Can it be done without pulling the exhaust manifold? I thought about jacking the motor, removing the battery tray, and coming out the top/front... Anybody?

I just did one on a 71 E-body about three weeks ago.

Easiest way was:

Disconnect Battery
Pull steering column back
Disconnect PS lines and plug them.
Remove Torsion bar
Remove steering cross link bar (or at least swing it away)
Remove Lower control arm from K-frame (this gives enough access for PS box to drop out) This will require removal of strut rod, shock, and if equiped, sway bar endlink. You should NOT have to disconnect the lower ball joint.
Disconnect exhaust H-pipe from both manifolds and push rearward to give enough room for removal of LH exhaust manifold.
Yes the manifold needs to be removed to make the job easy.
Remove Starter

With all that removed the steering PS box and exhaust manifold will drop out together.

2.5 hours for removal on the 71 E-body was what it took me. No scratched or chipped paint.

Assembly time to go back together was about 4 hours as its a bit tricky to slide the exhaust and PS box back into place and hold while getting hardware started. Having a third hand for the assembly would help.

I don't think trying to lift the engine is the answer.

In my opinion, it would be much easier to take it out from the bottom, without removing or loosening anything else. I did it several years ago myself. My 2 cents.

Wow... I'm glad I put a lift in my shop back in the fall. Probably been asked a million times but what's the correct finish for a power box? I used cast blast when I put the car together, but I seem to remember the originals being kind've a semi gloss black. Was it sprayed solid black or were the aluminum parts, spanner nuts, etc done different?

Quote:

---

Wow... I'm glad I put a lift in my shop back in the fall.

---

Yes a lift for this is the only way to go. Makes it soo much easier. I'd hate to try and do it on jackstands.

Good luck.....

I pulled the steering box from a 1970 Hemi E body last year. Removed steering column , removed the battery and tray . All I had to do was lift the drivers side of the engine ,basically rolled it towards the pass side and pulled the box from the top.
Put some duct tape on the inner fender as a 'just in case'
start to finish 2.5 hours tops

THANKS!

Got the switch made this weekend. It did come out the top thanks again for the how to. Was close but sure beat disassembling the front suspension, exhaust, etc. I had rebuilt/resealed my original box before putting the car together and the car drove just awful even with 7 degrees of positive caster. My 84 4X4 Dodge pickup had more road feel. I had sent another box to Firm Feel to be made into a Stage III and that's what I installed. My driveway was too muddy to get it out on the road, but just backing off the lift and pulling back in the shop it feels like a different car! No slop even with the engine off.