Steering Gearbox ID and REPAIR Questions

[Lunatic]

Okay - This isnt a "I have slop" thread.

This thread is in reference to a seperate gear box which has been on my shop bench for months now, which I finally got around to tearing down for cleaning and inspection - Before proceeding with rebuild, as a backup.




There are numbers on this gearbox and Im wondering what they represent.

• On the case housing - 78026441 - Right below the sector shaft cap
• On the case housing - 69, stamped on a raised oval - Right below 78026441, off to the right.
• On the case housing - 21, next to a raised time stamp - Right below 78026441, off to the left.
• Power piston end cap - 5686815
• Sector shaft cap - 093A0 - a small stamped plate

Im pretty sure the "21" with the time stamp is a factory/shift stamp, making it useless for much of anything.

Any clue as to what the others are ? I will post a high def pic of the housing if necessary.


Question 2.

While I had this gear torn down and looking it over, I noticed a small sliver-like wire hangin out of the housing, inside the input assembly cavity - It resembled a drill bit hair which you get when drilling a hole.

Upon closer inspection, I discovered it was actually the check valve spring. Somehow, it not only was pulled from the bottom of the check valve, but pulled quite a bit - Almost an inch length was hanging there.


So.....where might I find a new spring or check valve assembly ?


Below is a illustration - Note diagram 11 for the check valve spring location.


Thanks for any help !!!


Troy B,
Ft Hood, TX

 

[4X4HIGH]

That box is a flare fitting box (1969-1980 1st design). I have no idea where you would ever get a new check valve spring. You could always use a screw extractor and pull the flare fitting seat from a box at the junk yard and replace your bad spring with it. If the sector shaft is splined all the way around then it is a 2wd box and if it's only splined a portion of the way with a notch then it is a 4wd box.

 

[Lunatic]

Thanks for the quick turn around 4x4HIGH.

It is a 4wd yes, not 2wd. The illustration was just a reference.

I hadnt thought about surgery at the pick-n-pull, that may be an option - Even though there is nothing pressing about the condition of this gear box, good or bad - It'll just go back on my bench, clean and rebuilt, or...... "other".

Did the flare fittings tell you the year range or was it one of the numbers ?



Troy B,
Ft Hood, TX

 

[4X4HIGH]

Thanks for the quick turn around 4x4HIGH.

It is a 4wd yes, not 2wd. The illustration was just a reference.

I hadnt thought about surgery at the pick-n-pull, that may be an option - Even though there is nothing pressing about the condition of this gear box, good or bad - It'll just go back on my bench, clean and rebuilt, or...... "other".

Did the flare fittings tell you the year range or was it one of the numbers ?



Troy B,
Ft Hood, TX

It was the 78026441 that gave it away, they were used from 1969-1980 1st design then in mid year 1980 GM changed to the O-ring style hoses with a number on the box of 78026441L. If you remove the flare fitting seat it will now become an O-ring fitting box.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

It was the 78026441 that gave it away, they were used from 1969-1980 1st design then in mid year 1980 GM changed to the O-ring style hoses with a number on the box of 78026441L. If you remove the flare fitting seat it will now become an O-ring fitting box.

so you can take a flared fitting box, extract those 2 inverted flare connectors and run o ring lines?

 

[4X4HIGH]

so you can take a flared fitting box, extract those 2 inverted flare connectors and run o ring lines?

Yes sir.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

well f me!

so do i need to keep the spring and check valve in there as well? wish i woulda know this before lol, could just pulled these fittings out of my box instead of swapping sector shafts

 

[4X4HIGH]

I would keep the check valve. I'm pretty sure the O-ring boxes still have a check valve in them also but I can't remember at the moment and I don't have one to look at currently.