I spent hours reading through old threads on improving my 79 Elco steering. Info overload causes ME confusion. My steering is slow and sloppy. Any part #s on an 800 box and specific years and models of doner vehicle for the shaft would be a giant help. It's power steering.
Some what confused!
- Thread starter Doug Chahoy
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I believe this is the correct box. They came on SS monte's, H/O's, and GN's. My 87 cutlass actually has an 800 series box which is weird....but that's towards the ends of our beloved full frame RWD cars. I'm pretty sure my cutlass received a hodge podge of parts since it was built in June of '87.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...305cid+v8,1056372,steering,steering+gear,7416
In regards to the steering shaft, don't waste time on a factory unit. Go yard hunting for an astro van or cherokee shaft. Shouldn't cost you more than $15-20. The cherokee unit is more of a bolt-in unit, where as the upper knuckle on the astro van needs to be removed and spun 90°. Here is a pic of my astro shaft after some welding, sanding and paint.
I'm sure others will chime in, and if i have the box part # wrong somebody please correct me.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...305cid+v8,1056372,steering,steering+gear,7416
In regards to the steering shaft, don't waste time on a factory unit. Go yard hunting for an astro van or cherokee shaft. Shouldn't cost you more than $15-20. The cherokee unit is more of a bolt-in unit, where as the upper knuckle on the astro van needs to be removed and spun 90°. Here is a pic of my astro shaft after some welding, sanding and paint.
I'm sure others will chime in, and if i have the box part # wrong somebody please correct me.
Thanx, about the shaft though,is it a small square Cherokee or a Grand, any specific years?
Oops, i hit post before putting the years. If i recall you wanna look for the early 90's square body cherokee. The shaft is available new on rockauto if you can't find a used unit. Do a search here as this topic has been covered a bunch.
Also, there are a few guys here that should have modified astro shafts ready to ship. PM Timo22....he usually has them stocked and ready to go.
I've got a stock steering box on my 79 Elco, is a swap to say an 87 Monte SS model a simple bolt in? Or are there mods or special tools needed?
There are raves out there (some by the companies selling them) for the Borgesson Delphi 600 steering box which apparently comes in either 14:1 or 12.7:1 ratios. Some users allege it has "rack and pinion" qualities but I'm not completely sure they know of which they speak. Original Parts Group advertises them in their El Camino - Monte Carlo catalog but they're more than $600. I've seen them from others for under $400. They may have come OE on some vehicles but you'd have to find a guru to know which vehicles. Sorry I didn't bookmark any of the websites I found mention of them. Google is your friend.
Good luck and be sure to report back. It sounds like this box, if it lives up to its hype, is just what you're looking for. I've got an 86 Elco project I'm considering for one of these...
Cheers - Gary
Good luck and be sure to report back. It sounds like this box, if it lives up to its hype, is just what you're looking for. I've got an 86 Elco project I'm considering for one of these...
Cheers - Gary
Look for a '95 grand Cherokee shaft. The '93-94's will also bolt on, but the '95's are best. Regular Cherokee and later Grand Cherokee shafts are different.
Don't mean to be a fly in the ointment, but I need to state that the Jeep shaft isn't always a sure-thing. I purchased one a few years ago from a scrap yard hunter and while mine was nice and solid at Jeep length, at G-body length it had play in it and also required the steering wheel to be re-centered. Some assembly required, your results may vary.
I may be missing something... but, what is the benefit to changing a steering shaft? Just for new joints? I dont get it
I have the Delphi 600 box, the difference between that box and the G body box is the Delphi 600 has a rack and pinon style servo instead of a recalculating ball. Mine is matched up with an Astro/Safari van. If you going to install a Delphi 600 box you'll want your caster set at 4.5 - 5°
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