69-70 Van Steering
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 1999
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69-70 Van Steering
I have the opportunity to buy a 69 or 70 (not sure which) van with good 302 and fresh C4 for real cheap. The bad part is that it apperently steers real badly. I haven't seen it yet just gotten a description from a good friend. I know that simply by having the wheel bearings repacked, an alignment, and the steering coupler disk replaced in my 69 F100 that I improved the steering immensely. I realize that Kingpins could be bad in the van, but if they aren't, how hard is it to access the steering coupler? It is an ex-school bus and may be a E200 or E300. It also sports a hydraulic door as a vestige of it's school bus days. Also is the I-beam front end setup any different from the pickups?
BBT
BBT
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,374
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From: Palm Bay, Florida
69-70 Van Steering
BBT, I know just a little about these older vans, I have a ' 73 E300, which has manual steering, it, too is a little loose, I've traced it to the box itself, I have to assume that that Bus of yours has PS, and these are a little more of a problem, they use a hydraulic ram like a Mustang, so that could be worn out, plus other parts on your steering system, these rams are rebuildable, I understand that Auto Krafters offers this service, If you buy the bus & deceide to part it out I'd love to buy the PS system from you, Good Luck, -Supercab
New User
Joined: Nov 2000
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69-70 Van Steering
I own 2 of these vans and I've had a few different steering problems that have caused it to be real loose. The worst was the 69 that I bought last year. The frame had rusted away where the box bolts up. The steering box was held on by one (bent) bolt and a C-clamp. No, I didn't drive this one home. I found other problems with the steering also. The steering coupler (rag joint) was wasted, the idler arm bushing (also called a "bell-crank bushing") was completely gone and the steering box itself was sloppy. Replaced the rag joint and idler arm bushing, tightened up the worm-gear preload, and welded in some new steel for the box to mount to, and it drives great now. Don't forget, when you replace the steering coupler, your horn gets it's ground through a piece of metal strap that's hooked to the steering coupler and (when bolted up) grounds the steering shaft to the box (which grounds to the frame). When the steering coupler rips, the strap is usually broken also. That's why the horn will (sometimes) only work intermitently on these vans. Usually while turning the wheel.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
69-70 Van Steering
Barry,sounds like a good engine and tranny donor, and the rest to the bone yard.
John
jowilker
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
John
jowilker
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
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