Anyone lifted a '53 M38-a1?

Not that I'm "real" interested in it, but just wondering what my options are. How much lift could a person go before you had to mess with steering angles and driveshaft problems? Here, I assume, would be my major issue. With the '85 Buick 231 engine and the headers, my steering options are rather limited I believe. I would "LOVE" to put power steering on my Jeep, but I just can't see how it could be done. I'm not sure how big of tires you could put on a stock (or lifted) M38-a1 and still steer it around corners. Right now, I have BFG AT 235/75/15's and it doesn't steer too bad. (Of course, I have about 1/2 turn of play before the wheels turn, but that should be remedied after the 4th of July parade on Monday).

Okay, lol..to recap, because I'm rambling,
1. How big of tires does anyone have on a M38-a1/CJ-5 without powersteering.

2. How much can you lift before you have to change mechanicals.

3. Does anyone have powersteering on said Jeep with the Buick 3.8 w/headers?

Dondo

 

I would say you could go to 33's with no power steering, but the stock steering isn't great. I'd recommend doing the saginaw conversion whether you go to power steering or not. As far as a lift goes, you could put a 2 1/2" lift on it without really changing anything, except for adding shims for the pinion angle, but those should come with the kit. I ran 32" tires with 2 1/2 inches of lift, you could go 33's with a little bit of shackle lift / body lift added to that.

Are your headers the fenderwell headers that exit outside of the frame rails? If so, you can go to power steering with the steering shaft running under the headers right next to the engine. I'm not sure about whether or not it will work with block hugger headers, but you can do it with the stock exhaust manifolds also if you switched back to those. Basically, you put the power steering box on the inside of the frame rail, inbetween the grill and the front bumper, and then run a steering shaft from the firewall to that and then a cross-over steering set up from there. Do a search for saginaw power steering conversion, there's tons of information on it.

 

I have 33x12.50x15's on mine. Rubs the frame on tight turns but nothing that can be damaged is in the way.
I have no lift and a smallblock chevy in mine.

Pics Here
http://www.gertrudethepug.com/Grinsha/homeset.htm

 

61CJ5 -- My headers are fenderwell headers. I'm thinking that going with powersteering is quite a bit more complicated then coverting from Rossbox to Saginaw.

Something to think about...thanks guys.

Dondo

 

powersteering is using a saganaw power steering box. There are two types power and nonpower saganaws.

 

I searched a little on the web for Ross to Saginaw. How complicated is it really? I see the kits run about $700 at Advance Adapters. Would I be able to tell a difference between my sloppy Ross and a non-power Saginaw?

Dondo

 

I would not say it is an easy swap but it is a worthwhile swap. I can't comment on the ross to non-power saginaw since I have never driven a jeep with either.

 

if done properly, the manual saginaw is a huge improvement over the stock Ross box; you eliminate the bellcrank, and use a 1 piece tie rod, knuckle to knuckle, and a 1 piece drag link, box to knuckle. If you install the RH knuckle with the double hole set-up, it improves the steering effort as well.
All of the above apply if you retain the stock, large diameter wheel. If you want a smaller or custom wheel, then turning effort increases with the smaller wheel; unless of course you go power.
Mounting the box to the frame is basically the same, power vs non-power.

 

Yep, what everyone else said. Adding power steering instead of just manual saginaw only involves bolting on a power box instead of a manual one, and mounting the steering pump on the engine. You shouldn't have any clearance problems on the headers.