'75 Highboy crossover steering
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Ellsworth, KS 67439
'75 Highboy crossover steering
Which gearbox will I need to employ for this?
I'm guessing one of the following:
'78-'79 F250
'76-'79 F150
2wd Ford box
Truck has a swapped in Dana 60 front and ORD passenger side crossover steering arm.
I do not want to use any GM or Dodge Saginaw box. I'm too tired to figure out which box above will work for crossover, so any suggestions, thanks in advance.
I'm guessing one of the following:
'78-'79 F250
'76-'79 F150
2wd Ford box
Truck has a swapped in Dana 60 front and ORD passenger side crossover steering arm.
I do not want to use any GM or Dodge Saginaw box. I'm too tired to figure out which box above will work for crossover, so any suggestions, thanks in advance.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 147
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From: Ellsworth, KS 67439
Forgot to add that I've got a Superlift #1104 drop pitman arm to use also. Truck is sitting on 4" Skyjacker front and rear springs.
I prefer the pitman arm to point to the rear when its fastened at the gearbox.
I prefer the pitman arm to point to the rear when its fastened at the gearbox.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I wouldn't use the 2wd box. Someone did that on my '74, 4wd crew cab and I had to clean up that hacked up mess! The leaf would hit the end of the sector shaft before the suspension got anywhere near hitting the bump stop...
Here's a few pics of what came on the truck when I bought it & how I replaced the hack job with a saginaw box off a dodge & a bit of the dodge frame.
A saginaw box off a Chevy or Dodge is a GREAT way to go on this. Keep in mind there are different configurations for the boxes - meaning some mount inside the frame, some outside, some have the pitman arm swing opposite the way you turn the wheel & some turn with the wheel. Look at all this before you just buy a box.
cut this junk off
and replaced with some acceptable work...
Here's a few pics of what came on the truck when I bought it & how I replaced the hack job with a saginaw box off a dodge & a bit of the dodge frame.
A saginaw box off a Chevy or Dodge is a GREAT way to go on this. Keep in mind there are different configurations for the boxes - meaning some mount inside the frame, some outside, some have the pitman arm swing opposite the way you turn the wheel & some turn with the wheel. Look at all this before you just buy a box.
cut this junk off
and replaced with some acceptable work...
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 448
Likes: 31
From: Park City, Utah
I'll second what Chase said with respect to the Ford 2wd box.
The '78-'79 F-250 (and '79 F-350) 4wd boxes use four bolts to mount them to the frame. I believe the F-150 box uses three bolts.
I had the 2wd set up and ran it for several years. I think it's much better than having manual steering and it's probably better than the leak prone factory power assist system. However it isn't that great. I found a '78-'79 F-250 box and will run that.
I also own a 1986 Blazer 4wd and that has the stock Saginaw steering box. The Chevrolet frame is different than the Ford in that the Ford frame rails are straight. The Chevrolet frames bent inward quite a bit in the area around the steering box, so even though the steering box mounts outside the frame it doesn't protrude nearly as much, and the angle of the steering shaft to the box is also not as pronounced.
I would also mention that the Chevrolet frames are notorious for cracking in the area around where the steering box bolts. There are aftermarket "beef up" plates available to reinforce this area.
The '78-'79 F-250 (and '79 F-350) 4wd boxes use four bolts to mount them to the frame. I believe the F-150 box uses three bolts.
I had the 2wd set up and ran it for several years. I think it's much better than having manual steering and it's probably better than the leak prone factory power assist system. However it isn't that great. I found a '78-'79 F-250 box and will run that.
I also own a 1986 Blazer 4wd and that has the stock Saginaw steering box. The Chevrolet frame is different than the Ford in that the Ford frame rails are straight. The Chevrolet frames bent inward quite a bit in the area around the steering box, so even though the steering box mounts outside the frame it doesn't protrude nearly as much, and the angle of the steering shaft to the box is also not as pronounced.
I would also mention that the Chevrolet frames are notorious for cracking in the area around where the steering box bolts. There are aftermarket "beef up" plates available to reinforce this area.
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