The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop steering clearance on 52 truck v8 conversion

I'm new to this site and would really appreciate some help so I can get unstuck.

I've come upon a setback on my 52 pickup truck project. I put a late 70's v8 350 into my 52 truck and the stock steering box is only about a 1/2 inch off the exhaust manifold on the drivers side. So putting any sort of header is impossible.

I want to keep the original manual steering links to the wheels and all, but realize I need to relocate a newer, smaller steering box. I was going to use Borgeson u-joints and a new column to angle everything down to where I need it, but I have no idea what new steering box to use. They all seem to have pitman arm outputs on the bottom instead of on the side.

I'm fine with having to fabricate a new mounting plate for the box to the frame, and a new pitman arm, but that's about all the fabrication I want to do. Is this possible? Am I required to put in a whole new front end with power steering (ugh, the hours).

Any help would be appreciated, especially with what type of new box to get.

Dude,

Welcome to the Stovebolt Page.

This link has some pictures of a V8 in a '49 including a picture of a remounted stock steering box.

\'49 with 350

thanks....so you're saying you can keep everything stock and just angle the steering wheel a little once its in the cab. Might look a little strange but prevent the need for a whole lot more work.

maybe I could move the box but figure out a new steering column system to avoid that.....just thinking outloud.

thanks for the help....any other ideas out there?

Chevy duty and most of thre other venders offer a kit to mount a late seventies or early eighties saginaw power steering box on 47 to 55 trucks,seams straight foward, just substitute for the same year manual box. old navy 51............

The kit does not apply to a 3/4 ton...I called them.51 3/4 ton pickup.

Here is a shot of an old rusty AD where someone had installed a 283.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2398937530041873203QNOSEV

It appears to me that the driver's side exhaust manifold exits to the front and therefore avoids the clearance problem. I am guessing that maybe it is manifold normally used on the other side.

I made a bracket to move my steering box out about 2in on my 50.It clears fine with manifolds of a early camaro,nova.the manifold is curved in just behind the box.It is tight but it works

Why would a 3/4 ton be any different up front than a 3100? I know the frame in the back is more narrow on a 3/4 ton but it seems the same up front. Where am I wrong?

You'd need to move the stock box out a long way to the side of the chassis rail if you want it to have clearance for headers. I had this problem on my truck, so fitted the Saginaw setup from a later truck, the fitting kit came from CPP, it was very simple to install.
There's some pictures on the Chevy Truck page here: http://www.millpower-race-engineering.piczo.com/ good luck with your project.

Stuart.