55-59 4x4 build....STEERING

[BOXER957]

OK who's done them and what is the best solution for power steering with early 80's axles....c'mon I know you're out there...

[yossarian19]

Originally Posted by BOXER957

OK who's done them and what is the best solution for power steering with early 80's axles....c'mon I know you're out there...

You've really got two options for this.
One, the CPP C10 box that mounts the steering gear on the outside of the frame rail.
This is the kit I bought. I don't like it. Bump steer aside, the big PITA with it is that it severely limits your turning radius because the driver's front tire hits the steering box when you turn a hard right. They say something about wheel width in the ads for it... you need to read that as "Will park like a got-damn barge with 29" tires, even with wheel spacers"
With enough lift and the right size tires you could mitigate this, as the tires effectively get skinnier when you get the box higher above the wheel centerline, but if it's a 4x4 you are probably trying to run larger than 29" tires too.
The other option is the CPP steering box that mounts to the original location, inside the frame rail. I've seen this kit. it looked good. The catch is that you are still running a short little drag link instead of cross steer but hey, you can't have everything in life.
I have to wonder if an inside-mounted steering box could be fabb'ed into place with a careful selection of motor mounts, headers & steering intermediate shaft. You'd want it so that the pitman arm could be installed with the joint alongside the passenger's steering arm, ideally.

[BOXER957]

I have the steering box from the 80 chevy that I got the running gear from so I could mount like OGRE did on his...the tire rub is an issue ( I have 33's on it right now) I also have the cpp power steering set up but that one leaves me with a 6" long space to hook up to from box to steering arm, vertical drag-link to horizontal steering arm would cause serious bind. If I could find a steering arm that landed the mounting hole in front of the axle I'd give it a shot, but haven't found anything yet.

[yossarian19]

What about this.
Take a likely candidate Chevy steering arm, flip it around so it points forward and angles outward. Ackerman angle should be acceptable / same, I think.
The 55-59 arms have a straight or straightish bore. This lets you use a heim joint & big heavy bolt for the drag link.
Also... how wide is the 80's chevy front axle? It might be wide enough to lessen the turning radius issue...?
Does it look possible you could run a drag link from driver's side box to passenger's knuckle?

[mvitale27]

I'm going to try to figure out my steering setup and geometry soon as well on my 56 4x4. I definitely want to use to CPP power steering kit that uses the original mounting location. I heard that it creates a problem with exhaust manifold/header clearance but I mounted my engine very far forward so I'm hoping that will help.

[BOXER957]

Originally Posted by mvitale27

I'm going to try to figure out my steering setup and geometry soon as well on my 56 4x4. I definitely want to use to CPP power steering kit that uses the original mounting location. I heard that it creates a problem with exhaust manifold/header clearance but I mounted my engine very far forward so I'm hoping that will help.

Responded to on your build thread, thanks

[BOXER957]

Originally Posted by yossarian19

What about this.
Take a likely candidate Chevy steering arm, flip it around so it points forward and angles outward. Ackerman angle should be acceptable / same, I think.
The 55-59 arms have a straight or straightish bore. This lets you use a heim joint & big heavy bolt for the drag link.
Also... how wide is the 80's chevy front axle? It might be wide enough to lessen the turning radius issue...?
Does it look possible you could run a drag link from driver's side box to passenger's knuckle?

I haven't found a solution to any of these suggestions. That's why I posted this thread, I'm hoping someone out there has found a steering arm that fits or a cross steer setup....I've even looked at jeep Cherokees with the box mounted inside the rails and cross steer...really don't want to go backwards though..I already have the chevy axles blasted, painted and on the truck with brand new wheels and tires.

[BOXER957]

Originally Posted by yossarian19

You've really got two options for this.
One, the CPP C10 box that mounts the steering gear on the outside of the frame rail.
This is the kit I bought. I don't like it. Bump steer aside, the big PITA with it is that it severely limits your turning radius because the driver's front tire hits the steering box when you turn a hard right. They say something about wheel width in the ads for it... you need to read that as "Will park like a got-damn barge with 29" tires, even with wheel spacers"
With enough lift and the right size tires you could mitigate this, as the tires effectively get skinnier when you get the box higher above the wheel centerline, but if it's a 4x4 you are probably trying to run larger than 29" tires too.
The other option is the CPP steering box that mounts to the original location, inside the frame rail. I've seen this kit. it looked good. The catch is that you are still running a short little drag link instead of cross steer but hey, you can't have everything in life.
I have to wonder if an inside-mounted steering box could be fabb'ed into place with a careful selection of motor mounts, headers & steering intermediate shaft. You'd want it so that the pitman arm could be installed with the joint alongside the passenger's steering arm, ideally.

I have the cpp stock location setup, the problem is not only the length of drag link but the mounting for drag link has axle end horizontal and box end vertical which means serious bind when turning...hoping to find either a pitman arm or steering arm that will solve this issue.

[mvitale27]

Anyone consider using this kit with a GM 10 bolt/Dana 44 style front axle? It looks like the steering box would mount forward of the stock location and possibly on the outside of the frame?

[yossarian19]

I have.

DONT.

You lose a stupid amount of turning radius.

At stock (well, sagged) height with stock sized tires I need a ton of wheel spacer, like 1 1/4", and still had to adjust the steering stops way out.

Parking or even getting out of an in-town driveway are a big PITA, have to time my exit from my kids school so I'll be able to occupy both lanes for a little bit as I turn the barge out of the driveway.

Biggest POS kit... really not happy with how that worked out, to the point where I'm thinking about taking a grinder and removing the whole mess and going to an IFS, just on the steering radius issue.

Note that if you are going to run appreciably wider axles you may not have this issue but at the stock 62" WMS to WMS, it's a problem.

[mvitale27]

Originally Posted by yossarian19

I have.

DONT.

You lose a stupid amount of turning radius.

At stock (well, sagged) height with stock sized tires I need a ton of wheel spacer, like 1 1/4", and still had to adjust the steering stops way out.

Parking or even getting out of an in-town driveway are a big PITA, have to time my exit from my kids school so I'll be able to occupy both lanes for a little bit as I turn the barge out of the driveway.

Biggest POS kit... really not happy with how that worked out, to the point where I'm thinking about taking a grinder and removing the whole mess and going to an IFS, just on the steering radius issue.

Note that if you are going to run appreciably wider axles you may not have this issue but at the stock 62" WMS to WMS, it's a problem.

I believe my '78 k20 10 bolt 8 lug front is 69" but if i remember, you also have this kit below, right? But it wont work because the pitman arm and steering arm have perpendicular holes?



I wonder if I could get a steering arm like this one machined to be the right height. Also picture it cut in half and turned 90 degrees, welded back together and spaced high enough to have the drag link flat

[mvitale27]

I just found an article from Hot Rod Magazine on the cpp 400 kit. Its obviously a stock beam front axle not 4x4 but they use a drag link like this, which looks like it would work for a dana 44 style front axle.

[mongocanfly]

may or may not help cause I don't know the frame width of the TF trucks..on my current build I ran into all the issues yall are describing...after talking to the guys at ORD I decided on using a 89-92 2wd steering box...it mounts inside the frame..i also had to go with crossover steering...ill have to do a little dogleg with the steering shaft ..but...I have full lock to lock steering with no rubbing issues and plenty of clearance

[mongocanfly]

this is what I was faced with trying to mount the 4wd steering box and drag link outside the frame

[mvitale27]

I'm tempted to try the cpp 400 kit since its inside the frame and then see what I can do with the drag link and steering arm on the driver side. But the box looks kind of wimpy for a 4x4. I wonder what box it is based from.

[57tailgater]

I believe the CPP kit is based on a Toyota 4x4 steering box design but as far as the actual box itself, I am not sure.

[mvitale27]

Originally Posted by 57tailgater

I believe the CPP kit is based on a Toyota 4x4 steering box design but as far as the actual box itself, I am not sure.

I looked at some of their literature and it looks beefier in the installed photos. I'll let you guys know what I decide and how I make out