Here's a couple of pictures from todays progress. It sure looks like a major step backwards to me, but it really is progress.....well, ok, the first baby step to making some progress, but its still progress.

I had my garage full of a Massey Ferguson tractor project all last year. I pulled it out and moved it to the backyard and made room for my 49. Of course to make the room I had to put stuff in the back of the truck. Dang a truck bed fills up fast.....sheesh.
So, the major step backward; putting the truck in the garage and taking it out of commission, is actuall the first step on some decent progress forward.

I'm going to redesign my steering system. Currently I have my Toyota box mounted up in front of the axle. I'm going to fab the bracket and move it back to the original location which ought to eliminate the bump steer I have. Of course this will mean that I can get rid of my Caddy steering column and replace it with the 64 Buick column that I want to use which of course means I'll need to rewire the turn signal circuits and since the Buick column doesn't have the ignition switch in the column I'll have to add an ignition switch and rewire my ignition circuitry.
While I have the column out and I'm fabbing mounts etc I might as well pop out the front and back glass, scuff and paint the interior so I can install the new weatherstrip, vent glass, door glass, channels, fuzzies, etc.

Ambitious plans, but I made the first tiny step today.

Bobby

 

Bobby, you need to put that cattle skull on top of the pile just for artistic flair.

.

 

Looks like a yard sale might be in order......LOL!
Good to see you working on it, plans sound good. Having the steering box up front shouldn't matter unless it is too high or low.....got any pics of it?

 

Here's a pic from years ago. This pic is a little decieving, once the engine and front sheet metal were in place and the truck is on the ground the steering linkage is pretty much parallel to the ground and not at the crazy angle seen here;


With the box up front like it is, the steering linkage isn't operating through the same arc as the rest of the suspension as it compresses and rebounds which makes the truck want to go to the left on the bumps.....nto bad around town but can be a bit hairy flying down the interstate....LOL

Plus, this gives me a good reason to install the Buick column

 

Maybe I'm missing something but, why didnt you put the box in the original location. You wouldn't have needed all the u joints, and the steering arms would have lined up. What yo have now looks like binding issues and major bump steer.

 

I had some interference issues a the time between exhaust, hose fittings, steering column, etc and chose to "step outside of the norm" and try an "alternative" solution.
At the time I wasn't as educated on bump steer, its causes or its solutions.

There is absolutely no binding in the steering shaft at all. In fact I believe I could have gotten away with a single "U" joint at the base of the steering column and still been ok. I do have bump steer, as I mentioned thats why I'm moving it now. My "alternative" solution turned out not to be as great of a solution as I had hoped.
On the bright side, I've learned a lot about steering geometry so it wasn't a total loss.

Bobby

 

The Toyota 4x4 manual steering box is mounted in the same position

Bobby - Please try not to fart in there - A good hard fart could bounce around in there for several days

 

LOL...good advice Dick. I'll make sure to keep the door open for proper ventilation (especially since we had beans and green chili enchiladas for dinner last night).

 

Take lots of pictures, I've always been curious how to use the Toyota box, not that I'd use it on any of my current trucks but I like to see all the options. Maybe some day down the road when my stock box goes out.

 

Wether the box is mounted in front of the axle or behind should not make any difference as long as it is set up right.
I'm wondering if you have some other steering geometry issues.....I'd hate to see you go to all of that work and see no change.

 

Scott,

I had thought that also. What finally convinced me was drawing it out on paper.
Picture the front suspension from the side. When the axle moves up and down it moves on an arc with the pivot point being the rear spring hanger. The original steering linkage travels on the same arc. The steering linkage is laid out to closely lie on the same plane as the spring. If you lay it out on paper and draw a line between the frant axle and the rear spring hanger, and then draw another line between the steering arm adn pitman arm. If you carry this second line back it should intersect the first line at the spring hanger. That way when you hit a bump both lines should travel in roughly the same arc.

In my case with the steering box out front of the axle when the suspension moves through its cycle making it small arc around the rear spring hanger, my steering linkage has to move through an opposite arc around a point towards the front of the truck.

The front mounted box might work if the fixed end of the spring were towards the front of the truck instead of the rear. I'm not sure, I could very well be overlooking something.

 

Here's where I'm at today;

 

Just take out that big ol' Caddy engine, install a flattie, problem solved.

 

Bobby, if you end up with a couple left over steering U joints and want to part with them, let me know......I need some for my COE.

 

Did Ross come over to help?