power steering conversions

I am planning down the road a ways but I have been reading every thing I can find about a few upgrades to make my CJ5 safer a little more modern and easier for my Wife to drive too. I have noticed two different set ups for power steering behind the axle with a Ford box and in front of the axle with a Saginaw box and was wondering what the pros and cons are of each I have a machinist buddy who I do a lot of welding for and we trade skills back and forth so I can fab up just about anything I need , I have access to the parts for both set ups are far as boxes and pumps go , I was just wondering about the pros and cons of each set up I plan to run a single exhaust with stock manifolds on my 3.8 and keep the under floor master cylinder too, Thanks for any insight T.J.

 

There is quite a lot of info about steering conversions here. There is a sticky thread in the builders forum that is many pages long. I used a standard saginaw box. You will need to reinforce your frame in the area you decide to mount the box and plan how your drag link will work. Power steering is a great improvement over the ross box, but is not a simple swap. The frame mounted master is unaffected by the steering swap, but your exhaust may or may not need modification depending on its design.

Pics of your engine bay and the planned placement will help these guys to chime in.

 

I gather the Saginaw conversion is much more popular, if that tells you something. We have a sticky thread with Saginaw swaps http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/saginaw-power-steering-pics-please-add-yours.17911/

How is you Jeep equipped now? It would be helpful to give more details. Most of us put this info in our signatures.

 

What I am hoping to find out is why people chose one over the other but the Saginaw seems to be more popular , I plan on installing an SM420 that I have been saving for this jeep project for years , I noticed from some pictures that the ford box is close to the fuel pump and fan but the Saginaw has a few interference issues as well. The first order of business is get it running again then go thru the brakes and wiring and drive it a bit , then rebuild the other body tub as time permits thanks again . T.J.

 

I forgot to add it still has the stock manual steering.

 

The one behind the crossmember creates space headaches in the engine compartment and really doesn't have that much adjustability for placement, but it does work. Might do a search as a couple people in the past have documented their conversions using this system. The Saginaw is tried and true, works well, parts are readily available, more adjustability for fine tuning, and really isn't that hard to do depending on skills and what parts are used. Both take some forethought and planning to execute well. I don't like cluttering up and already small engine bay any more than necessary.
I put Saginaw on all mine, have for customers on both Jeeps and Toyota Landcruisers, and have had good success with it. It works for me so I stick with it.

 

Thanks Nick that's what I was hoping to hear. T.J.

 

I am planning on using a Scout II box (above the axle) on my current build. Whether or not I'll be able to fit it in there remains to be seen.

IMO, without significant frame modifications up front, a standard Saginaw box puts A LOT of stress on those little wimpy frame horns that were never designed for much lateral or torsional force. Without the proper strengthening/cross-bracing, you'll end up chasing frame cracks around the under-grill crossmember; you can have sloppy, unresponsive steering with potential death wobble - just in the play that the frame provides.... But done correctly and it can be as reliable and trouble-free as the best systems out there.

Whichever setup you choose, do your research and be prepared. Have every part you think you'll need (and even a few you think you won't) before you start.

It is not an easy or quick job, but no other single mod is more rewarding.