New grill for an old truck

[75K30]

Spent the last couple of days working on the old red truck.
Decided to run a saginaw power steering conversion, add crossover steering, perform a front u-bolt flip, oh yeah, install a 79 front grill, grill shell, bunper and lights.
Thought I would share, in an attempt to wake up the 4x4 forum. Been a little sleepy lately

[crabtruck]

Pretty looking.
So is the saginaw a 3 or 4 turn ? How much difference are you feeling turning wheels at a stop ?
That looks like a lot of tire for the pump to push.
Oh yeah, where's the pictures LOL ?
How much fab for doing the steering ?
Did I mention pictures ? My old eyes need close ups !

[stumpuller454]

F`in swweeeeet truck man! reminds me of my old 80 gmc off roader, miss her sometimes (sob)

[03chevy]

if i was to get a ford it would be like this one!

[junior3382]

Its projects like that 75 that makes me wish I lived closer to your shop! LOL. Sounds like fun!

[75K30]

Thanks for the kind words. I loike this old truck. I romp it and beat the snot out of it, and for some reason, I like this one a little more than my 75 K truck. I get more attention with this one, really than any other. When I am at the pump (which can be fairly often, lol) somebody always stops to chat about one they used to have, or for the young guys, one that thier dad used to drive. This old truck puts a smile on my face when I drive, and most that are attracted to the ugly old thing usually smile almost as much as I do.

Crab, I will post some pics just for you buddy.
For clarification, the saginaw box is a 4 turn, 16:1 ratio powered by a late model saginaw pump (serpantine belt), and turns the tires just fine from a stop. While I try not to do this, it is capable of this action.
I am in the process of drilling the two pressure sides of the box, and installing a small hydraulic ram on the tie rod, for a hydraulic assist. Between the power steering, and hydro assist, I think I will have no troubles steering these larger tires.
The crossover steering is probably the best modification that can be performed on these old trucks that originally had a push pull system.

I might also add, that this truck was a 2wd camper special that lived life on a farm, and when I found it, it ws home to a goat, and some random chickens. Yeah this old truck smelled pretty bad, and probably should have been destined for the scrap yard, but mu heart was captured, and I knew I could provide it a new life.
I picked it up for free, and I have performed every bit of the modifications in the driveway, including the "Rustoleum" paint job! Yes, I said it, it is painted with spray cans. "Rustoleum saftey red" is its official color. Not a bad shine for 60 bucks worth of paint, lol.

Well, I am going to have to keep trying to re-size these darn pics. I cant seem to get them small enough to create a thumbnail. I do not wish to overwhelm this little thread.
I can fabricate just about anything, but when it comes to this 'puter stuff', I am a complete idiot, lol.....

75

[mudseeker]

i wish i could find a truck with out rust around here. she's beautiful.

[75K30]

Just bought another on for 350 bucks. They are all over the place here.
Anyway, here is a shot of the box, as I was setting it all up.
More pics are in my photobucket
Image of saginaw power steering conversion - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

[crabtruck]

Just went through the slideshow of the pictures, nice !
Some day I'm gonna have to make it a point to get down to your shop
just to watch you work, don't care on what.

Couple questions: Did you have to make a new mount plate for the box?
Elsewhere you commented on larger tires
"your front Dana 60 utilizes a very weak unit bearing design
that does not like anything other than stock tires."
and I was wondering how it works good for you with your VERY non-stock tires.
Obviously I'm missing something.

[75K30]

Interesting that you mention that Crab.
I did mention the unit bearing design and pointed out its weaknesses to a Super Duty Owner on this site. I too run a D60 in this truck, but they are very different. The late model D60's use a unit bearing design, similar to a complete hub unit for a 2wd vehicle. hese are nbo serviacable units and can t be adjusted. Larger tires really tear this design up. This axle also utilizes a ball joint design, and while rather large still not as desireable as the early "King Pin" style axles with serviceable Timken bearings. The Timkens are an individual set of tappered bearings that we are all used to working on, because they can be worked on.
King pin axles stopped being used in the late 80's and the unit bearings started being used in 99 Super Duty trucks.
Mine holds up well to the tires. The chevy truck and my other ford both run 44 inch tires, and while they are also very hard on components, with the proper maintanence can survive. I still have to shim the heak out of the springs that pre-load the king pins, but my trucks drive rather well on the road. I drive this one all the way to my office in San Juan Capistrano, which is a fair drive from home, (all freeway, over 50 miles one way) and it feels right at home on the road. Although it would much prefer having the labs in tha bed, and heading out for a mud hole, lol, it has pretty good manners.

As far as the steering box, yes in my little slide show, I stated that I had to make some stand-offs to space the box away from the frame. The sector shaft is larger than the body of the box, and requires some room.
What I did was made small spacers to get the thing aligned, and then I used individual pieces of 3/16" plate steel to attach them. These are cut in a wave patter around the circumference. The wave pattern permits me to maximize the weld when attached to the frame. The spacer is then welded to the plate. The plate is now responsible for the entire load of the bolt, and is stronger as it spreads the load over a larger area than just passing a bolt through the frame. A matching plate is made and welded to the inside of the frame, and then the frame is later boxed for even more strength. Before the box is complete, I make a set of steel bushings that fit between the frame and the new box. These get welded to one end, and only provide support for the boxed section, and keep it from crushing wehn the bolts are tightened down. The bos has 4 bolts so this process is duplicated for every bolt hole. Safe to say that the box will never fall off.
I have broken boxes right off of the frame. I have sheered the mounting tabs (cast into the box) bust right off, but never have I lost one because the frame let go.
Overkill? Yep! I like overkill when it comes to steering. I hate it when I lose steering. I have lost it before, and busted components, and let me tell you, it aint a bowl of cherries!