steering box id help

[oldiron]

Trying to sort out the new '72. The steering is a death trap, no joke. Cut and welded tie rods and drag link. 3.5 inch lift with no track bar relocation. and a power steering conversion of unknown origin. I'm having trouble loading pictures of this collection of disasters. Could use a little help id'ing the steering box. Number on the top sector shaft cover is 7812145 with another number opposite it that reads 76. The tag on it reads SP and an inverted 7. I have pictures but cant get them to load.
Greg

 

[broncnaz]

Sounds like its at least a saginaw box as the number you listed is usually whats on the aluminum top cover. Does it look like a stock bronco type power steering box? If you don't know what they look like check out the vendors sites most have pictures of stock and other common conversion boxes.
Most likely your steering issues are due to the lack of drop brackets and angles of tierod/ drag link.

 

[kyle]

Is it mounted to the inside of the frame or outside?

 

[oldiron]

Its mounted on the outside of the frame rail, and it looks like an original box I just need to be sure before I start ordering parts.

I'm re-installing the tanks today, so i'll fire it up and count the turns.
Greg

 

[Viperwolf1]

SP Z on the tag is a 6 turn stock box.

 

[oldiron]

AAAAAHHHH...Z not inverted 7. Thanks viper. It is indeed a 6 turn.
Greg

 

[DirtDonk]

In a pinch you don't need to fire up the engine to turn the box. Just lift the tires a bit so that they're either lightly on the ground, or actually off the ground. Then you can turn the wheel very easily in most cases.

To upload images directly to your posts you have to become a contributor for 12 bucks a year.
Or you can upload them to another free online hosting site and then link them to your thread.

Or you can e-mail one of us with the yellow "Contributor" listed under their username and we can post them up for you.
Surprised you didn't remember that after being here all this time Greg!;D

Have fun. You can send me some of the shots if you want and I'll be happy to post them up for you.

paul

 

[1strodeo]

Trying to sort out the new '72. The steering is a death trap, no joke. Cut and welded tie rods and drag link. 3.5 inch lift with no track bar relocation. and a power steering conversion of unknown origin. I'm having trouble loading pictures of this collection of disasters. Could use a little help id'ing the steering box. Number on the top sector shaft cover is 7812145 with another number opposite it that reads 76. The tag on it reads SP and an inverted 7. I have pictures but cant get them to load.
Greg

Any updates on the steering restoration Greg? I've got a lot of play in my wheel and it appears to be all in the gear box. I have the same Saginaw 7812145 but it has a 30 opposite (instead of 76) and the tag reads 'SPA Z'

Leaning towards having the box rebuilt, I've heard about West Texas Offroad but I've found a couple places in Columbus, OH that have 30+ years experience -Jeff

 

[Viperwolf1]

Any updates on the steering restoration Greg? I've got a lot of play in my wheel and it appears to be all in the gear box. I have the same Saginaw 7812145 but it has a 30 opposite (instead of 76) and the tag reads 'SPA Z'

Leaning towards having the box rebuilt, I've heard about West Texas Offroad but I've found a couple places in Columbus, OH that have 30+ years experience -Jeff

From the date code it appears to be a 75 Bronco box. 6 turns.

 

[1strodeo]

From the date code it appears to be a 75 Bronco box. 6 turns.

Thanks, hoping one of the places in Columbus has a reman 4 turn that will work

 

[oldiron]

Any updates on the steering restoration Greg? I've got a lot of play in my wheel and it appears to be all in the gear box. I have the same Saginaw 7812145 but it has a 30 opposite (instead of 76) and the tag reads 'SPA Z'

Leaning towards having the box rebuilt, I've heard about West Texas Offroad but I've found a couple places in Columbus, OH that have 30+ years experience -Jeff

I had to replace everything that even remotely had any impact on steering, except for the box (oddly enough). It goes down the road pretty well now at 75 mph. Still not "perfect" tight but a box rebuild should fix that. BIG word of advice....... If you use a drop trac bar bracket, you MUST use a drop pitman arm too. There is some information out there that states that this is an either/or proposition... it's not. (Per Paul aka DirtDonk). Hope yours goes well.
Greg

 

[1strodeo]

BIG word of advice....... If you use a drop trac bar bracket, you MUST use a drop pitman arm too. There is some information out there that states that this is an either/or proposition... it's not. (Per Paul aka DirtDonk). Hope yours goes well.
Greg

I installed a drop trac bar bracket AND drop pitman arm recently, improved the steering issues I was having but of course still got the excessive play, thanks -Jeff

 

[74 Bronco Billy]

If you do need to rebuild the box, try blue top steering. They can port for a ram as well if needed. Nice clean work, fair price too.