ARCHIVE Gauging Interest - Steering Gear Box reinforcement plate - With Price

[socallove]

Gauging interests in purchasing the steering gear box reinforcement plate.
Many people reported the frame around the steering gear box cracks after years of wheeling.
Due to high stress in that area, the frame become fatigue around the welds.
I'm sure some of the veterans recall the item below, it has been discontinued for a few years.
Since I have a spare gear box I want to rebuild, I intend to upgrade to the 105 sector shaft and reinforce the frame while I'm at it. It appears that I have picked up one of the worst habits on mud, the "while I'm in there" syndrome.
Please note that you will have to incur the cost to have this welded onto your frame so you can calculate that into your time and cost.
Please express your interest or advice below.

This plate was in a mud thread about 3 years ago, its made of 3/16" 1020 steel, likely the same plate we will be purchased when I can convince them to reproduce it for the LHD 80 series, if you want a RHD 80 series plate, please express that clearly.



PRICE UPDATE: 6-22-2015

Spoke with the supplier earlier with some good news and some bad news.
They are willing to produce the bracket for LHD steering box, but it will be a limited run, we need to order a minimal of 15 brackets. It will be $150 per bracket shipped to your door (in the lower 48 states)

If you are interested in making this purchase, please include the following info:
Left Hand Drive or Right hand Drive
name
address
phone #
payment to my paypal nhpham@gmail.com as a gift option.

Socallove - LHD
@NLXTACY - LHD
@S.CarolinaFZJ80 - LHD
@gofast - LHD x 1
@jtwopark - LHD x 2

@yotakrawler - RHD

 

[NLXTACY]

I remember that thread. Take it you've already reached out to the guy that originally did it?

 

[socallove]

I remember that thread. Take it you've already reached out to the guy that originally did it?

Yes Sir, I have been in contact through email, LHD is not available but it's possible to produce depending on quantity.

 

[NLXTACY]

Dammit. I've been collecting PS parts for years because I fully expect to go Hydraulic winch in the coming years. This means getting my gear box worked over, new 105 shaft and pitman arm. New holes drilled and tapped, etc etc. Interested not so much because of existing cracking which I'm pretty sure I don't have but since its such a simple thing to add for reinforcement once the gear box is out.

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

I'd be interested in a LHD plate

 

[gofast]

LHD x2

 

[Rwhat]

Will you sleeve the frame?

 

[Kernal]

Should the cracks be welded then ground flush before installing the plate?? IDK.

 

[yotakrawler]

I need a RHD plate.

 

[maxamillion2345]

All 4 bolt holes are already sleeved.

 

[maxamillion2345]

Should the cracks be welded then ground flush before installing the plate?? IDK.

Yes. You need to drill the ends of all the cracks, grind them out slightly and weld them up, then hit the beads with a flap disc and smooth everything down before welding on the plate.

 

[socallove]

Thank you max

Talked to them on the phone earlier, still waiting for fabricator regarding left hand drive brackets.

 

[maxamillion2345]

Also, you may want to look into what experts say about scab or fish plate design. I'm no expert but from what I've read it's best to radius the edges, might be something you could design into the new plates since you're starting over anyway.

Adding this plate is definitely something I'd do if I had the box out though!

If you can't get someone to make that plate you should have no problem coming up with just a flat plate and that'd be better than nothing. The bent tabs are cool though!

I'd also probably make those holes for the spot welds a bit larger so you could really get some heat in there.

That's just me though, and there's far more talented fabricators on this site lol.

 

[jonheld]

My 91 frame has been welded twice in that location. At one point I was working with a local fabricator on a permanent fix.
IIRC, the holes are sleeved, but only the outside of the sleeves are welded where they make contact with the outside frame rail. The inside frame rail just has larger holes and the sleeves are not welded. My fabricator welded the sleeves to the inside and we added some reinforcement to the general area.

This product is needed IMO as the frame will fatigue over time in this area, but be certain to weld the sleeves on the inside first to add rigidity.

 

[socallove]

Thanks Jonheld, that is great information.

 

[Phildoh]

Had numerous problems, and learned along the way with my 84 xcab. Ifs box, sleeves, frame cracked horribly. Ended up making a 3/16 plate similar, that also wrapped under the bottom of the frame rail as well, never had a problem after that. That being said, I'd be interested if its a reasonable price. I can make one in an hour, and have it done and installed in 2 hours with new hardware, painted, and materials included for 50 bucks. What (if determined yet) price is bouncing around in your head for this? Again, interested, if price is fair.

 

[Phildoh]

https://www.marlincrawler.com/steering/box/heavy-duty-ifs-steering-box-mount-kit

I could have bought the marlin mount, and saved time, but less pride than making my own. Just throwing this up here for reference/price/ what ya get

 

[socallove]

Hi Phil, pricing is not up to me, whatever they are charging, I will pass it over to fellow mudders.
We will have to deal with shipping as well and possibly taxes and duties. I will do my best to get a low price for everyone.

 

[NLXTACY]

Hi Phil, pricing is not up to me, whatever they are charging, I will pass it over to fellow mudders.
We will have to deal with shipping as well and possibly taxes and duties. I will do my best to get a low price for everyone.

Coming from where? If AUS we've had a FTA with them for ten years now.

 

[socallove]

This will be coming from Canada.