GMC Pathfinder steering box

[1tonvan4x]

Hi I'm new here and I need some info on my steering box. I have a "79 GMC Vandura 35 Pathfinder conversion, mild 350 [was 400 SBC], TH350, NP205, 14 bolt/Dana 44, 4:09 gear. It is a little rusty on the top but runs and drives great.
So here's my question, I put a new steering box on and now it steers left when turning right and vise versa. So the obvious question is did Pathfinder modify the boxes to make up for the funky steering setup? I guess I'll have to get the original box rebuilt unless there is a source for them, Gordon at Pathfinder.com seems to be MIA and his website is down. Any help is appreciated.

 

[BajaSportsmobile]

Did you buy a box for a 2wd 79 van or a 4X4 truck?

 

[barefoot boy]

I have a 1984 Chevy Pathfinder; it uses a stock 1984 van steering box. I believe that Gordon's site used to show the 3 different steering linkages that Pathfinder used over the years. I believe that a major change was made in 1984 and mine has that 1984 and later linkage.

 

[Clay]

Do you have push-pull steering or crossover?

My '78 has push-pull and I always assumed that it was from a '78 4x4, because stock 2wd van have a side to side steering setup. Did the new box you bought come from a same year 4x4 truck?

 

[1tonvan4x]

Mine has the push pull style like a stock 4x4, I got a 2wd box for a '79 pickup, it has an adapter that flips the box sideways. It has a nut on the pitman arm and it was my understanding that the 4x pitman arm is a pinch style? Do I need to get a 4x box? Do they turn in a reverse rotation? Thanks for the replies.

 

[barefoot boy]

I found some information that I copied off of Gordon's site in 2006. For the 1976-1984 Chevy Pathfinder vans it states that"... a Saginaw box was mounted on it's side on a custom cast iron adapter with it's sector shaft adjusting screw facing towards (something unintelligible). This makes adjustment difficult while still on the vehicle. The power steering hoses were custom made." It goes on to state that the major upgrade to steering was made in 1985 (my 1984 came with it) and that it retained the vans 2WD steering box. From this I would gather that until 1984-5 it did not use the stock 2WD van box.

 

[Clay]

"There are a couple of ways to tell. The 69-75 steering gears have a larger input shaft than the 75-87. I believe the 69-75 were 3/4" and the 75-87 wer 1/2". Another way to tell is the 69-75 were 4 1/2 turns from lock to lock and the 76 and newer were 3 1/2. WES"

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=381004

Is there a casting number on your old box? That might help you ID it properly. I think you can google "power steering" and that number to come up with the part.

I also found this, maybe it'll help?
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/general-4x4-discussion/1069713-identifying-saginaw-steering-box.html

 

[1tonvan4x]

Ok, I figured it out and am having the original? box rebuilt. It's really pretty simple, Pathfinder took a 4wd truck box turned it sideways and put a 2wd output shaft in it and used their own pitman arm. Any rebuilder can build a box like this with off the shelf parts, just a little mix & match. I should have the box back by Thur. so I can make Pomona Swapmeet.
Thanks for all the replies and info. this is a cool site, I will post some pics of my van in the picture thread.