V6 Ross Steering Box Removal

I need to pull the Ross box out of the '69 to rebuild it. Looking at the FSM, you can pull the floor pans and yank the 4 cyl box out the top. However for the V6, it says you need to remove the steering wheel, remove the turn signal switch, jack the Jeep way up in the air, drop the exhaust, and pull the steering gear out the bottom.

Is that true? My guess is the FSM is right, but I figured I'd ask the smart folks here.

 

it's been many years . but . I am sure mine came out from above

 

x2 that's what I was thinking.

 

I have headers......took mine out the bottom without removing any exhaust parts.....

Said a lot of cuss words during removal and found after rebuild it was not much improved. Removed out the bottom (again) and installed power.

Richard

 

Awesome. I'll try to pull it out the top first. Thanks all!

 

I think if you try to go out the top the brake master cyl gets in the way....

 

Well, that's on the repair list too. Maybe I'll do them both at the same time.

 

Mine came out the top

 

Let me know how that goes, I just got all the parts for mine and plan on doing it this weekend. Would rather pull from the top if I can.

 

If you're doing it this weekend, you'll probably beat me to it.

 

Maybe I will just sit back and wait on you to do it first!

 

You will have to take the pitman arm off the side of the box.

 

If your focus is on improving the steering, I would start at the bellcrank (if you haven't already). Lateral pin and vertical bellcrank movement is usually 75% of all wheel slop. This can be verified visually.

 

Yep, did the bellcrank last year. There is some binding just off center in both directions when steering. You could feel it when nothing was connected to the steering box. My guess is the pins have flats and somebody tightened up the box to remove the slop. Now it binds a bit when the climbing up out of the flats. The pitman arm ball is also very non-round and I'm changing that too while I'm at it.

 

Now if one isn't keeping the Ross box couldn't you just sawzall the steering shaft right above the Ross box and then just remove the column up through the floor and remove the Ross box downward?

 

For sure. But this Jeep is keeping the stock steering. I've already got a modified one with Saginaw steering.

 

I removed mine through the bottom.
Jack it up, drop the exhaust, remove drag link, floor plates, turn signal assy., steering wheel and left front tire.
It was not that bad.

 

just took mine out few days ago through the top. removed driver's seat, floor panels, brake M/C mount bolts, lots of cussing to go along with it....but it came out

 

Awesome! I'm most likely pulling mine next week. Did you pull the pitman arm off before removing the box?

 

yes I did....had to use a pickle fork though. popped off pretty easy.