| Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | There are mainly two kinds of steering, fore and aft or side to side movement of the drag link.
Saginaw boxes are pretty much the same. The pitman arm is allowed to be attached only one way, being located by a skip spline on the shaft, however, if one gets a small, 3 cornered file and entertaines oneself while watching a ball game, etc., one can remove the skip spline from the pitman arm, thus allowing any mounting rotation and location. Then it is only a matter of mounting configuration and suitable brackets. Make sure to mount the box securely, using all 4 bolts and rigid brackets. One will have to adjust the mounting location by trial and error, get a helper to help with the heavy box.
The drag link should be level with the ground in the loaded position. The more it is not level,the more bump-steer one will have. If a panhard bar locates the axle, the drag link should be parallel to it.
The box can be ahead or behind the axle, depending on the tire and fender clearance. Some boxes turn opposite way, make sure the one available turns the correct way for your application.
For my '37 GMC application, I used the box that came with the P3500 HD axles I used, since they were wide enough for fore and aft movement of the drag link, just had to shorten the drag link some.
Good luck.
Last edited by EdPruss; 11/23/2015 6:14 PM.
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
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