Early Bronco Wheel Well Difference?

[Franzwa]

I cut the front end off a parts Bronco and there were creases in the front drivers wheel well. My current Bronco does not have these creases and I was wondering if they changed the style at some point. Were they creased to allow room for power steering? As I am putting on power steering in this Bronco.

Parts Bronco



Current Bronco

 

[Viperwolf1]

Yes, for PS upper shaft clearance.

 

[hankjr]

are the creases REQUIRED for installation of power steering? In particular the 4x4x2 box and a steering shaft from one of the vendors?

thx

Hank

 

[clarrance]

66-72 had the non power steering wheel tub
73-75 had the crease on the side for P/S
76-77 had the crease and the top was indented down towards the tire for the clearence of P/S, and P/B.

You can use the 66-72 wheel tub if you run a aftermarket shaft and smaller u-joints. A factory rag joint will rub the wheel well.

 

[Rox Crusher]

Whatever you do, please don't forget to bring that horn over to the new fender.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Required only if interfered. The later columns use a rag joint at the top of the column that needed a little more room.

 

[thegreatjustino]

are the creases REQUIRED for installation of power steering? In particular the 4x4x2 box and a steering shaft from one of the vendors?

thx

Hank

Required only if interfered. The later columns use a rag joint at the top of the column that needed a little more room.

I put a stock PS system with the stock two piece shaft in my '68. It does slightly rub on the non indexed wheel well. I have another EB that I converted using stock PS, but I built my own shaft using Flaming River joints which are much narrower than the stock rag joint and u-joint at the box. So, it kind of depends on what you're using for a shaft. On my '68, I can see where the u-joint at the box had rubbed on the wheel well over the years.

 

[BajaBronco]

I have factory PS and factory rag joint shaft in my 72 Baja. No rubbing. Did have to cut a tiny bit off the core support pinch weld where the PS box made contact. About 3/8" .

 

[hankjr]

How does the use of one of the 3/4 inch heavy duty adapter plates effect clearance of 4x4x2 box with the 71 wheel well ( other than the obvious 3/4 of an inch )? Does the plate cause the box to interfere with the wheel?