Saginaw Steering

Going to get my Jeep on the road this summer. After talking some Early Jeep owners, I will be ditching the Ross Steering and converting to Saginaw. Plan on doing the conversion in the coming year, so I will be gathering parts till then, I have a 225-V6, two hole knuckle w/ one piece tie rod and tie rod flip. The question is manual or power steering?

 

I’d be interested in the V6 Ross box when you do part with it

 

I put on a power box from a Camaro and it's probably a little too quick for the Jeep. Could have used a box with a lower turning ratio. But the power is nice to have.

 

A manual box is ten times better than that Ross one. A power box mounts in the same bracket.

 

IMO, If you're going through the hard part of mounting the box, go the extra few easy (in comparison) steps and make it a power setup.

 

What I learned from my recent conversion:
1) The power steering conversion makes it drive like a whole other vehicle, ie. a 76 or later cj5 with factory p/s. I would think a manual conversion would make it like a intermediate, ie '72-'75.
2) if you are doing it in the style of running a spud shaft off the steering gear box's input shaft through the frames front cross member, similar to the advance adapter method, make sure the box you pick out has a spud shaft available to match the input shaft's spline count and diameter.
3) The box I picked out is 3 turns lock to lock, I regret not getting a 4 turn because I have found 3 turns seems a little too quick for safe driving in city traffic. (I am probably going to change mine eventually)
4) if you are going to keep your original steering column & wheel to maintain the stock look, forget about selling your ross box to anyone because you have to cut the worm screw off the end of your original column.

 

I fully agree. Getting the lines and the pump brakes is the annoying part, but so much worth it

 

I bought a military remained Ross steering box. I have the original Ross steering box in my basement, it's in pieces, but I have it. The company did not want a core when I ordered it.

 

I replaced my Ross with manual Saginaw in 1976.
In 2010 ? I converted to power steering.
Don't know why I waited so long.
The manual Saginaw with 2 hole knuckle will be a huge improvement.

 

I went power when I did the 304 gave the manual box to the boy for his 70 I used the power box off the donor 73 for my 74 kept the bus wheel second best upgrade yet. The first being the np435.

 

I started with a manual saginaw box with standard knuckles. I upgraded to a two hole knuckle with the manual saginaw. This was a huge improvement and I ran the jeep for a year that way. Winter before last I installed power steering off of a YJ. I cant imagine ever going back.

 

Mine is manual Saginaw, with a two hole knuckle. I used a postal Jeep column rather than cutting up the Ross box, but postal columns are getting tough to come by.
The Saginaw box is much nicer to drive than the stock setup....but I do have power box and pump waiting to go on when I get the time.

 

Go to power and never look back , beyond adding better brakes to a CJ power steering rates right up there at 1 or 2 on the list...........find or buy a variable ratio steering box and enjoy the best of both worlds....."slow in the middle and fast at the turning edges"

 

I am collecting parts now for the future install. I have a aluminum bracket for the direct mount to the V6, need to get the stamped pieces. I am going to do a power steering conversion, at this time.

I have 2 issues I am dealing with.
1. Really do not want to drill the cross member and weld on the frame. Have not finished my build yet and knowing I will have to do that is hard to swallow at this time.

2. The Herm kit is a bolt up and I can keep my PTO winch, but the Herm kit has some issues from what little I have read. ( still researching this)

I restored the Jeep, made some upgrades on it. Steering will be another upgrade which will be good. Keeping the PTO winch and drilling the cross member are big at this time. This Jeep will never be driven off-road. May do a gravel road if you call that driving off-road.

Please keep replying. Need input.

 

I have most of the parts to do power in my rig. I'm going with a Bronco/F150 box mounted on the outside of the frame over the front axle. I plan on keeping my front dump exhaust manifold and won't need to mess with the cross member. Also will have room to mount a winch lower between the frame rails. My inspiration for this comes from Fly Navy's build and ITLKSEZ's frame build for his friend. I plan on using an original column and wheel. I worked a trade when I sold my Ross box, which was in pretty good condition, for the worn out one. I knew I was going to cut the worm off so condition didn't matter. I know I will have to modify the inner fender and move the shock and I'm OK with that.

 

Power, no debate.

 

I seriously considered that set up, but I really don't see how to get a steering box in the V6 engine compartment with the engine in the stock location.

 

Not drilling the cross member and not welding the frame is not going to add any value to the Jeep.

 

Yep. It also really cuts down on digit abuse by the steering wheel, to the point in my 3B where it totally eliminated that feed back when hitting big rocks.

 

Power all the way. It's just sooo easy (assuming you don't hook up the hoses backwards like someone here did). I'm like a little ADHD kid with my power steering. I like to turn around inside compact parking stalls just beause I can . Seriously tho, it was really easy. The diffuculty/reward ratio is awesome.

I also think it's one of the mods that could actually add a small amount of value if you ever sell.