 05, 06 11:35 pm

Both look like works of art compared to the lash up on mine - extended with a bit of tube (not by me!) and because I don't steer the car from under the bonnet didn't realise it was welded up crooked

got a manual column to go on now, but I did far too many miles like that...

TrevD · Post by **TrevD** » Wed Dec 06, 06 7:28 am

Kev, that universal joint is aluminium so it is lighter than the Borgeson joint

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Dec 06, 06 8:48 am

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Wed Dec 06, 06 5:37 pm

Thanks for the advice guys. I'd ideally like to go this way rather than have the power box re-furbed which I've been quoted £160.00 for. That'd see me with £500 in steering boxes & still ultimately wanting to go manual. Craig, that box looks brand new! I know of a couple of guys who've got 2nd hand ones for sale but I'm still unsure about the Pitman arm fit. I've already bought one power box that wouldn't go on so I defo don't wanna do that again! Damn frustrating when it's your 1st Mopar & you know

about em! Thanks again.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Wed Dec 06, 06 5:58 pm

Have a look here,
http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/steeringbox.shtml

http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/linkage.shtml

This is the best site for A body tech I know of!

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Thu Dec 07, 06 6:37 pm

Thanks for that Blue, very helpful. Hopefully I'll get it sorted. The 360 has been literally THROWN into my Duster, so as well as the leaking power box it has now, the pulleys are way out of line too which is why I wanna do away with the whole lot & go manual. So anybody out there got the right manual box & / or Pitman arm for my car?