I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
#1712743
12/19/14 02:15 PM
12/19/14 02:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
blown340
OP
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OP
master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
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I need a bit of education here on the steering differences between the early and late 72-93 trucks. I have a 73 W200 that has the original reverse rotation steering gearbox that mounts to the 90 degree adapter with a linkage going to the steering arm on the axle. The existing axle is the original drum brake 8-lug D44 and there is a 4 inch steering lift block on the axle. From my understanding the reverse rotation steering only lasted until sometime in the mid 70's. I also have a front Dana 60 axle from a 1989 or 1990 W-350 which I would like to swap into the truck for the added durability but also for the much better brakes. If I understand it correctly the Dana 60 should be set up for the normal late style frame mounted steering gearbox. The truck is lifted about 5 inches on 35 inch tires. Can I keep the original reverse rotation steering and just add a steering lift block to the D60? If so, would I be able to use the existing steering arm, or would that be wrong for the reverse rotation? Or would I be better off switching to the later style box and using crossover steering and getting rid of lift blocks altogether? If I switch to the later style of steering does it use the holes that are already in the frame for the 90' bracket? I'd probably use a kit like the one from ORD . Either way I go I need a new steering gearbox as the current one is really loose and needs a rebuild. Any advice is appreciated! -Jon
70 challenger convertible. 340/5 speed. blown, intercooled, efi, blah blah blah
71 valiant scamp 318/A833OD/AC/PS
00 dakota RC 4.7L 5 spd autoX'r. SRT10/T56 swap in process
73 W200 Power wagon, PTO winch, 4 spd
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: blown340]
#1712744
12/19/14 02:15 PM
12/19/14 02:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
blown340
OP
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OP
master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
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Here is the Dana 60 ready for its freshening.
70 challenger convertible. 340/5 speed. blown, intercooled, efi, blah blah blah
71 valiant scamp 318/A833OD/AC/PS
00 dakota RC 4.7L 5 spd autoX'r. SRT10/T56 swap in process
73 W200 Power wagon, PTO winch, 4 spd
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: blown340]
#1712745
12/19/14 02:16 PM
12/19/14 02:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
blown340
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
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Existing reverse rotation gearbox
70 challenger convertible. 340/5 speed. blown, intercooled, efi, blah blah blah
71 valiant scamp 318/A833OD/AC/PS
00 dakota RC 4.7L 5 spd autoX'r. SRT10/T56 swap in process
73 W200 Power wagon, PTO winch, 4 spd
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: blown340]
#1712746
12/19/14 02:17 PM
12/19/14 02:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
blown340
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
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Existing steering arm on the D44 with a lift block under the arm.
70 challenger convertible. 340/5 speed. blown, intercooled, efi, blah blah blah
71 valiant scamp 318/A833OD/AC/PS
00 dakota RC 4.7L 5 spd autoX'r. SRT10/T56 swap in process
73 W200 Power wagon, PTO winch, 4 spd
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: blown340]
#1712747
12/19/14 02:17 PM
12/19/14 02:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
blown340
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
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And for no particular reason, the truck.
70 challenger convertible. 340/5 speed. blown, intercooled, efi, blah blah blah
71 valiant scamp 318/A833OD/AC/PS
00 dakota RC 4.7L 5 spd autoX'r. SRT10/T56 swap in process
73 W200 Power wagon, PTO winch, 4 spd
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: blown340]
#1712748
12/19/14 03:49 PM
12/19/14 03:49 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,748
ohio
ruderunner
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master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,748
ohio
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D60 fits right in, no problem with the steering. Yes you will need the D60 steering block. Note the 60 uses differe not spring plates due to the larger axle tubes.
Angry white pureblood male
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: Jeremiah]
#1712750
12/20/14 12:07 AM
12/20/14 12:07 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
moparmarks
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
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My 73 W200 has the Saginaw 808 P/S box on the 90* mount. Great idea that they should have stayed with. With 33" tires I've 4 wheeled the heck out it with no frame cracking problems. I have 4" Skyjacker springs with a raised steering arm.
Seem a many Chevys with the same 808 box and no 90* mount with major cracks in their frames.
72 Satellite Sebring Plus 440, 72 Dart 5.9 4-spd, 68 Valiant, 73 W200, 78 D100 sb, 78 D200, 98 DAKOTA, . Moparmarks Parts & Restorations Desert Mopar Metal Grand Jct. CO 970-261-7039 http://moparmark.com/motormangj@gmail.com
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: savoy64]
#1712752
12/20/14 12:10 AM
12/20/14 12:10 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
moparmarks
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
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You could always convert your 73 Dana 44 to Chevy 12" disc brakes. Did mine back in the late 80's.
The Chevy spindles bolt up to the Dodge knuckle and use the Chevy outer axle shafts. Real easy conversion and makes a ton of difference. Just find and early 70's Chevy C20 4x4 with the Dana 44.
Also increases the front track by 3"
Last edited by moparmarks; 12/20/14 12:11 AM.
72 Satellite Sebring Plus 440, 72 Dart 5.9 4-spd, 68 Valiant, 73 W200, 78 D100 sb, 78 D200, 98 DAKOTA, . Moparmarks Parts & Restorations Desert Mopar Metal Grand Jct. CO 970-261-7039 http://moparmark.com/motormangj@gmail.com
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: moparmarks]
#1712753
12/20/14 11:07 PM
12/20/14 11:07 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,096
Rogue River, OR
Jeremiah
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,096
Rogue River, OR
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Quote:
You could always convert your 73 Dana 44 to Chevy 12" disc brakes. Did mine back in the late 80's.
The Chevy spindles bolt up to the Dodge knuckle and use the Chevy outer axle shafts. Real easy conversion and makes a ton of difference. Just find and early 70's Chevy C20 4x4 with the Dana 44.
Also increases the front track by 3"
One item to take note of in a Chevrolet knuckle conversion is caliper interference on a 15" rim. 16" will clear without issue however grinding on the caliper body will me mandatory to fit a 15 wheel. 
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: Jeremiah]
#1712754
12/20/14 11:26 PM
12/20/14 11:26 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
moparmarks
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
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Quote:
Quote:
You could always convert your 73 Dana 44 to Chevy 12" disc brakes. Did mine back in the late 80's.
The Chevy spindles bolt up to the Dodge knuckle and use the Chevy outer axle shafts. Real easy conversion and makes a ton of difference. Just find and early 70's Chevy C20 4x4 with the Dana 44.
Also increases the front track by 3"
One item to take note of in a Chevrolet knuckle conversion is caliper interference on a 15" rim. 16" will clear without issue however grinding on the caliper body will me mandatory to fit a 15 wheel.
Not really an issue on a W200 which is 8 lug usually have 16" wheels
72 Satellite Sebring Plus 440, 72 Dart 5.9 4-spd, 68 Valiant, 73 W200, 78 D100 sb, 78 D200, 98 DAKOTA, . Moparmarks Parts & Restorations Desert Mopar Metal Grand Jct. CO 970-261-7039 http://moparmark.com/motormangj@gmail.com
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: moparmarks]
#1712755
12/21/14 11:36 PM
12/21/14 11:36 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,096
Rogue River, OR
Jeremiah
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,096
Rogue River, OR
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
You could always convert your 73 Dana 44 to Chevy 12" disc brakes. Did mine back in the late 80's.
The Chevy spindles bolt up to the Dodge knuckle and use the Chevy outer axle shafts. Real easy conversion and makes a ton of difference. Just find and early 70's Chevy C20 4x4 with the Dana 44.
Also increases the front track by 3"
One item to take note of in a Chevrolet knuckle conversion is caliper interference on a 15" rim. 16" will clear without issue however grinding on the caliper body will me mandatory to fit a 15 wheel.
Not really an issue on a W200 which is 8 lug usually have 16" wheels
Do you hear an echo? It is an issue with 15" wheels and they clear fine with 16" wheels My W150 had 15" wheels and I converted it from half ton to 3/4 ton axles. Lots of rubbing until we did lots of grinding lol.
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: Jeremiah]
#1712756
12/22/14 02:16 AM
12/22/14 02:16 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
moparmarks
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
You could always convert your 73 Dana 44 to Chevy 12" disc brakes. Did mine back in the late 80's.
The Chevy spindles bolt up to the Dodge knuckle and use the Chevy outer axle shafts. Real easy conversion and makes a ton of difference. Just find and early 70's Chevy C20 4x4 with the Dana 44.
Also increases the front track by 3"
One item to take note of in a Chevrolet knuckle conversion is caliper interference on a 15" rim. 16" will clear without issue however grinding on the caliper body will me mandatory to fit a 15 wheel.
Not really an issue on a W200 which is 8 lug usually have 16" wheels
Do you hear an echo? It is an issue with 15" wheels and they clear fine with 16" wheels My W150 had 15" wheels and I converted it from half ton to 3/4 ton axles. Lots of rubbing until we did lots of grinding lol.
More like voices. Where do you get 15" 8-lug wheels and why? OP has a W200.
72 Satellite Sebring Plus 440, 72 Dart 5.9 4-spd, 68 Valiant, 73 W200, 78 D100 sb, 78 D200, 98 DAKOTA, . Moparmarks Parts & Restorations Desert Mopar Metal Grand Jct. CO 970-261-7039 http://moparmark.com/motormangj@gmail.com
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Re: I need some education/advice on 72-93 4x4 steering
[Re: moparmarks]
#1712757
12/23/14 03:41 AM
12/23/14 03:41 AM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
blown340
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
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Thanks for the feedback everyone. I think I'm leaning toward keeping the original reverse rotation steering and replacing the gearbox and using a steering lift block on the D60. The one question I still have is the steering arms on each axle. The arm on the original D44 is shaped quite a bit differently than the one on the D60 and appears to be shorter as well, but I need to go measure. Does anyone know if there are any issues with using the late D60 arm in conjunction with the original reverse rotation steering other than possibly the size of the tie rods? Thanks for the recommendations on updating the D44 above, but the swap to the D60 is locked in. The D44 is pretty worn out and since that picture of the D60 was taken a while back I've gone through it entirely with new seals, bearings, hub work, etc.. Thanks!  -Jon
70 challenger convertible. 340/5 speed. blown, intercooled, efi, blah blah blah
71 valiant scamp 318/A833OD/AC/PS
00 dakota RC 4.7L 5 spd autoX'r. SRT10/T56 swap in process
73 W200 Power wagon, PTO winch, 4 spd
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