68 4x4 powersteering help

[3/4tonterror]

Guys, im restoring my 68 3/4 4x4,it came with factory manual steering and i want to convert to power. what power steering box and pitman arm do i need? does it have to come from a 68, or will other years fit. if so what years? thanks for any help

[1969k10stepside]

The 69-72 4x4 steering boxes will work,the newers will too IIRC.You will need to modify the area of the frame the box bolts too as they are different

[msgross]

You will have to add spacer to push the box away from the frame due to the fact that 67 and 68's didn't have the "dimple" or "dip" in the frame that is needed. I am doing the same mod. Any year 4WD pump will work. Be sure to get a 4WD pump that has the arm that moves from front to back, not side to side like a 2WD PS box. Add any pump and lines and you're set.

If you are lifting the truck then consider crossover steering, it requires a 2WD steering pump and lots of other parts. I'm also adding a 76 Dana44 axle to get disc brakes on my 68.

[msgross]

oh yeah, and I have heard of original 68 power sttering but it sounded like a different system than the simple bolt on box that later years had.

[earl87gta]

here are some pics compairing my 68 to a 71. you have a few options you can do but the best is to cut the steering box frame area off a newer truck and weld it over the origanal frame. On my 67 I did the heat and bend to fix the clearence issue.
Compairison pics http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=217528
heat and bend how to http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=192229
welded in frame pic http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ighlight=power
hope these help

[3/4tonterror]

Guys Thanks For All The Help. It Answered All The Questions I Had. I Just Got The Frame Back From The Powder Coater, So I Guess Ill Do Spacers To Make It Fit.

[earl87gta]

If you do the spacers dont use washers get a piece of 1in thick steel make a patern with paper the same chape as the monting serfice of the steering box and then cut it out. paint the spacers the same as the steering box and no one will notice thier thier unless you tell them.
Earl

[3/4tonterror]

theres a machine shop next door. ill visit tomarrow an see if he can make me some spacers,and maybe weld them to the box , so nobody can tell, and i wont worry about them coming loose. thanks again

[earl87gta]

I dont think they would need to be welded if your woried about strenght I would just have the machine shop reserfice the steering box mounting points so they are good and flat. Kinda like the same prinsable as steering arms so the presure is on the mated serfice and not the bolts.
Earl

[JAKES 68GMC]

I'm planning on heatin my frame up and dimpling it, too. I don't really like the sound of spacers.

[Coleman]

I put in a kit from CPP on my 68 K20. Its basically 2 3/16 steel plates that sandwitch the frame. IMO it's going to end up way stronger than just dimpling the frame. Just wander through the salvage yards looking at the frames of our vintage 4x4 trucks, you'll find most of them have cracks in this exact spot. I haven't had any issues with my setup yet.

[msgross]

Here are a few pics of my box up to the frame...

Here is my 68 frame, like yours I take it....


And here is the later model 4WD PS pump...

[earl87gta]

I got board last night and made a pattern for the spacers and a backing plate. Im going to cut out the wood pattern tomarrow for it and Ill post a pic for you guys. then Im going to get a mashine shop to make me one.

[msgross]

sweet earl, i'd like to see that one when you are done....

Just use the wood dude! maybe you should make it pressure treated though! j/k