My truck has some modifications but for the most part is original. This winter I was working on steering and wondering should I rebiuld my steering box or find a more modern one that might work.Problems I found on the truck were slight ware on right front king pin so I replaced the king pin and bushings and the left bracket that bolts to the bottom of the spindel and goes to the tie rod was loose. Next I would like to do something with steering Box any suggestions?
I bought an '85 Chevy van 30, (cube van) big disc brakes, dually hubs... 8x6.5" pattern so 16" rims stock, 19.5 rims an option. It has a bolt in IFS crossmember (looks very similar to 73-87 chev truck xmembers) similar to the point of looking like the truck A arms would even bolt to it. (And opposite, use truck x member with these big brakes) The exception is for the steering setup, which looks to me like it would work well in a COE. Someone robbed the steering box out of mine before I got it, but it looks like instead of the steering input to the box pointing aft like a typical box, it would point straight up into the cab. Looks like either a power box or manual box would fit. I'll try to mock it up and post some pictures.
A front end swap is probably a lot more than you were looking to do, but when I figured out how I think this goes together, modern COE steering (/ suspension and brakes) is where my thoughts went... I got it loosely mocked up and took some pics. The steering box is just one I had laying around and is not the '85 chevy van 30 box. I tacked it there with a bolt (all holes line up, just a different shaft on this box so the pitman arm won't bolt on) the frame sections are also just tacked back in with a couple bolts and I put the idler arm back on for the pics. Slightly off topic (as is my reply) but thought I'd add brakes are hydroboost setup...
