1989 steering box part # ???

[Can Can]

Can someone give me the part # for a steering box from a 1989 V3500 4x4? A spare came with the truck and I want to know if it's the right application. FWIW, the number I can pull off the actual box is 78026441.

 

[Eric M.]

Can someone give me the part # for a steering box from a 1989 V3500 4x4? A spare came with the truck and I want to know if it's the right application. FWIW, the number I can pull off the actual box is 7802644L.

For your second gen. crew cab 89 4x4, it'll be the same for 81 to 87 4x4. If no one else posts up tonight or you can't find it online, let me know. I'll take a look at the box on my 89 crew cab tomorrow. It's an AGR box, but the same casting as stock. Where on the box did you find the number?

Eric M.

 

[Can Can]

So all 2nd Gen 4x4 boxes are the same? Even when you go up to a 1 ton application?

If so, that's good to know.

FWIW, the number I found was situated on the top of the box, just left of the adjuster nut.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Paul, the only difference is if it is flare fitting lines or O-ring style lines. Basically 1980 2nd design and newer are all the same.

 

[Can Can]

Well, who'd of thunk it????

Thanks for the feedback, brothers!!

 

[dremu]

Eeeeeeyeah. Technically there are fixed- and variable-ratio boxes, but it seems that 99% of them are the one kind (variable ratio, I think.) Anyway, they're all interchangeable on the outside (i.e. the sector shafts may differ inside.)

... as long as, as Scott et al pointed out, the fittings match up.

-- A

 

[Eric M.]

Paul, the only difference is if it is flare fitting lines or O-ring style lines. Basically 1980 2nd design and newer are all the same.

Was it 80 or 81 that they switched to the O Rings? I should know this considering I have one of each .

Eric M.

 

[4X4HIGH]

The split was in 1980, there is a 1st design which is flare fitting lines then the 2nd design which is O-ring fitting lines.

 

[Eric M.]

So, 79 was flare, 80 was O-ring, right?

 

[4X4HIGH]

1980 could have been either way depending on if it is 1st design or 2nd design.

 

[73k5blazer]

Eeeeeeyeah. Technically there are fixed- and variable-ratio boxes, but it seems that 99% of them are the one kind (variable ratio, I think.) Anyway, they're all interchangeable on the outside (i.e. the sector shafts may differ inside.)

... as long as, as Scott et al pointed out, the fittings match up.

-- A

Just a note, I know this first hand, the variable ratio boxes on 4WD boxes are very rare, usally only found on military versions in the 80's and 1973 and 1974 trucks. I had my box re-maned by one of the guys guy who used to build (and still does) them on the line at Delphi in Saginaw using the original tooling (where my was remaned too! ), he told me this info, they are obligated to keep a few of the variable ratio sector shafts around in case the military needs to rebuild some boxes. The sector teeth for the variable ratio versions are apparently very difficult to machine. Most boxes are straight ratio.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Every steering box i've had apart or rebuilt is variable ratio. The teeth on the gears have a taper to them and are much different than a standard box.

 

[73k5blazer]

It's not the taper, the variable ratio ones have each tooth at a slightly different angle (talking half degree like here) from the one next to it.

 

[dremu]

Just a note, I know this first hand, the variable ratio boxes on 4WD boxes are very rare, usally only found on military versions in the 80's and 1973 and 1974 trucks. I had my box re-maned by one of the guys guy who used to build (and still does) them on the line at Delphi in Saginaw using the original tooling (where my was remaned too! ), he told me this info, they are obligated to keep a few of the variable ratio sector shafts around in case the military needs to rebuild some boxes. The sector teeth for the variable ratio versions are apparently very difficult to machine. Most boxes are straight ratio.

Well, that might 'splain it ... I have two '74's and a CUCV! Figures my entire herd would be weird.

-- A

 

[Eric M.]

1980 could have been either way depending on if it is 1st design or 2nd design.

Of course,God forbid GM make it easy for anyone who owns an 80!

Thanks,

Eric M.

 

[dyeager535]

I can't imagine variable ratio was that big a deal...the same design box was used on practically every RWD gm car and truck produced wasn't it? (I know my '86 Cutlass F41 box looks identical in casting, never compared part numbers for the parts of it)

It seems virtually all car boxes were variable ratio, the difference in performance typically being the ratio which changed the lock-to-lock turns needed.