Dodge vs GM steering gear

[MNorby]

I am parting out a 1979 dodge 1-ton 2wd truck and I pulled the steering gear off. It looks just like a GM steering gear but I don't have any laying around to compare. Does anyone know if they are interchangeable? I did find a post on pbb someone saying the late 70s dodge units were the same but different size input shaft but can't confirm that. If it is interchangeable it would make a good crossover steering box.

 

[MNorby]

No one?

 

[76zimmer]

looks like a dead ringer. Is there any #'s on it to ID it?
Try a parts manual, or website for interchange?

 

[big dan]

I am pretty sure that they are the same but not 100%

edit: oreillys shows the same part number for dodge and chevy of the same year. Dont know how reliable that info is but I think its safe to assume they are the same unless someone else knows otherwise.

 

[ashman]

oreillys shows the same part number for dodge and chevy of the same year. Dont know how reliable that info is but I think its safe to assume they are the same unless someone else knows otherwise.

sounds like they are the same then. the only difference that might not be obvious would be the size of the splines where the rag joint slides on.

 

[jake 03]

I rebuilt a gearbox on a '98 dodge ram and it said gm on the casting,looked just like an old chevy box

 

[MNorby]

Wouldn't that vintage ram mount the gear on the inside of the frame?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

'98 Dodge is mounted on the inside of the frame. It is very similar to an '88-98 Chevy box as far as bolt pattern and dimensions but there are internal differences (ratio, piston size, something like that).

The earlier ('93-) are Saginaw boxes too, pretty sure the input splines are different and I'm not sure about the ratio or piston size but I'd bet they're the same or close to a GM.

 

[Blue85]

I wish I had more information because I spent a summer in the factory that built these gears. That plant is now a field. But I never studied all the details of the differences for different applications. The casting numbers on the outside don't tell the whole story because different ratios and valving were built into the same housing for different applications. There were also variations in the mounting feet locations - so you'll want to verify that those are in the same place. There are also variable and straight ratio types, but that probably doesn't go back to the 70's. If it turns in the right direction and has the right splines you're probably good.

EDIT: Even if a parts store sells the same replacement gear for two different applications doesn't mean that the originals are the same - it just means that the mounting features are the same. They want to carry as few parts as possible and most customers won't notice a minor change in valving or something.

 

[MNorby]

For our application a slight ratio change or something isn't a big deal really either. I pulled this gear thinking it might work for a crossover box for someone.

 

[black dawg]

make sure that it turns the right way, when you look up steering gears in those years for dodges it asks standard or reverse rotation.