[Rodney001]

While I'm waiting on a new motor and clutch, I thought I'd remove the steering box that needs to be rebuilt.

I've been reading the old threads and it seems like I need to remove the pitman arm, steering wheel and the steering column and somehow pull the whole shaft out the bottom of the car with the car on jacks to make room.

Any other advice for a newbie?

Will I need to unbolt the sleeve that goes between the box and he firewall?

This job sounds like a nightmare....

Thanks Rodney

 

[patrickstapler]

Actually isn't hard at all. I have ways removed the steering wheel and column from inside the car then unbolt the parts you listed and pull it through the the engine compartment as you described. Shouldn't take more than an hour. Usually the hardest part is removing the steering wheel if it has never been off.

 

[LeeFred]

If you've got the right tools, and with the engine out like it shows in your pic, you should have the sucker out in a hurry. Try pulling one out while the engine is still in the car

 

[Mustangerbob1]

With no engine, it can go upwards, leave the pitman arm on, just remove the steering wheel and column.

The wheels are often stuck. Either use a puller, or I have found once the nut is gone, sit in the seat, and pull hard and twist, and the wheels will often pop off.

If you do not care about the wheel, a 3 pound hand sledge will pop them off also.

 

[Big Perm]

You can remove it from above with the engine still in the car. Remove the DS header and valve cover, and you can weasel it between the head and the shock tower. It is damn near impossible to remove it from below unless you remove all steering linkage.

 

[Rodney001]

That sleeve ahead of the steering box has a flange on it with four bolts that attach to the firewall.

I can undo those and pull the whole thing into the driver side of the passenger compartment?

Seems hard to believe, but I'll give it a go.

Thanks!

 

[LeeFred]

Rodney - if we're talking about a '65 or '66, then here's how to do it. Remove the steering wheel and turn signal lever. Get under the dash and disconnect the wiring harness that comes out of the steering column into the under dash harness. While you're under there, remove the two nuts that hold the steering column to the underside of the dash and remove the clamp. This should allow you to completely slide the steering column upwards into the passenger compartment and out (I may be forgetting a step here in regards to the turn signal switch/bearing/horn contacts/spring under the steering wheel). This will expose the steering shaft that leads into the steering box that you see in your original photo. Now you know why it is commonly known as the "Spear-O-Matic". You don't have to remove the "flange" from the firewall - it is the seal that wraps around the steering column to keep air and fluids from entering near your feet.

Once you got all that done, then remove the pitman arm from the end of the drag link on the driver's side. Unbolt the steering box from the frame rail, and slide it out of the car. No problem!

67 and above Mustangs - don't know. Haven't removed the steering box from any of those.

 

[Rodney001]

Thanks. From what I have read, things changed in mid '67 to not use the "spear-o-matic". I think I have an early '67 with this weapon in my car so I'll follow your directions and give it a try.

I hope to get to the point where I'm putting stuff back on the car rather than replacing everything that I thought was OK when we bought it (like the motor).

 

[Rodney001]

Just wanted to say thanks. After I got the column out (which was a little stuck on the firewall gasket) and then the pitman arm off, this thing just popped out as described.

Don't think I could do this without this forum.

Rodney

 

[PanzerschreckLeopard]

Looks good, glad you got it out!

(Now, is it even possible to remove the box without removing engine if one has a 390, or is it just too damn cramped to do so with anything bigger than a Windsor?)