Upside down steering box?

[Loanranger]

Ok, I know this sounds like a really, really stupid question, but has anyone tried running a ranger power steering box upside down?

 

[High Desert Ranger]

Umm, If you keep if as a front steer vehicle, than the steering would be back wards.

 

[kunar]

my first thought was...why?

 

[Loanranger]

Ok, maybe I should further explain, this is for my Suzuki Lj20 project, which started with a 360cc 2 stroke 2 cyl engine. I dumped a 2.3 liter 4 banger ranger motor in it, which came from a 2wd with power steering. I would like to use the power steering, but the ranger box mounts to the inside of the frame, and the pitman arm points out forward. There is no room whatsoever on the inside of the framerail, due to the engine being 2 liters bigger than the original, but due to the wider sami axles and outboarding the springs, I have enough room for the box on the outside of the framerail. The problem being, I would have to fab up some funky box to mount the steering box in, then mount this to the frame, because of the way the mounts are set up on the steering box. The next problem is with the pitman arm pointing forwards, it would be way too far forwards to connect a draglink to the tie-rod. If I turned the pitman arm around on the steering box, it would be aligned perfectly with the tie-rod, but like you said, it would be a backwards steerer. So the next logical (somewhat) idea would be to turn the box upside down, this would place the steering box mounts on the right side of the box, which would then be able to bolt to the outside of the framerail, and also reverse the throw of the pitman arm back to the original left is left, right is right. Right? Like I said before, it was a shot in the dark, probably a wild and crazy idea, but then anything inovative begins as a crazy hairbrained scheme.

 

[lowestcerberus]

I don't see why it wouldn't work. But as pointed out earlier the steering would be backwards. But I recall ford used a box in the late 70's that mounted out side the frame rails.

 

[Ozwynn]

I see what he is saying....... if he turned the box upside down and reversed pitman arm his steering should be right. are their any problems runnng the box upside down?

 

[MAKG]

If it's upside down and backwards, routing the intermediate shaft is going to be, well, entertaining.

There were some Saginaw boxes around in the early-70s in cars that mounted to the outside of the frame rail (back when cars had frame rails...). E.g., in Novas prior to 1973.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

sounds like hes wanting to turn the box upside down, then remove the pitman arm, turn it 180*, and bolt it back to the box.

i dont see why it wouldnt work....the box is hydraulic and shouldnt be orientation specific.

one problem i forsee is the fact that the linkage to the steering wheel is going to have to go under the pitman arm.

 

[TireIron]

heh, the linkage to the steering wheel will now be on the outside of the frame and at the BOTTOM of the box, which means under the frame... a multi-jointed steering shaft with a carrier bearing in it mounted to the frame would probably have to be made. Didn't the old broncos and some of the fullsize f-series use an outside of the frame box? and I thought a lot of the old toyotas used that setup also...

 

[Ozwynn]

I just went out and looked at my LandCruiser ..... find a Steering gear from an FJ60.... mine is compact and on the outside of the frame rail.

 

[Cameron]

I just went out and looked at my LandCruiser ..... find a Steering gear from an FJ60.... mine is compact and on the outside of the frame rail.

The FJ60 box is common on the Suzukis, as well as a Toy IFS box. The FJ box has the pitman arm facing forward, whereas the IFS box it is facing backwards.

FWIW, for my Zuk project, I am using a IFS box.

 

[badblue]

Ya the 78 bronco i got my hp dana 44 form had i out side box the i was thinking of using

 

[Loanranger]

The FJ60 box is common on the Suzukis, as well as a Toy IFS box. The FJ box has the pitman arm facing forward, whereas the IFS box it is facing backwards.

FWIW, for my Zuk project, I am using a IFS box.

What pump are you using with the ifs box a yota pump?

Thanks everyone for your input, this is the last major hurdle to get this frankenstein out on the trail.

 

[Loanranger]

heh, the linkage to the steering wheel will now be on the outside of the frame and at the BOTTOM of the box, which means under the frame... a multi-jointed steering shaft with a carrier bearing in it mounted to the frame would probably have to be made. Didn't the old broncos and some of the fullsize f-series use an outside of the frame box? and I thought a lot of the old toyotas used that setup also...

I've already accepted the fact that it may need a multi jointed shaft, I've looked into other fullsize, outside the frame boxes, I've even thought about making the thing right hand drive. I'm just trying to make it work with what I have on hand if at all possible, but if it isn't then I will have to go spend more money. Thanks for the input.

 

[Loanranger]

Well, with time restraints, I decided to scrap the upside down idea and go with the IFS yota box, I picked one up tonight, and it looks like everything should work out just fine. I am still interested to find the answer to the upside down box idea though, so if anyone gets a wild hair and wants to be inovative, let me know how it works. Thanks again for everyones insight into this though.