4 1/2 turn J20 steering box (1 Viewer)

[mattcamp]

Has anyone heard of a Jeep 4 1/2 turn steering box? That's what I believe I've got for my conversion, could be 4 1/4 but definately went past 4 full turns, I've looked through all the newbie steering info and didn't see anything about it, maybe I missed it. Seems like it might work well, any input would be cool.

 

[John Smith]

Has anyone heard of a Jeep 4 1/2 turn steering box? That's what I believe I've got for my conversion, could be 4 1/4 but definately went past 4 full turns, I've looked through all the newbie steering info and didn't see anything about it, maybe I missed it. Seems like it might work well, any input would be cool.

Welcome to Mud. Please post up some pictures of your steering gear box. If you don't have a digicam just look for the reinforcement rib on the side of the output. No rib, not the fabled box.

 

[3DAMAN!]

NAPA list a 41/4 turn box for a j20 heep truck .thats what I was going to use.

 

[Fryedaddy]

I would like to see pictures as well but I'm sure its just a saginaw box. Most older jeeps had 4 1/4 turn boxes but I'm not sure if the bolt pattern is the same as an older box.

 

[John Smith]

NAPA list a 41/4 turn box for a j20 heep truck .thats what I was going to use.

Be sure to carefully inspect what arrives in the box as it will probably not be the correct gear box. BTDT, I personally would not knock myself out over trying to find the fabled J20 box; any of the 4.5 turn boxes with a correct length pitman are going to be fine.

 

[camcruiser13]

agreed any saginaw 4 turn box will do the job

 

[centerlineseal]

Dumb question. How do you tell, after install, what 'turn' box you have installed? Can you merely turn the steering wheel from center to left, then center to right and determine ratio from the steering wheel turns?

We put what was sold as the J20 saginaw box on our '72 and its pretty lively. I just purchased a '75 with a PO mounted box, unknown provenance, and its a no-brainer delight.

 

[kb3gun]

You can tell by counting the rotations end to end (ie. from left to right or right to left). They should be the same...lol It's best to count before hooking it up as the steering stops might hit before you get full stop.

I did the run-a-round with NAPA on a Saginaw J20 box. They kept saying it would be a 4-1/2 turn and they kept coming in as a 3-1/2. So I have a 3-1/2 for now. It will be a trail rig so I don't mind.

 

[EWheeler]

6529 at autozone. Not fabled and not very hard to find....

 

[TemeculaTim]

I have a J20 box on my truck- I know,cause I pulled it from the vehicle just another saginaw box

 

[KillerPea]

Not just another box...the J20 is the big bore that was sold as a "SuperBox". It is hard to come by, and it will easily turn 39 inch tires in the rocks with proper steering configuration.

 

[chicago]

6529 at autozone. Not fabled and not very hard to find....

X2 on the autozone!
BTW, it was CHEAP to boot!

 

[Mace]

Not just another box...the J20 is the big bore that was sold as a "SuperBox". It is hard to come by, and it will easily turn 39 inch tires in the rocks with proper steering configuration.

yep...

 

[mattcamp]

OK will try pics tomorrow of cleaned parts

When I first posted I had thrown everything in the parts washer, after cleaning for an hour and a half I ended up power washing everything cause it was way grease thick, but for a hundred bucks it came with the gearbox and pitman arm, high pressure line, return hose and the pump w/brackets, when I bought it I just looked for what I read off here and I'm sorry it's not off a J20, it's off a 1972 Wagoneer(looked at the add again), I forgot I was looking for one off a J20 and never found it. I'm getting the turn ratio from putting the pitman arm all the way to one side and turning the rag joint(came still attached) untill the arm stops turning all the way to the other side. It turns just over 4 1/4, so I haven't done the conversion yet, maybe the wheel won't turn that many times until I hit the stops on the axle. I've never had power steering on any of my landcruisers and I am looking forward to it, this should work well though right, seems like everyone wants the 3 1/2 turn setup?

 

[mattcamp]

BTW got it off Ebay, and I figured it would need a rebuild but it is absolutely tight, and the pump and lines seem good, I need to find drawings of the box mount brackets and pump mount brackets if possible so I can fab 'em up, are they avaliable or do people just sell them already made? I've seen them for sale and they seem expensive for what they are. If someone had prints that would be great!and one more

 

[MOTOV8R]

some more info, this part is also available from lots of other parts places as A1 Cardone 27-6529. Autozone seemed to have the best price though. Here's all the apps it fits:

You can see the rib in this pic:

Fits these Vehicles

• 1971-1973 Buick Centurion
• 1964-1975 Buick Electra
• 1972-1976 Buick Estate Wagon
• 1971-1974 Buick LeSabre
• 1964-1969 Buick Riviera
• 1970-1970 Buick Wildcat
• 1974-1975 Chevrolet Bel Air
• 1975-1976 Chevrolet Impala
• 1975-1976 Jeep J20
• 1960-1976 Oldsmobile 98
• 1975-1976 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser
• 1967-1968 Oldsmobile Delmont 88
• 1975-1976 Oldsmobile Delta 88
• 1960-1966 Oldsmobile Dynamic
• 1964-1965 Oldsmobile Jetstar I
• 1961-1966 Oldsmobile Starfire
• 1960-1963 Oldsmobile Super 88
• 1974-1976 Oldsmobile Toronado
• 1975-1975 Pontiac Astre
• 1972-1975 Pontiac Bonneville
• 1964-1975 Pontiac Catalina
• 1967-1970 Pontiac Executive
• 1969-1969 Pontiac Grand Prix
• 1971-1974 Pontiac Grand Safari
• 1971-1975 Pontiac Grandville
• 1969-1974 Pontiac LeMans
• 1964-1966 Pontiac Star Chief

 

[mattcamp]

heres some pictures of the cleaned box

So, is it the heavy duty box because of the gusset on the output shaft?

 

[TCinVA]

I got my PS plate kit for the saginaw box from Orange FJ45 ( Georg ) here on mud. He's a great guy and easy to deal with.

 

[camcruiser13]

6529 at autozone. Not fabled and not very hard to find....

make sure you tell them its a steering box, they also have a pump that is the same part number, pretty stupid ask me how i know.

also if you buy from the autozones you can take them back and get new ones whenever you want. if you use your imagination you can see what im saying

 

[slvrbck]

I like the 3 1/2 turn boxes, for a trail rig....but try changing lanes right fast with that box on the interstate....your in the other lane like RIGHT NOW!!

I have a J20 box laying around somewhere, I think I lose it on purpose so I can't get rid of it...