steering box interchange

[Mark1968]

I need a new steering gear box for my 79 k 20.
I also want to run the jeep xj shaft on it.
The xj shaft will not fit the older boxes like mine.
Which year box will fit the xj shaft and will the power steering hoses still fit my box?

 

[dremu]

I'm not sure why you say the XJ shaft won't fit that *box*. It might not fit your *steering column*.

I'm pretty sure all the GM power steering boxes are the same with a 3/4" 30 spline shaft at the lower end of the steering shaft.

Now, the *column* end changes over the years. Through '78 had a 1" 48 spline shaft and '79 and later use a 13/16" "double D", whatever that is.

As for the fittings on the hoses, early boxes (73 to 80-ish, not sure specifically) use inverted flare fittings. After the 80-ish they go to Saginaw O-ring type fittings. Your box presumably has the inverted flare ends and if you stick with anything 80ish or older you can keep those hoses.

-- A

 

[Mark1968]

Maybe that's what I was thinking, the xj shaft would not fit the column.

 

[dremu]

Maybe that's what I was thinking, the xj shaft would not fit the column.

You might just get your box and hoses fixed up the way you want, and then get a Borgeson U-joint shaft. They are stupid spendy (~$200) but they bolt right up (other than cut-to-length depending on if you have a body lift) and are brand new and can be had to fit any given column/box/whatever.

-- A

 

[4X4HIGH]

Aaron, there were two different sized steering input shaft diameters and spline counts used on GM power steering gear boxes.

 

[dremu]

Aaron, there were two different sized steering input shaft diameters and spline counts used on GM power steering gear boxes.

I've read that as well, particularly for early ones (73-74ish), but can't find details. Are you *sure* that the odd size isn't for *manual* steering boxes, by chance?

-- A

 

[4X4HIGH]

I've read that as well, particularly for early ones (73-74ish), but can't find details. Are you *sure* that the odd size isn't for *manual* steering boxes, by chance?

-- A

Remember i've rebuilt ALOT of steering boxes and they were all power steering boxes and yes i've seen both shafts in these that i've rebuilt so far.

 

[bp71k5]

I can confirm that there's at least two when I tried to make an XJ shaft fit on my 71. In the end the borgenson was the only good option.

 

[diesel4me]

I ran into a smaller than usual steering box input shaft on a 70 K5,a customer came to the junkyard to buy a used box,and he returned a while later saying the rag joint splines on his steering shaft were "too big" --we ended up giving him a rag joint off a 66 Impala,that seemed to fit perfectly..

My '74 GMC I saved the colum from for a spare,had the large splines on the colum end,so if I ever wanted to use the jeep shaft,it probably wouldn't work..