How to remove/replace steering box? AND ... ???

[Glennster]

 My buddy has a numbers matching, 1970 440 Six Pack Challenger. He wants to replace the OEM Steering Box with one of the tighter, quicker steering boxes. I think the AAR box is what he wants. Here's what I need to know.
1. What does it take to remove and install one of these? Do you have to drop the K member?
2. Where can you get one of these?
THANKS for any help ! ! !

[dodj]

You don't need to drop the K member. Disconnect the column coupling from the input spline. Separate the centre link from the pitman arm. Remove the hoses if it is power steering. Loosen the headers, if you hav'em. Remove the three bolts holding in the steering box and take it out the bottom.
Where to get an AAR box...ebay?
Steer and Gear or Firm Feel might be able to help you out?
Quicker steering can be accomplished with a longer pitman/idler arm set-up.

[72hemi]

Firm Feel has firmer boxes and longer pitman arms and idler arms for the faster ratio.


http://www.firmfeel.com/fastrati.htm

http://www.firmfeel.com/powerst_abe.htm

[dodge freak 2]

Great info on the longer arms, sounds like an easy swap if you don't have headers.

One thing I don't like about fast steering is its easier to spin out by turning the wheel too fast, most often in the rain. Factory made the steering dummy poof with the slower steering for most cars. 

[Glennster]

He's got stock exhaust manifolds and stock pipes. Does that make it harder to remove the steering box?

[dodj]

He's got stock exhaust manifolds and stock pipes. Does that make it harder to remove the steering box?

Easier. You don't have to touch the exhaust then. It's in the way, but you can get the box out around it.

[Glennster]

 I think the hard part might be getting the steering column out and then back into the steering box. That old girl has wide hips (440 Six Pack).
THANKS for the info Gentlemen!!!

[shadango]

On mine, I just removed the three bolts at the base of the column (on the firewall), and loosened the two at the dash......then pulled straight back...just enough to separate from the box shaft.

Of course mine is just a 318....on that 440 I am sure it will be tighter working to get the roll pin out, but other than that I bet it will be fine....on mine, I had to pull the Dougs header down and back under the car some and then pulled the box through the top after removing the battery and tray.....but it would have come out the bottom...I was just originally trying to avoid pulling the header....so much for that...LOL.  Thats ok, my collector gasket was leaking anyways so took the opportunity to add Percy's seal-4-good gaskets!

[mrees72]

Steer and Gear can also put shims inside your oem gear to firm it up.  I had them do that on my 72 challenger and it makes a world of difference.  They did it as part of the rebuild when I had them go through it.  Keeps the oem appearance while giving you modern day feel.

Mike
72 Challenger
72 cuda