haven't updated this in years.
new motor in, out, in, out, in.
rebuilt close ratio 4 speed in out in.
rear axle rebuilt with Torqueline Torquelock centre, moser axles, new brakes and 3.45:1 ratio gears... in
new KYB Gas-Ajust rear shocks in
front end rebuild done
NOS brake calipers VJ GIRLOCK style done
better upper arms painted and NOS Mopar upper joints In
Lower joints Three 555 Japan In
TRW track rod ends
Mopar Multi Mileage barium grease everywhere.
Repco Lucas pitman
Repco Lucas Quinton Idler
Moog upper bushes
Moog strutrod bushes
Mackey Rubber lower arm bushes
New shocks in
AC Delco upper and lower bump stops in
new brake hoses done
new master cylinder seal done
16:1 ratio steering box rebuild done.
Lately I have been dicking about with steering boxes
Aussie box is a iron box that bolts to chassis
it was always my suspicion that the Australians cast the case and imported the complicated stuff for the inside.
Aussie Boxes come in 20:1 a couple of 100 of them were 16:1 and it was an R/T race option only. hence $1500 -$2000 outright for rebuilt boxes these days or $400 exchange.
trouble with an Australian 16:1 ratio box was it appeared to use a 70s ford length worm screw (the weird power box that used a manual box and a separate power assist unit) making it the only Chrysler box from 1960 until the mid 80s to need a longer steering shaft than any other Chrysler vehicle.
the spline and pin indent on the worm shaft was 1/2 an inch lower than any other.
didn't fancy a new steering shaft
didn't fancy an aussie rebuilt 16:1 box. most will be on second or 3rd rebuild.
the only other 16:1 ratio ballnut and screw was option on 67 and 68 US Darts and valiant. all LHD, I think they sold quite a few but stopped making them in the 70s. More hens teeth to look for
so I purchased a cheap 20:1 ratio ball-nut and screw from the US to prove that I could convert one to RHD.
turns out that although the part numbers vary widely, all manual ball-nuts and screws are the same components for mopar passenger cars from about 1960 until most of us stop caring in the 1980s.
just the LHD nut is on upside down for a RHD car.
so the nut came off and was put back the other way round so its RACK teeth would mesh with a sector towards the centre of the car when the box is mounted on the RHD chassis rail.
pig to do but manageable, just ignore the bit in the manual that states never dismantle the ballnut and screw.
Next the ball-nut and screw where held with a sector shaft in appropriate mesh, a photo was taken and used to start an interesting conversation with Firmfeel INC
after drawing a few pictures and sending some photos Firmfeel cautiously agreed that my theory about the internals being very similar was probably correct
they relived me of a chunk of cash and sent me a manual steering box rebuild kit, featuring improved lower sector bearing, Mid and Cap bearings + cage bearings and seals
they also sent a Brand new 16:1 ball-nut and screw.
so I pulled the box out of the car
stripped it down
washed out the grease
bashed out all the bearings using a selection of sockets and extensions.
and compared parts
yes the ballnut was the wrong way round
yes the wormshaft was identical in thread direction and ball bearing surface size and length
so I swapped the new nut round.
I then discovered that MR bodger had previously been "at home " with my sector shaft and had tried to reclaim what was probably a very worn Aussie sector by filing the teeth back to shape.
trouble was the teeth are trapezoid shaped in two planes and they had been done so the thin end was at the wrong end.
needed a new sector.
The part used in US and Aus had same number from 1962 until 1973 and its superseded part was in the Mopar catalogue until 2004
so I got a 2004 version from
http://www.MMPar.com
Very useful people, why by replacement parts when you can get new old stuff?
this involved cross ref 1962-1970 Aussie parts book with every year US parts book from 62- 76.
anyway bashed it all together
sprayed it black and I now have a Brand New Steering box with absolutely no slop what so ever and in a Modern ratio.
it kicks ass its the best upgrade I have done and after 5-6 years of research, off and on, some risky but successful purchases I was able to post up my findings on an aussie board.
I'll stick up some pictures tomorrow
Dave