2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Steering Box

[JTroiano]

I have been working on my Suburban conversion and I put the body on a 94 Dodge frame. I couldn't get it to go straight on the road and it wouldn't turn back to center. So I maxed the caster and adjusted the toe and no better. I was reading on here that there is a three turn steering box and that if your truck has the 4. 5 turn it makes a huge improvement.



Well I still had the Suburban frame and after taking a look found that the steering box from the Suburban is 2-3/4 turns lock to lock and it fits perfect in the Dodge frame. After taking it for a ride it is 100% better. I can drive with 2 fingers at 70mph and feel safe.



Does any body see a problem with using this box? It works so sweet and has all the same size shafts.



Jon T

 

[Simplysmn]

if it works run it as long as there is no bind when you turn you should be ok .

What a way to dress up a chevy put a nice Dodge drivetrain under it

 

[surfbeetle]

What a great thing to do to a suburban. Was doing the body swap easier than putting the cummins into the chevy frame and body?

 

[NVR FNSH]

I'm curious why putting the Suburban body on the Dodge frame resulted in steering problems. Did the Dodge have these same steering problems before the body swap?



Brian

 

[BennyHL]

I'm curious why putting the Suburban body on the Dodge frame resulted in steering problems. Did the Dodge have these same steering problems before the body swap?



Brian

I'd guess yes. This may turn out to be a viable Dodge steering upgrade. Granted, tons of these steering boxes are compatible.

 

[JTroiano]

I bought the frame with axles, steering box and a few other things from craigs list. So after closer inspection it looked like it was road hard and put away wet. It does have some new parts like a lukes link and control arms but there is some other stuff that needs fixing. Its not to bad. The posi is tight and will do a two wheel burn out. I think it would have been easier to swap the axles and engine into the chevy frame. This was my biggest project ever and took about two years.



Some day I will put all the pics in my readers rig section. There are some on the conversion area under tach signal help.



I have acces to car quest part #'s and it is 27-7566. Say 2-5/8 to 2-6/8 turns lock to lock. List price 374. 78



Got to get back to work.



Jon T

 

[MrDiesel]

I'm thinking about trying this one... how ever the "techs" at my local parts counter need to know avery thing about the truck. Was your donor a 3/4ton? 4x4? Gas (sorry for the profanity) or diesel, and year. Thanks!

 

[WestTN]

did you reinforce the frame? That Cummions weighs about twice what a small block weighs.

 

[JTroiano]

The truck the box was out of is 96 1500 4x4 suburban. Both boxes say sagonaw and have the same diameter input and out put shafts. Also the lines bolt up perfect. I do think the the tighter the ratio the more strain it puts on the internal in the box. Im sure there are many convertions that are still using the suburban box. I think if you are the type of driver that turns the wheels all the time when the vehicle isn't rolling you may have a problem. It puts a huge strain on the front end.



sorry about the mis-spelling



Jon T

 

[JTroiano]

Oh ya. GAS. Even the outer housing looks identical.