Success...steering box is out. Found a strange weld on my..

[linx310]

Well I got the steering box out. It was much easier then I thought. Removing the floor panels was so simple.

Only snag I ran into was some one welded one of the bolts to part of the frame and my steering wheel puller was far to small.

Picture of the jeep with my tools all over the place.



Steering box is gone.






While removing the box I noticed this thing. Was this part of the fording system that is missing from my vehicle?



Also I found this strange weld on my frame. Part of it welded the bolt to the frame. Doesn’t look like my frame was damaged so I am not sure why it is here. Maybe the forest service had some kind of bracket welded on and it was later cut off.



Soaking the box in gas to clean off all the crud.



The Ross steering box. Gonna have to dive inside this thing to see if its cheaper for me to rebuild it rather then purchase a government rebuilt one.


Pitman arm doesn't look to worn, but I think i am gonna replace it for piece of mind. Also I don't feel like having to go back and redo all this stuff over again.

[53a1]

Hard to say what the weld was for. Check for another weld on the frame toward the rear. could be a step bar was present at one time. Could be a repair? Check the inside of frame for more welding.

I wouldn't replace parts that are good. Just measure the pitman ball to check. Don't know the proper dia. but usually they have a nice ridge in them if they are worn.

[wesk]

That is probably the brake master cylinder vent tube that runs across the firewall to the air cleaner. The early 52/53 A1's had this plumbing.