PROJECT:Primitive CJ

[mudskipper4x4]

Im interested to see how you mount a steering box.

[LucasFury]

Originally Posted by mudskipper4x4

Im interested to see how you mount a steering box.

Exactly. In order for me to use the Astro box I bought from you (I think it was you anyway,) I'd have to also move it forward (or rotate it) to keep it from contacting the tie rod. At that point my approach angle will be ruined. We'll see.

[primate60]

Originally Posted by LucasFury

I'm real anxious to see what you come up with for steering. I'm in the midst of an SUA XJ stretch, and steering will easily be the hardest part.

Originally Posted by mudskipper4x4

Im interested to see how you mount a steering box.

Originally Posted by LucasFury

Exactly. In order for me to use the Astro box I bought from you (I think it was you anyway,) I'd have to also move it forward (or rotate it) to keep it from contacting the tie rod. At that point my approach angle will be ruined. We'll see.

I will be using a steering box that mounts to the outside of the frame like that of a scout, ford, or toyota ifs - whichever one is more compact or suitable for my application

mounting a box on the inside like the factory one or astro box is out of the question, with the axle moved forward as much as I did its too cramped at full bump.

... that being said I have an astro van steering box for sale or trade

[primate60]

Full bump

Before and after pic taken from the front

in both pics the pass. side axle jack stand is maxed out and a little lower than full bump or right in between

[craigellis77]

Originally Posted by craigellis77

Who's the maker of the tube fenders?

Originally Posted by primate60

Genright

Thanks.

[primate60]

14" kings

springs are 200/250 x 14" to start I still need to order a helper spring but am currently undecided on the specefic one

[primate60]

Picked up a steering box at the junkyard, basically just went and started looking at different vehicles that might suit my application

I ended up pulling one from an '86 chevy C20 van its basically the same as the astro box except its a little bigger and mounts up to the outside of the frame instead of the inside like the astro box

left:astro

right:C20

The pitman arms are interchangeable on the two boxes so I swapped the astro arm on for now - eventually ill make one thats longer but this will do for mock up

[primate60]

got a package in the mail from jb conversions

my new 32 spline rear output shaft assembly and a new seal for the front output shaft

[primate60]

...

[primate60]

last shot before reassembly...

[primate60]

my new driverside drop dana 300

I decided to go with a 1310 cv yoke on the new output because I had a cv driveline made less than a year ago and it will be cheaper to have it modified than to remake the whole thing.

the yellow connector coming off the speedo is an adapter that came with the howell tbi kit

BLING...

[YellowRenegade]

sweet! how was the t-case assembly??? looks alot easier than the stock case

you going to run hydro assist?
some guys with 40's do and others don't. A buddy of mine has an AGR box that turns his tires no problem. And I have the factory box with the assist.

[primate60]

Originally Posted by YellowRenegade

sweet! how was the t-case assembly??? looks alot easier than the stock case

you going to run hydro assist?
some guys with 40's do and others don't. A buddy of mine has an AGR box that turns his tires no problem. And I have the factory box with the assist.

the case assembly was fairly simple I imagine it was easier to do than the stock case but I wouldnt know as all ive done was tear one apart.

I have thought alot about hydro assist my plan is to have it drilled and tapped by psc and possibly even use some of thier components when the time comes. However funds are a little tight right now and its not part of my immediate build plan.

[Canyonmann]

good job bro! Ill be keepin track of your heap!

No quit fawkin around and get busy,,,,spring is not that far away

[primate60]

Originally Posted by Canyonmann

good job bro! Ill be keepin track of your heap!

No quit fawkin around and get busy,,,,spring is not that far away

Thanks for the inspiration ... ive been tryin' to get in the 'quit fawkin around mode' for a few weeks now.

[primate60]

made a couple basic tabs for axle side lower link mounts using .25 plate. They will connected with a gusset also made from .25 steel before its finish welded.

[primate60]

I cleaned up the framerails and tacked on the link brackets. They are from poly performance I modified them slightly to get the correct angle I was after. The spacer type deal is .25 plate, it will be fully welded to the frame and then boxed in with another piece of .25 steel at a 45 degree angle and the top and bottom will be boxed with 3/16.

[primate60]

Im pretty happy that there is 1 less jack under the jeep now.

the axle side upper link is also from poly I just cut it down a little bit to fit undernieth where the radiator will sit.
The upper is 1.75 x .120 DOM
The lowers are 2 x .250 DOM

There is about 8-3/8" of verticle seperation between the center of my lower link and upper link BOLTS... Does anybody see a problem with this amount of seperation?




....

[primate60]

some more boxing for the box using 1/4"

My panhard will be mounted to the inside portion of the frame which is now 7/16" thick

[primate60]

I kinda lag on the pics sometimes this was one of those times

I boxed in where the front top bolt will be going through the frame and into the steering box. With the notch out I did prior to the box install the back upper through bolt is basically the same way.

when I made the covering plate for the new frame edition I drilled 4 wholes where the boxed section was and tied it all together with some plug welds

[primate60]

like most steering boxes I have seen there is somewhat of an offset between from the box casing and the actual mounting surface. On the box I ended up using it was 1/2 inch as you can see below.

So I made some washer/spacer things that somewhat contoured to the mounting holes using two pieces of 1/4 inch plate welded tobether. I chose to do it like this because I was having trouble finding DOM that was a precision fit to the bolts and I didnt want to drill and retap the mounting holes. I think this will be a strong setup the skinniest section the bolts go through is 3/4". A lot of stress will be taken off the box when I can afford hydro assist.

ignore the ugly welds


...

[primate60]

pictures are about 1/4 inch shy of full bump...

The bumper will stick out past the frame about 3.5 inches further than what is shown. I think that adding some kind of skid type protector will be needed in the future...

Anyway there you have it the box is mounted

[primate60]

I got a package in the mail yesterday from poly performance. I asked about the pirate discount (as always) he said no but gave me free shipping - it showed up the next day One reason I prefer ordering from them.

4 FK rod ends that use a 3/4" bolt.

2 right hand thread and 2 left

The ones on the right are high misalignment and will be used for the panhard bar

The ones on the left are for the draglink

The piece of tube at the bottom is 1.375x.188 heat treated chromoly

I have a matching size piece of DOM - and I cant quite decide which one to use for the panhard or draglink



...

[Kreep]

Do yourself a favor and ditch the plates that came with the Harbor Fright press. They can explode and do some real damage.

/forum/ballistic-zone/849831-arbor-plates.html

/forum/tools-supplies/880050-arbor-plates-letzroll.html

[primate60]

Took a little vacation from the heep.

think I got the steering figured out

I did run into a little bit of a problem. The fk rod ends only have 14 degrees of misalignment. That wasnt quite enough to keep up with my suspension travel...


.