65 Steering Box, Whats the best option to replace ?

[Red65C10]

Whats the best year box to upgrade to that will fit my 65 C10 ?

[61_FL_Apache]

Id say mid 80's

[Captainfab]

Are you talking power steering? If so then a power steering box from a '69-'87C10, C20 or C30 pickup, Suburban or 2wd Blazer will work just fine. Of course you will need an adapter plate to mount it to your frame.

[Red65C10]

It does have power steering but I assumed the actual gears in the box were gone and causing so much play.

[Captainfab]

Does your truck have the original power assist steering or has it been converted over to an integral power steering box? If there is too much free play in the steering box, you can adjust some of that out. This can be done on the top of the box, there is a nut with an allen socket stud in the middle. Loosen the nut, and screw the stud in to reduce free play, then tighten the nut again. This isn't necessarily a permanent fix, but it will work for the short term. Ulitmately I would recomend finding a better used box, or a rebuilt one.

Originally Posted by Red65C10

It does have power steering but I assumed the actual gears in the box were gone and causing so much play.

[Red65C10]

Thanks for the info Fab, Im not sure what type it is at this point or how to tell. I will check it out though. Will try the adjustment as well. If I have to make a change to a newer box I'll hit you up for a plate !

[Captainfab]

If you have the original power assist steering, there will be a small hydraulic cylinder from a bracket behind the steering box, over to a point on the drag link. If it is an integral power steering box, the hoses go directly into the steering box.

With the power assist, sometimes the slop is in the valve that is on the end of the drag link where the hoses connect as well as the pitman arm.