Hey there,

New to the forums, though have been using this site as a reference for a bit of time now. I have a 1995 E150 Club Wagon with a 302 that was originally a Mark III Conversion. Took some tome and converted it into a light camper, which some electrical modifications, a custom slide out couch/bed, some new cabinetry, and a hardwood floor (it's teak!) Loving it so much but in the last few months of cross country travel have been having some issues. Did a JB weld patch on the oil pan, changed all of the front suspension, and now,stuck in north cali with a steering box that came disconnected from the frame. 3 bolts sheared right off. Could have been really dangerous.

I can see this problem has happened before to many others (1994 Ford Econoline E-150 Club Wagon Steering Box to Frame Bolt Failure).

I've been trying to get the steering box disconnected, but its really tough considering the box is not connected to the frame. I'm having a friend push against the box opposite the force of my wrench in order to make anything move. We're also working against 20 years of Northeast rust, mind you.

I'm having a lot of trouble getting the fluid hoses disconnected from the steering box and was hoping someone could give me some advice. Soaked in PB blaster for a day or so. The space to work is so tight its hard to really get some good leverage. Used propane on other parts of the van, but imagine this woul dbe a terrible idea since the hoses are full of flammable liquid. Any suggestions?

My other thought was that I could just drop the steering box as much as the hoses would allow me to with leaving them connected and place the box on something. Hopefully that would give me enough room to use a bolt extractor to get the part of the old bolt that is stuck in the steering box out so i can put it back on with new bolts.

Even called a handful of mechanics, but no one will do it for me because of liability. There is a crack in the frame also by the box which seems to accompany this problem often. I plan on fixing the bolts now, and have a friend in New Orleans with frame welding experience to help me out in that department.

Soooo any ideas?

 

Where are you in N Ca. ?

 

Arcata, Ca

 

I was hoping you were closer.