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| | | | Joined: Mar 2023 Posts: 82 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2023 Posts: 82 | Hey everyone, i have 1948 Chevy 3800 that im overhauling the steering box and am trying to remove it without removing the fender. Is this possible? I havent figured it out yet. Send help... | | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,754 Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT | | Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,754 | CBall, I think your question will get more traction in the Driveline forum so your post has been moved there. Am sure fellow Bolters will be along soon with some answers! 
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100Follow this story in the DITY Gallery"My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine"1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,270 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,270 | You should be able to fish it out through the bottom.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,212 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,212 | Just in case you didn't know, the steering column and box are all one unit and need to be removed together... Mike B  | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 10,997 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 10,997 | The service manual talks about removing fender liner bolts from the firewall/parking brake brace and bolts at the top of the fender, then prying the fender liner outboard to get clearance between gear and liner, then pulling the steering gear up and out over the fender.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2021 Posts: 1,350 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2021 Posts: 1,350 | I am not sure how differnt the 3800 is from the 3600 but the 3600 steering gear is too close to the inner fender to remove it without the inner fender being moved. It may not need to be removed but it can not be left in place. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,677 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,677 | You should be able to fish it out through the bottom. I was reading the nightmare of a procedure for the 1/2 ton in the shop manual….and then got to looking at this same idea. Have you successfully pulled the column as you describe?
1951 3100
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,836 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,836 | It's been awhile but back then, I jacked up the front end in order to drop the steering box/column down and out.
Craig My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,677 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,677 | It's been awhile but back then, I jacked up the front end in order to drop the steering box/column down and out. Sweet. I was just looking for confirmation from someone who actually completed this task in that way. Wasn’t super confident that my hunch superseded the shop manual procedure.
1951 3100
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,289 Moderator for Tons o' Fun , Co-Moderator Driveline Forum | | Moderator for Tons o' Fun , Co-Moderator Driveline Forum Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,289 | JW51 I removed the steering column/box in my 1954 3600 by removing the inner fender bolts completely, loosening the inner fender to fender bolts and prying the inner fender out then used a 2x4 wedge to keep it away from the box.
Ron - - Dusty53 1954 Chevy 3604In the Gallery Forum "You can't dance with the Devil and then wonder why you're still in Hell."
"They will forget what you've said, and they will forget what you have done but they will never forget the way you made them feel." | | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,677 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,677 | JW51 I removed the steering column/box in my 1954 3600 by removing the inner fender bolts completely, loosening the inner fender to fender bolts and prying the inner fender out then used a 2x4 wedge to keep it away from the box. Pulling the column out of the bottom or the top?
1951 3100
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,289 Moderator for Tons o' Fun , Co-Moderator Driveline Forum | | Moderator for Tons o' Fun , Co-Moderator Driveline Forum Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,289 | JW51 Out the top, and the "wedge " was between the frame and the inner fender well to keep it out and away from the box. It gave me the clearance I needed because the "box" is captured around the frame and has to come straight up.
Last edited by Dusty53; 03/05/2024 9:12 PM.
Ron - - Dusty53 1954 Chevy 3604In the Gallery Forum "You can't dance with the Devil and then wonder why you're still in Hell."
"They will forget what you've said, and they will forget what you have done but they will never forget the way you made them feel." | | | | | Joined: Mar 2023 Posts: 82 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2023 Posts: 82 | I have not pulled it yet and will likely do what you did Dusty53. My only hesitation is the fender bolts have not been removed since they were put in 75 years ago....
Also the steering column and box can easily come apart with 4 bolts. So i have removed the column from the box and removed the fasterns from the frame. Now to just move the fender
Last edited by CBall; 03/05/2024 10:41 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2023 Posts: 82 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2023 Posts: 82 | After removing the fasteners for fender to radiator mount, upper fender fasteners, and inner fender to cab fasteners, I was able to move the inner fend out just enough to squeeze it out. Most of the fasteners that I removed either sheared or stripped the nut from the weld and had to be cut off. Some new hardware is in store | | |
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