Scout Steering

Anyone swap in a Scout steering box that has pictures of the finished conversion? Trying to decide which way I want to go right now, thinking either an Astro box mounted to the inside of the frame or a Scout box mounted outside. Need to know if there are clearance issues with the Scout box using stock narrow-width JEEP axles.

 

You really want to mount a steering box on the outside of the frame? Wouldn't the tire hit it when you turn?:?

 

That's what I'm asking, would it hit? It looks like it would be an easy install that would put the steering shaft outboard of the manifolds and engine mounts. The box itself doesn't concern me so much as the pitman arm, but I'm wondering if the pitman arm would steer itself out of the way as the tires turned.

 

I bought a Scout steering box awhile back and plan to do this swap eventually. The bulk of the box actually sits more on top of the frame rail then outside. This is the only website I can find right now. The conversion was done on a Land Cruiser. (not very good pics....)

http://www.menet.umn.edu/~vandeven/ps.htm

 

maybe contact member Wrangster, as he made this comment recently.
He's listed as being in Norway; maybe he has some insight and/or pictures.

 

Wouldn't mounting it outside the rail mean relocating the shaft, or at least running it through the rail somehow?

 

which is why my curiousity is peaked as well....

 

No, the input sits above the frame rail. Cutting of the fender is necessary. You may have to "clearance" the inner fender for the shaft as well.

 

I can't find any good pics of an install in a jeep at the moment for some reason, but all sorts of installs in Toyota's. Do a google image search on "scout steering box" and you will get a better idea of how it mounts.

I just never liked the look of a big steering box between the frame rails out front. Just doesn't look right on an old jeep. This always seemed like a better way. I am pretty sure you can still use the original exhaust (which I am going back to) and it is a pretty straight shot for the steering shaft. However, I was always a little concerned about clearance at full turn with my original narrow axles. I guess that would all depend on size of tires and backspacing of the wheels.

Here is a decent pic (although I don't know what it is installed on:

 

You know, I passed up a Scout box at the boneyard last fall and wish I had grabbed it now. I can tell you just from eyeballing that the box itself will fit no problem. The dimension I'm concerned with is the big honkin' long pitman arm necessary to go all the way from the available boxed section of the frame out to the drag link. I think the pitman arm is actually long enough that it may hit the tires at full lock.

Here are some pics I found on Pirate to illustrate what I am looking at. I think these are of a Rover:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=587375

 

The long pitman arm is used because of the long steering arms on the scout knuckles. You can put a shorter pitman arm to work with the shooter steering arms of a cj front axle. I put a scout 2 box on the '6 project and didn't like the looks or configuration so I switched it to a standard Saginaw set up. Much cleaner, more protected, and better supported imho
Posted via Mobile Device

 

Herm the overdrive guy makes a bolt on kit that goes between the frame rails and behind the rad. Depending on your engine setup this might buy you a bit more room for the pitman arm.

 

Herm's kit is where I got the idea for the Astro box. I have a reverse Ford box here like the one Herm's kit uses, but they seem to be getting harder to find and so I would like to use the Astro box instead of the Ford box. Then mocking up the Astro box got me to thinking about the Scout box. My inner fenders are already trimmed for other modifications, so outside the frame is not really a big deal to me.

Now searching the Scout box has led me to looking at the FJ box. I know we have a couple Land Cruisers (the FJ60 or 80, not 40) at the boneyard right now:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=33485&stc=1&d=1149018625

 

One other thing to think about is future replacement cost if or when it wears out. Some boxes are very expensive and can be hard to source.

 

Yup, that's why I picked up the Astro box. Probably what I should just stick in there and be done... Astro vans should be plentiful in the boneyard for at least another decade or more for cores.

 

Decided to go with the Astro steering, but I do think this would be a viable option for anyone willing to cut their inner fenders.

 

seems alot of folks want to put power steering on thier jeeps I picked up everything from the manual box to the steering wheel off a 70s jeep for less than 300