E-Body Steering Box Removal Question

[1973JA5]

When pulling an e-body steering box on a small block do you have to raise the engine for removal and replacement?

[HP_Cuda]

It's pretty tight, unless you want to lift the motor and yank it.

[Chryco Psycho]

headers will make it impossible to remove otherwise you should be able to get it out

[halle09]

headers will make it impossible to remove otherwise you should be able to get it out

i know its an old post blah blah blah..... but i bought a firm feel box and i cant get the old one out. i have hedman headers. there is no possible way the box is coming out from the bottom. i removed the battery tray for more room but of course the damn header is in the way buy many 3/4 of an inch can i remove the drivers side motor mount and push it up with the jack so it moves over to get it out? has anyone ever gotten one out before?

[soundcontrol]

If its possible witout headers, you should be able to remove the driver side headers first, then the steering box. I never removed the steering box but I removed headers and starters a lot, I take out the bolt for the driver side engine mount and raise the engine a bit with a jack.

[1 Wild R/T]

Don't know whats interfering, but years ago on a big block Charger I got the room I needed to get the box out the bottom by removing the drivers side torsion bar... Pretty easy task if it helps...

[Finoke]

Also remove the pot coupler from the input shaft. It will shorten the gear box by about 3 inches.

[JoeGrapes]

I went thru this last month with my big block. No way I could get it out from the top or bottom unless I removed the power steering pump, took the spark plugs out and unbolted the header from the block and the collector and pushed it back against the firewall, removed the battery and lifted this side of the motor. I'm going to go with a Firm Feel box over the winter but this time I think I'll try to just remove the two motor mount bolts, hook up my cherry picker to the motor and pick the whole motor up as far as I can. I should be able to clear the headers that way.

[dutch]

headers suck.... 

[CUDA JAS]

I went through this last month.  I had to take the drivers side header off and then the box slipped right in.

I never thought of lifting the engine! 

Jason

[bc3j]

I have a big block 383 with stock exhaust mainifolds and I changed my steering box from the bottom. With the pitman arm removed I just lowered it and rotated it and the box came right out. I had plenty of room.

[Topcat]

headers suck.... 

 

They're good when it's colder out so you don't get hot foot at the pedal.
They dry out and cook any or all plastic and rubber parts.
Vapor lock and starter problems!
Bottoming out on lowest header pipe on rough roads causing you to granny drive.
Burnt speedo cable; Been there done that!
Did I forget to mention leaks? Yeah! those will haunt you as well!
Any maintenance that needs to be done underneath means deal with the headers

[CUDA JAS]

They're good when it's colder out so you don't get hot foot at the pedal.
They dry out and cook any or all plastic and rubber parts.
Vapor lock and starter problems!
Bottoming out on lowest header pipe on rough roads causing you to granny drive.
Burnt speedo cable; Been there done that!
Did I forget to mention leaks? Yeah! those will haunt you as well!
Any maintenance that needs to be done underneath means deal with the headers

yep...I am very close to switching o manifolds at this point...

[dutch]

my BB with headers:   drain coolant, remove plugs, collector bolts, starter wiring, starter, header, torsion bar ( or have header hang down) battery+ tray ( unless it`s in the trunk) , ps pump, then pulled the box up and out through the front     (no lift and crap headers)
BB with manifold:  remove bolts and pitman arm, drop box. 

I need a new pas.side since it`s cracked beyond repair ,then switch back to manifold asap 

[soundcontrol]

Been looking for manifolds for my 340 with no luck, so I bought TTI ceramic coated shorty's, they look very good, gonna be interesting to install them.