71 c10 Power steering help
 

Hey guys, I just picked up a 350 to replace the tired 307 in my pick up. The 350 came with power steering but my truck did not. The pump and hoses are already on the motor. Do I just need to replace the steering box? What brackets if any will i need?

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

If you got all the brackets and stuff with the later motor then yes you will just need a box and lines. the two carried a different type water pump your 71 had a short then the 77 had a long but if all is there I'd use it then stick on a box and lines. Jim

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

The new motor has the pump and lines already installed. I've read that I'll need a new rag joint. How do I find out which one to get? Thanks for the reply.

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

when you get your new steering box count the splines this will insure you get the correct steering coupler

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

I used the half that was on the column and the half that was on the later box I put in and a rag joint repair kit that had new donut. Everything bolted right together. If you have the half that is on the box you should be good to go.

Also, just for info. The original steering box or the 67-72 is 4 1/2 turns lock to lock and the later boxes 73 up are 3 1/2 turns. The earlier boxes are very soft and require little effort to turn. There are a couple of different shaft configurations depending one year, ps and other factors, so get the rag joint with the box if you can.

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

Ok so if I'm going the junkyard route, then i need to be sure and grab the rag joint too. If I go the new route then I need to count the splines first. What years/vehicles should I look for at the junkyard?

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

Also not sure of exact year they changed from flare fitting to O-ring fitting on the hoses

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

i believe it was right around 78-80 when they changed to o'ring lines, and you will not need the o'ring style. Gm put these boxes on all trucks, suburbans and full size blazers from 67- about 78-80 like i said before. Make sure that you get the appropriate 2wd or 4wd box for your truck. 2wd boxes have a place for a nut to hold the pitman arm on. 4wd don't, they just have the splines, the pitman arm clamps on and holds it on with a bolt that goes through the pitman arm. You can look at your current box to get an idea of what i mean. If you have a 2wd when you put the new box on, you will probably not want to even deal with pulling the old pitman arm off, it will be better money and time spent to but a new one and put it on. If you have a 4wd, then it's easy enough to pull them off, and they aren't a wear item, so just reuse them.

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

Thanks a lot for the info guys. I hope to add the power steering at the same time I install the motor. Also, does anyone know what all I need to swap over from my 307 to the 350 because the truck is currently a stick shift but the 350 was an auto?

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

You will need an automatic trans cross-member, an auto column (unless you want the shifter on the floor) if you choose to just put an auto column in your truck, you will need to either buy a new trans tunnel for the inside of the cab, or fab up and weld a plate to fill the hole for the old shifter hole. Also if you go the route to put a new column in, i would recommend putting in a tilt, it'll make things easier down the road.

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

I would actually like to keep my 4spd manual trans. I just want sure what parts needed to coffee of the 307.

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

that's really easy to do, you just need to unbolt the trans, flywheel and clutch. then everything should bolt right up to the 350

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

I'm really curious if you got everything figured out and if your's truck is back on the road

Re: 71 c10 Power steering help
 

Not yet, life intervened. Its too cold out for now so it will have to wait till summer.