1957 Cj5 Steering Upgrade

I am going to put a Saginaw steering box in my CJ. I had a Ford reverse rotation (manual), but I cannot find a dropped pitman arm for it. I am sure this has been discussed, but which boxes are the best to use. I will have to install a dropped pitman arm and I do not want to be in the same situation as I am with the current box.

 

Call Rough Country. Im sure they have the one you need.

 

Called them. They do not have any. Thank you for your help.

 

IMO CJ7 saginaw power steering box 4 turns lock to lock with the mounting bracket. If you are going to upgrade steering, why not go with power? I used one with the bracket and I boxed the frame with a sleeve for one bolt between the boxed frame and mounted the top 2 bolts through a 3/8" thick winch plate bolted to the frames. Some welding and positioning is required. Many posters think the OEM is not strong enough, but I am not doing any HEAVY DUTY off roading, and if it was good for OEM it is good for my purposes. If you are not going with power, manual boxes are the same mount and steering shafts. That being said, it was the most difficult upgrade I have done so for. Very very much research and planning, steering and stopping are essential. But I had to use a dropped pitman arm to alleviate bump steer, saginaw parts are plentiful. Good Luck

 

When you go to a power Saginaw box, there needs to be some additional reinforcing of the front frame extension. The AMC intermediates did this by adding a stamped plate mounted between the front frame extensionsbetween the bumper and grill.
One of the basic braces can "capture" the lower steering box just above the pitman arm with a fabricated clamp, and extend a brace up to the right frame rail. Most of the force when steering is at the bottom of the steering box.
If you add a power box, add some bracing.
-Donny

 

Do you have any pictures?

 

When I did my PS conversion using a 4 bolt Saginaw box, I boxed both sides of the forward frame rails (horns). Once I installed the box, I then built a brace that went from the round portion of the steering box across to the opposite frame horn. Has worked perfect since June of 1998...

 

Brace the box with something similar to this.
You can make the connecting link as you see fit as long as it's a firm connection, I opted to build it so the frame connecting link is horizontal as opposed to being run at an angle. The frame must be sleeved where the bolts go through it.

 

What did you use to clamp around the steering box for the brace?

 

This.
https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/mount...g-box-brace-clamp-sb9037c/_/R-MOREOFF-SB9037C

 

An old connecting rod from an engine can be made to work as a clamp. I think my first one I did was from a VW bug.
-Donny