Steering box year differences?

[camok5]

I'm helping my friend put crossover steering on his 85 Suburban and the 2wd steering box that I got from another friend came of a 75 blazer. Will this box work or do we need one specific for the 85. Also if this one is different is there anything I can do to adapt it because they are expensive and this one already came with all the crossover stuff?

 

[dyeager535]

I know nothing of the crossover, but talking strictly stock setups, the only changeable difference is the steering box fittings. '85 will be Saginaw (o-rings) '75 will be normal flare.

So in your case, you'll need the fitting off of an early pump. That will allow you to run the older lines on the newer PS pump.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Dorian nailed it but IIRC the input splines are a different size as well so the steering coupler from the 75 box will need to be used.

 

[454k30]

yes the splines will be different and the hoses you have wont work without other parts. I had this same problem and solved it by sourcing a gear box that had the same fittings and splines as the one I took out.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Just for your reference (and others) the cut off for flare fitting is through 1980 1st design, then mid 1980 started 2nd design which was O-ring fittings.

 

[odin]

I'm helping my friend put crossover steering on his 85 Suburban and the 2wd steering box that I got from another friend came of a 75 blazer. Will this box work or do we need one specific for the 85. Also if this one is different is there anything I can do to adapt it because they are expensive and this one already came with all the crossover stuff?

You dont need to swap the entire box. Just take the sector shaft out of the 2wd and swap it in the 4wd box on the truck.

 

[Leper]

What he said.

 

[4X4HIGH]

You dont need to swap the entire box. Just take the sector shaft out of the 2wd and swap it in the 4wd box on the truck.

You could run into problems if you try swapping shafts and one is a variable ratio box and the other isn't. The gears are obviously different.

 

[odin]

You could run into problems if you try swapping shafts and one is a variable ratio box and the other isn't. The gears are obviously different.

I have done it three times and every one worked.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I have done it three times and every one worked.

I'm not saying it can't be done (because i've also done it) but just letting you know that the variable ratio box is different than the standard ratio box and the two cannot be mixed.

 

[camok5]

Thanks for the info, I guess if the box is a different year I will just try and swap the shaft rather than getting new fittings and stuff. Is there anyway to tell buy looking at the box which one it is or which year its for. I know the one on my blazer is for an 87 but I cant see anything different from the one I have thats going on my friends suburban?

 

[4X4HIGH]

The only way to tell is by pulling a line loose and seeing if it has a flare seat or not.