Over the top, but I do not want to break a very had to locate steering box and go thru the repair process again.

Outside the frame, 35" tires, a front locker... not what the box was built to normally handle.

If it breaks again... I am going full hydro.

 

If it breaks again, it'll have been worth it!
And you'd sure know that beefing up just isn't enough to protect that weak casting.

It must at least extend it's life though I would think. They don't just break for no reason, but do often when used hard. If reducing flex and supporting it in two dimensions isn't enough, then updating the box itself (or going full hydro) would definitely be called for.
Can't wait to see the end results.

Paul

 

Excuse the messy back ground in the pics, the shop is not just my work space...the shop trolls will not pick a damn thing up. I think Ray Charles was supervised by Helen Keller when he welded that frame brace in there. lol JK Things PO's pass on to you....

 

"...Outside the frame, 35" tires, a front locker... ..."
OK, gotja now, bud.
I knew the 35s would stress (a steering box) but not the other 2.

 

This stresses a box, that is a 35x14.50x15 Bogger dropped off in that hole.

 

Got my side plate paper pattern and actual metal side plate made and drilled to bolt to the frame (by the p/s box mount hdwr) today. Some how in the lay out, once the side plate was hard bolted in place my top plate came up short. So making a longer one of them tomorrow, then should get it welded it up.

The process was made more difficult by the PO installed 2" angle iron piece welded in between the frame horns as a stiffener.

I will use longer threaded studs for the actual p/s box.

 

Done and done. Now to replace the rad mounts....always something.

 

Steering completely done, bleed it, connected the pitman arm. Adjusted the axle/knuckle steering stop bolts to keep me out of the u joint max angle. Took it for a spin, steers like a new Bronco.

 

Looks like some bulletproof steering right there!

 

Well got it all back together, pitman arm torqued ect...I also got some new mounts brackets for the aluminium radiator. Had to fab up a lower cross mount bracket bar because I could not use the OEM ones. Mounts are too wide...radiator to narrow. Top part is sort of getto, but I was working with a core support that has the top middle bar cut out by the PO. The bottom is way better looking. Nonetheless all together and taking it to a local car show tomorrow. I am back gravel road driving 6 miles to get it there. Fun pics to follow the show.

 

Took it for a 6 mile drive down the back roads to a local car show. P/S works great. And I took my 77 F250 (the silver one next to it.)

 

I would have stuck a trophy that Bronc's dash.

 

Thanks, but they did not have a 4x4 class.... a couple of years ago I did win at the Sparta Mo 1st annual Car show (they had a 4wd class) and the trophy was custom built. Looking for some pics of that event.

 

"...pics of that event"
bump, bump ?

 

Finally found them...the promoter of the show did his 1st public car crush. He has since came along way! And is a FTE member..earthquake68. That trophy beats any store bought one a 1000 times over. And for the record that is HIS brown 4wd 77 so he could not award himself at his own show.