Steering Setup for My '71 EB by RJLougee

Updated 09 Feb 2003, here's how it looks now. I'm in the process of building a new cage for it.

This page is the story of how I solved the steering setup issues of moving the EB axle 6" forward.

Parts used:
'84 E150 tilt steering column.
'75ish Scout II PS gear box.
'85 Cherokee upper and lower steering shaft.
Duffs steering box brace.

How I did it:
The Cherokee lower steering shaft fits right on the Scout PS box. It has U-joints at the top and bottom, and is a collapsible shaft with small plastic roll pins that hold the outer section in place around the inner shaft. To adjust it to the correct length, I had to drill the plastic parts out. Once set to correct ride height, I'll redrill the shafts and install new plastic parts (I won't have ride height set till the tube sub-frame is built and fenders installed on the front end).

The upper portion of the lower Cherokee shaft, where it connects to the upper shaft, is designed to slip over a double 'D' shaft. Once slipped over, it bolts through the outer shaft, through the inner. The upper shaft is a solid rod.

The lower mount on the steering column is also a double 'D', the same size as the Cherokee shaft.

To mate them together, I cut a 2.5" section of the upper Cherokee shaft, installed it between the lower shaft and the steering column, drilled a hole through each of the mounting holes and installed bolts.

Since I used the Scout box behind where the EB box goes, the rear mounting holes come out behind the crossmember. I drilled a 1" hole through the top and built a plate with the nuts for the 1/2" bolts welded to it. This is slid down into place and tension keeps it in there.

It sounds pretty simple now that it's done, but a lot of R&D at the junkyard went into it. And yes Mike, I think I have about $100 in it!
Joe

Scout II PS box, '85 Cherokee lower steering shaft, '79 E150 tilt steering column.

Scout II PS box , redrilled to fit rear EB frame holes, the EB box sits between the two front holes
in the Scout box and the single hole in the bottom in front of the brace.

Item	Currently	Comments
Engine	'90 E250 EFI 300 Cubic Inch Inline 6 Cylinder
Aspiration	MAP EFI, Stock EEC and wiring
Transmission	NP435	Or maybe a C-6 from a 4x4 '85 Bronco
Doubler	Chevy NP203 Range box and custom adapters	Still working it
Transfer Case	T-shift D20
Steering:	Saginaw HD PS pump and tie rod over knuckle with the HD Chevy ends
Body	Decent brown '75
Safety	Big Cage
Front Axle	Full width Disk Brake equipped High Pinion Dana 44 from a '77 F150	With 4.88 gears, Moser shafts and ARB
Rear Axle	Full width Big Bearing '77 F150 axle with drum brakes	4.88 gears, spool and Yukon 31 spline axles
Seats	Fronts are Summit Racing Buckets, no rear seat planned
Tires	38.5x14.5x15 Swamper TSL SX and/or 35x12.5x15 MT/R	Have both
Lift	Not sure yet, about 5-6" in a combination of body and suspension.
Suspension	I want to do a link type and coilovers, but too many questions just yet	.Maybe next winter
Ignition	Probably use an MSD or Jacobs
MPG	It's a trail rig, who cares!
On-board Air	Probably, gotta figure it out
Wheelbase	The front is moved forward about 6" and the rear is moved back 3"
Weight	Under 3500# No doors, tailgate, top, inner fenders, what else??