C3 Steering Box Removal

[Tom K.]

Hello All,

I am in need of some more advice. I have been working on removing the steering box from my '73 (LS4, orig manifolds, ps, pb) and I have it disconnected from the steering valve, steering shaft and frame rail - but I cant get it out!
It wont come up past the power brake booster and master cylinder, and it wont go down past the frame rail and steering shaft.
Whats the next move?
Remove the driver side exhaust manifold?
Remove the steering column?
Something else?

I appreciate any advice


Tom Krause

[Gary R.]

Re: C3 Steering Box Removal

Tom
Remove the rag joint and it should come out the bottom. You should not have to remove the manifold or column

[Tom K.]

Re: C3 Steering Box Removal

Thanks Gary,

I was pretty tired of wrestling with it last night - I really expected it would come out the bottom, but I didnt think just taking off the coupling would make much difference. I appreciate the advice and I will try that tonight.

Tom Krause

[Tom K.]

Re: C3 Steering Box Removal

Gary,

I must have scared it pretty good yesterday, because after I got home from work this evening I went to the garage and went to turn it around to get the rag joint off and it practically fell out of the car. The answer is you only need to be patient in wrestling the steering box out from the chassis. I had left the Pittman Arm on and the rag joint was still on the input. If you get it turned around just right, it will come out the bottom behind the exhaust manifold.

Thanks again for your advice


Tom Krause

[Gary R.]

Re: C3 Steering Box Removal

Good job Tom. I can't tell you how many times I walked away from a job, frustrated, only to have a new light on the work the next day.

Your rag looks flat and there are some threads above the jam nut so the box gears may still be good.