66 CJ6 power steering fix

I have read through all the threads, and Im confused, as I dont even know what this jeep started with, just what I ended up with, and what different issues I have, AND how to fix them. First, someone attepted to install a power steering setup in my Jeep. It uses a 3 bolt Saginax box, a dropped pitman arm, and a homemade borgeson style shaft, with ujoint yokes spot welded to the shaft. The stock column protrudes through the floor about 6-8 inches (?? Is this stock?), and has a bigger longer thicker yoke, and is also at a severe angle (more than I am comfortable with), as the shaft goes to the box OVER the stock crossmember, instead of under, or under/through as Ive seen on this site. The box is on a piece of 1/4 plate, bolted to the frame with 6 bolts, and rocks ALOT when turned. There is also a THREADED steel mount welded to the frame in about the same position Id imagine a steering box should be mounted, and its welded well, but its threaded (three bolt holes, two paralell on bottom, one on top), and I dont understand why this is (if it was intended to be a box mount, the bolts thread into the box, so..........), and the threads look as if they are intened to run from inboard to out, not going through the frame? On top of it all, the power steering does not function, and I dont know why, pump acts as if it is operating, but I cant tell if the pump is bad, or box.........Its a mess. Help........

 

that is not safe!! you need to box the frame and mount the steering box to the frame.

 

I just remembered that this jeep used to have a PTO driven winch, still has the PTO drive off of the tcase, Ill bet that frame mount has something to do with the winch, and its purely coincidence that the bolt pattern is similar to the steering box, and would also be the reason the box had to be so high.........Ill bet anyways (no proof, because all that is left is the PTO drive off of tcase)

 

If you want I will come over and we can find a solution to your steering. I live in San Diego too. I would not drive it to far with the mounting plate flexing.

 

Im not going to, honestly. Frame looks good, so it cant have been driven far this way, just a couple of cracks at the ends of the frame where the bumper is rivited on, and some cutting on the pass side. Ive got to drill and weld those couple, and box the front/repair the pass side BEFORE I drive it. I have the jeep at a shop, with no welder avail, but Ive got access to tools, and lifts, I just want to do this right, because Im going to drive it. Ill take the help!! Im out on Coronado.

 

Pics of problem more accurately:

 

You should go here:
http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17911 and look around. Make sure to click on the link to my photobucket account and look at all my saginaw pics, it will help you a lot. Make sure to look at the pics others have as it will give you a much better idea of what to do to fix your problem. Yours is bad but no where near as bad as Zed's was.

 

i had plated the front of my jeep with 1/2" from frame to frame across to install my winch, and went down the outside and inside of each side so when i installed my box the front was already over kill. but yeah you dont want any flex in it, it might crack. id post a pic but it seems that only a few people can post pics and for some reason im not one of them. i do know that power steering is one of the best things to do to one of these old jeeps, at least for me it was.

 

No one can directly post pics anymore, you need to set up a webshot, photobucket (both free) or other picture hosting site and then link the pics to here when you post.

 

I think the initial answer is that Im going to strip the steering box out, and trim the top piece of that mount (with some similar bo t WRONG bolt pattern) off, so I can get a new mount welded to it, itll just sit 3/8" further inboard, neglegible effect on steering at best, and get the front boxed in with some plates. I just need to make sure the steering shaft comes in below the crossmember, talked to AA (like the fact that I wouldnt have to sleeve the frame the way the tabs for the steering box were), but it mounts up fairly high (I guess thats a by product of the cool tab placement.......), and Id have to perform some fairly major surgery with plasma/welder, and I am not capable of it. But.......if some surgery of the crossmember were performed, or the steering box was low enough, I could eliminate the use of a spud shaft (that splined to splined design from AA is spensive......), and just use my ujointed shaft as is, same length.......then all that will be left is properly securing the column in the vehicle, havent figured that one out yet.

 

I sent you some questions about your parts, I guess basically can I get some "ala cart", bolts will be too short, and if you had a dual splined spud extension.

 

I've used this before, but on an aftermarket column, so I don't think it's the same diameter as your column. I'd bet there's one out there that would fit though if you check around a bit.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Steering-Column-Lower-Mounts-Band-Swivel,7379.html