Steering Box Compatibility

[Doppleganger]

My truck has an 85 steering box. Motor is a 97 with all the accessories from 97...including PS pump.

Are they compatible? Maybe custom hoses needed?

Thanks.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I believe you would need custom hoses.

 

[75gmck25]

I think that by ‘85 GM was using o-ring fittings on truck steering boxes. Old ones were inverted flare on the steering box hoses (up until about ‘78). If they are the same size as the newer truck, I think they will work.

Bruce

 

[bucket]

Fittings will be the same, as far as the steering box is concerned. Fittings will be the same on the pump too, but iirc, the placement is different on a '97. If so, '97 lines should work fine on an '85.

 

[Doppleganger]

Thanks fellas. I had read something awhile back about them being non-compatible (metric vs SAE?) or something like that.

 

[bucket]

The fittings went metric right around '79.

 

[AuroraGirl]

various things went metric at different years sadly... wish there was a clean cut off

 

[WFO]

The fittings went metric right around '79.

I think so too.
I put a 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee steering box on my 69 Chevelle, because it has a quicker ratio and is a direct bolt-up, except it took a different rag joint. Instead of getting a custom bastard pressure hose, I used an 80 Monte Carlo pump and an 81 Camaro hose.

 

[bucket]

I think so too.
I put a 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee steering box on my 69 Chevelle, because it has a quicker ratio and is a direct bolt-up, except it took a different rag joint. Instead of getting a custom bastard pressure hose, I used an 80 Monte Carlo pump and an 81 Camaro hose.

I can never remember the specific year for the trucks and I don't remember what my '79 truck uses. But some GM stuff still retained the SAE fittings in '79.