Steering box hitting body mount bracket

[pocketlock]

Installing a wild horses master power steering kit and having issues getting everything lined up. The steering box is hitting the bracket for the front body mount before I can rotate it into position, I can get 1/3 bolts lined up, bottom left or right, but it won’t rotate counter clockwise enough to line up the other bolts. I’ve already clearances the core support. Anyone else run into this?

 

[Shimmy]

i had a similar issue. i shaved the upper left mount a little to make it fit. no issues since you don't use that mount anyways with the borgeson box

 

[DirtDonk]

First time I’ve seen it with that particular box. But with the inconsistencies of the Ford frames, I’m not surprised that at least some have run into it. If not actually more, that have just not posted it up yet.
With our larger box, the “4x4x2” box, we actually state in our instructions to notch the rear edge of the body mount, where you are having your interference.
With the box you have, it should have fit. Sorry you’re having trouble with it.
To give you an example of the frame inconsistency, I can barely get the rear two bolts in and torqued because they are right where the crossmember is welded to the frame.
And that was from the factory!
It probably ticked off the assembly line workers when they had to take extra effort to make it work quickly.
But this is an interesting thing to note. And I agree with what was done here. Since that mounting ear of the box is not being utilized, it can be safely ground down to fit.
Or you can notch the frame out.

Out of curiosity, do both of you have lots of clearance between the rear holes and the crossmember under the engine?

 

[pocketlock]

I ended up trimming that ear to fit as well. I didn’t check the crossmember clearance, I can check tomorrow though! Also running into an issue with how large the nut for the pitman arm is, it’s huge haha. Bigger than 1-1/2” which is the largest socket in my collection so heading to the parts store now. Wild horses tech support couldn’t tell me the size as they had 1-5/16 listed and this is much bigger than that. Ran into a few headaches I’ll probably list in another post. Nothing terrible but something I wish I had know prior that just made it much more difficult for my situation. But these are 50 year old trucks with variances so it’s somewhat understandable.

 

[DirtDonk]

I remember I couldn’t find that size socket close to home, so I bought a bigger Crescent wrench! A really big one!
I bet I have that size socket now though. Because I haven’t had to use it, I’m sure I’ve got it.

 

[DirtDonk]

Someone just posted pictures, kalex I believe, that showed the bolt holes for the steering box I think. I’ll have to go back and look, but I think they’re a lot farther forward than I thought mine were.
I’ll have to go out and check both of mine when I get a chance.

 

[pocketlock]

I remember I couldn’t find that size socket close to home, so I bought a bigger Crescent wrench! A really big one!
I bet I have that size socket now though. Because I haven’t had to use it, I’m sure I’ve got it.

1-5/8” lol