Power Steering Conversion

My Manual steering box went south on my 73 CJ5. I want to put in power steering but I have not found anyone that supplies all the pieces. Does anyone know of a place that supplies kits that are 100% complete with brackets, pulleys, belt, etc? Is there a vehicle such as a AMC car that all these parts will be available on? I have never worked on any power steering before and am a little apprehensive and could use some advice. Thanks

 

I don't believe there is a complete kit anywhere. In '73, power steering was an option onthe CJ. You could build you own from factory components. Unfortunatley, I'm gonna have to pass the buck on this one as I haven't yet crossed this bridge...

 

First - you need a pump, bracket, and belt - which will be specific to your engine. You shouldn't have any problems, unless you've got a L-head or F-head in that '73, which I doubt. These can be purchased from you local parts store, or just about any Jeep catalog.

Then, you'll need a power saginaw box, rather than the manual unit that you have now. The manual units mount with 3 bolts, whereas most of the power units have 4 bolt - so, you'll need a new mounting bracket too. Go to a Jeep junkyard and look for a power saginaw unit on a later CJ or full size Jeep, along with the mounting bracket.

You'll need to either buy a new steering shaft (from the column to the box) or shorten the one that you have, since the manual box uses a spud shaft - meaning the steering shaft is shorter.

I think that covers it. Let us know if you have any more questions.

 

Karl (iamgeer) did this recently. I think he reused his 3-bolt frame bracket.

Since these Jeeps came with PS as an option, the simplest thing is to strip all the parts you need off a '72-75 CJ wreck (or a '72-73 Commando) and bolt 'em on. The frame bracket is the hardest part to find, since no one makes them and they break. Most of the rest of the parts can be adapted from other cars.

 

Advance Adapters has a power steering box bracket. It's weld-on to the frame. I've seen a few conversions that used the three bolt plate with a four bolt box. They just leave out the fourth bolt. Whatever you do, make it strong!

 

why not drill out the fourth hole?

 

The 4-bolt bracket isn't a flat piece of steel, like most PS conversions. It's a cast piece of iron that fits into the frame rail and has two big grade-8 bolts through it. The 4-bolt bracket has 4 ears cast into it that match the ears on the PS gear. I presume that the 3-bolt manual bracket is similar, except missing one ear.

 

Right as usual Tim. I got a three bolt P/S gearbox from the Blazer that my 4.3 was in. The box was only three bolt like the bracket so I'm fab'ing in a brace to make up the difference. btw the big bolts are (2) 7/16 which clamp from flange to flange of the frame and there are also (2) 3/8 grade 5 which thread into the bracket.

 

Dumpert,

Tim recalls correctly, I used a ps box, intermediate shaft, pump, pump bracket, and hoses from a newer cj and everything just bolted in to the stock 3 hole frame bracket and the motor. I also installed a warrior ps support brace for extra strength. From what I could tell these new fancy super duty 4 hole brackets will work with some modification to the shackle hanger. I didn't want to modify it though.

Karl

 

Several guys on the IFSJA board have had good luck swapping in the S-10/Blazer boxes. It's easier and cheaper to replace the worn original box than to rebuild it. FSJs come from the factory with 4-bolt boxes and brackets, and seem to hold up just fine with the 3-bolt Blazer boxes.

BTW I broke one of the 4-bolt brackets on my brand-new '73 CJ-5. I don't know if it's because of my driving or because I rear-ended a car on the 91 freeway (Lemon St. onramp in Fullerton) with that corner of the Jeep. I do know it was the first time the dealership had sold one of those brackets as a service part.