SOR saganaw power steering kit: 100-901

[Dennis 1970 40]

My steering box has a lot of slop and time to replace. At almost 70 years old, power steering sounds like a good idea.
Has anyone purchased and installed the SOR kit noted: 100-901?

Your help is appreciated!
Dennis

 

[3_puppies]

what year rig?
any modifications? lift, larger tires, etc
did you look at electric power steering?

 

[Dennis 1970 40]

I have basically a 9/70 Fj40. It did get 2" lift from OME, that's it. Tires are 28X8.5, slightly larger. IThe steering box is worn, about 2-4" left to right slop.

 

[Dennis 1970 40]

Here is a pic of my beauty. Drove her around this weekend, ran perfect and got a lot of waves and head turns. Several folks stopped me and took pictures as I went shopping.

 

[Green Bean]

Very nice looking truck.

 

[JohnnyC]

I guarantee most of your slop is not in the box … but in everything else it connects to

A sag will get rid of a lot of the big wear items … your conferr bumper tool box as well

If your not mod savy it has a tendency to look like a hack job

I did a quick drag link two penny trick ( @65swb45 ) and rebuilt the center link (easy) then replaced the pedestal for the box to use a mini truck box twenty+ years ago … best mod other than the 4 wheel disc


You keep the big steering wheel (I like that) and it’s like a nice power assist not ever kill like the sag is at times

Wonder if the heritage program will bring back the ps box for the 40 so you wouldn’t have to replace the pedestal even

@cruiseroutfit would know if they r planning on it … he would have everything you need to do a rebuild as well as this type of conversion

 

[Dennis 1970 40]

Thanks for info. The slop is BEFORE the arm of steering box moves. The basic parts of steering were replaced, ball joints, center link rebuilt, aligned, not much else to be loose. I'm sure the worm gear and gear are just worn to a point of the slop. I recall adding one penny years ago, maybe in 1985 or so, it did help. I did not know enough room for a 2nd penny. I'll check that out this weekend.

 

[65swb45]

I have a rebuilt OE box for that vintage available for sale. Plug and play.

 

[65swb45]

I guarantee most of your slop is not in the box … but in everything else it connects to

A sag will get rid of a lot of the big wear items … your conferr bumper tool box as well

If your not mod savy it has a tendency to look like a hack job

I did a quick drag link two penny trick ( @65swb45 ) and rebuilt the center link (easy) then replaced the pedestal for the box to use a mini truck box twenty+ years ago … best mod other than the 4 wheel disc


You keep the big steering wheel (I like that) and it’s like a nice power assist not ever kill like the sag is at times

Wonder if the heritage program will bring back the ps box for the 40 so you wouldn’t have to replace the pedestal even

@cruiseroutfit would know if they r planning on it … he would have everything you need to do a rebuild as well as this type of conversion

@JohnnyC FWIW, I was able to dog-leg my ConFerr box over and reinstall it with the Saginaw on my lwb45. And I dog-legged the winch mounting plate for my 8274 on Ruftoys to get in a Saginaw. It can be done.

 

[iptman]

I have a rebuilt OE box for that vintage available for sale. Plug and play.

I bought a box for my 77 from Mark and I haven't thought about power steering since. I had previously replaced all rod ends and rebuilt the center arm but after I installed the new box it was a completely different driving experience.

 

[Dennis 1970 40]

I'll call you.

 

[bikersmurf]

There's a lot more needed than is provided with that kit. On such a stock rig I'd rebuild the bel crank and replace the TREs and see where you're at. If need the rebuilt box from Mark's Off-Road... and while I'm busy spending all of your money Electric P/S from City Racer LLC if you still want power steering.

Alternatively, a 60/70/80 P/S box or a Scout II box makes for a much cleaner looking P/S conversion while eliminating a lot of your wear items that are worn out.

 

[Dennis 1970 40]

There's a lot more needed than is provided with that kit. On such a stock rig I'd rebuild the bel crank and replace the TREs and see where you're at. If need the rebuilt box from Mark's Off-Road... and while I'm busy spending all of your money Electric P/S from City Racer LLC if you still want power steering.

Alternatively, a 60/70/80 P/S box or a Scout II box makes for a much cleaner looking P/S conversion while eliminating a lot of your wear items that are worn out.

Lot's to look into; thanks for the information.

 

[ryanwk628]

There's a lot more needed than is provided with that kit. On such a stock rig I'd rebuild the bel crank and replace the TREs and see where you're at. If need the rebuilt box from Mark's Off-Road... and while I'm busy spending all of your money Electric P/S from City Racer LLC if you still want power steering.

Alternatively, a 60/70/80 P/S box or a Scout II box makes for a much cleaner looking P/S conversion while eliminating a lot of your wear items that are worn out.

If money was no object I always thought an Electric PS kit into a simpler manual box from a scout or one like this would be really slick because it would eliminate some of the factory sources of play and hydraulic pump/lines.

 

[bikersmurf]

Unfortunately money is an object for most of us.

I couldn't be happier with my Scout II P/S conversion. I never give the steering a second thought, it feels like factory P/S should. I can easily turn 33x10.50s at 20 psi on dry pavement with the palm of my hand (while sitting still). It doesn't feel over assisted or floaty like our Dodge campervan used to always feel like.

The odd thing I noticed, after driving the 40 for a week in deep snow and terrible road conditions, was that our Prius (with electric P/S) didn't seem to have P/S anymore... after driving for a bit (and thinking on it) I realized that I'd gotten used to the 40 Saginaw assist, and the Prius still had power steering but just not as much.

Yes, compared to other steering, the Saginaw box has no road feel... but given I'm getting older, I'll take that as it will allow me to keep driving and enjoying my 40 rather than it just being a garage queen to look at. I'd rather it only beat me up when I'm working on it than every time I drive down the road.

 

[ryanwk628]

Unfortunately money is an object for most of us.

I couldn't be happier with my Scout II P/S conversion. I never give the steering a second thought, it feels like factory P/S should. I can easily turn 33x10.50s at 20 psi on dry pavement with the palm of my hand (while sitting still). It doesn't feel over assisted or floaty like our Dodge campervan used to always feel like.

The odd thing I noticed, after driving the 40 for a week in deep snow and terrible road conditions, was that our Prius (with electric P/S) didn't seem to have P/S anymore... after driving for a bit (and thinking on it) I realized that I'd gotten used to the 40 Saginaw assist, and the Prius still had power steering but just not as much.

Yes, compared to other steering, the Saginaw box has no road feel... but given I'm getting older, I'll take that as it will allow me to keep driving and enjoying my 40 rather than it just being a garage queen to look at. I'd rather it only beat me up when I'm working on it than every time I drive down the road.

Oh absolutely, Ive got a scout box myself just waiting for a rebuild. It was on a 55 that got parted out. 4 speed conversion has to happen first though... But a guy can dream.

 

[bikersmurf]

Oh absolutely, Ive got a scout box myself just waiting for a rebuild. It was on a 55 that got parted out. 4 speed conversion has to happen first though... But a guy can dream.

It took me 15 years after I got the Scout II box to get it mounted... and I had saved the pitman arm since '96 for the conversion (+/- 20 years).

If you hold onto your dreams they can become a reality.

 

[Dennis 1970 40]

After all the discussion, I'll keep manual steering. I don't seem to be bothered by it, only a couple complain about it when driving. I will inspect the TRE and bell housing.
Last thing, IF indeed the steering box is worn. I'd rather not disassemble the fender to pull out the box and long steering shaft (all one piece). I'm thinking just cut off and add a rag joint or similar.

Thoughts?

 

[h82crash]

I did the Saginaw before learning about the 60/Scout box. No real regrets and it works great. If ever doing a V8 swap, the 60 box will give you more clearance for the steering shaft but you have to trim your inner fender.

 

[bikersmurf]

After all the discussion, I'll keep manual steering. I don't seem to be bothered by it, only a couple complain about it when driving. I will inspect the TRE and bell housing.
Last thing, IF indeed the steering box is worn. I'd rather not disassemble the fender to pull out the box and long steering shaft (all one piece). I'm thinking just cut off and add a rag joint or similar.

Thoughts?

I had no real complaints about the manual steering for more than 25 years and more than 100k miles. It took me to hell and back... and even to Phoenix Arizona (which seems as hot as hell), Nowhere Arizona, Los Angeles, Inveremere BC, San Diego, and every small and narrow highway down the coast between BC and Los Angeles. So I understand just fixing the stock setup.