Published 2007 Updated 2022
Steering Swap by Erik Smeby
Early to late model steering conversion for cars that already have the 2 piece steering column.
Minimum parts needed:
- Steering box
- late model steering u-joint
- late model steering shaft.
The other parts, tie rods, idler box were all identical between my driver and parts car. The idler on my driver was in much better shape, so I kept that one and re-bushed it. The idler box mounting holes are identical, only the steering box side needs the slightest mods to fit.
The steering column is a 2-piece collapsible unit. To do the swap, you do not have to remove the column from the interior of the car, which I found out right after removing mine. Once the shaft is freed from the old box, the steering shaft simply slides out by pulling it forward. (Getting the shaft off the u-joint will take some effort)
Right-click on any of the images to bring up to 800x600 photos (open image in new window).
The first day's results. Need to clear a path to the steering boxes. This much disassembly may not be totally necessary, but it will help for sure.
The new box is larger than the old one, and the U-joint splines are smaller.
The holes on the side of the new model are slightly larger, and the top hole is slightly more outboard of the older box.
The pointer shows the area that needs to be trimmed for the new box to fit.
I "clearanced" the frame just by bending the offending part up. The red smudge is where one more hole needs to be drilled to line up with the steering box.
The new box will fit fine with just some more bending of the material above, I may cut it off, it would make replacing the gaskets easier in the future.
These are the only mods I really had to make to use the new steering box. It could be as easy as pulling just the lower half of the steering column out, enlarging one hole, and bending the overhanging part of the frame up.
The new idler fits perfectly. The steering arms are identical so just use which ever one is in better shape.
I have mounted all the parts, and my steering is noticeably tighter just sitting on the jack stands, with about 1/4 of the free play at the wheel of the old one. I have not yet attempted to adjust it out. It will still be a while before I get the car on the road to report the "feel" difference.
The feel is night and day better. The car goes straight when I want it to, and turns when I want it to. The new box came from a donor that had 70,000 miles on the odometer, but that could be off.