Replacement '72 D100 Power Steering gearbox options

On my 72 D100 project the Power Steering gear box is leaking pretty good & I was planing to just get a reman from NAPA. I was curious though if there are better options that would be a quicker ratio.

Anyone recently upgrade thier steering gear box?

Classic Performance Products offers a kit for Sweptline trucks (61-71) but I'm not sure if they have one for yours or not or how close the one they have is to yours. Is your truck a dropped axle? If so, I suggest you look at their site first and call them if you don't see it listed. They DO have one.

- EM

A 72 D 100 is the first year for the independent front suspension on Dodge trucks. Being the 1st year, some stuff on the truck is a 1 year only thing, that is why it is often not included in the 73-93 interchanges. Most of the suspension and drive train parts are interchangeable with the 73-93 trucks. Gene

I'm looking for same for my '79 Power Wagon. Looks like I'm going to end up with NAPA too.

Gene is correct about the 1972 having some one year only parts. I think the sway bar was a one year only deal in 72. (It was a better design.) I can't recall any differences on the steering box, but can't guarantee it's the same as the later trucks.

I know on the later trucks Dodge offered 2 different ratios. The majority of the trucks were about 4 turns lock to lock. There were some that were a bit faster with about 3 1/2 turns. Neither of these are even close to being a fast ratio box!! If you are looking for road feel, you will probably be a disappointed also.

There was a company many years ago that created some fast ratio boxes by swapping some internal parts. The odds of finding one of those fast ratio boxes is not very high. They have probably been out of business for over 10 years. I only mention this because there is a way to convert these boxes to a faster ratio. Unfortunately, I do not how they did this conversion.

I'm also going to be looking into this subject. Once the temperatures warm up so it it tolerable to work on the truck again!

I have no personal knowledge, but I have seen it in several places that, basically, corresponding year GM pickup boxes will fit, I think a bolt on.

These have a faster ratio, or variable ratio.

I have looked at some, but never had them both off the trucks at the same time, but they sure LOOK interchangeable.

And I think the Dodge box is a Saginaw, too.

Thing is, I am looking at my 85, and don't know about the 72 box.

There was something weird about the 4wd boxes, I can remember installing P/S on an early one (72 3 or naybe74)and after finishing up, starting it, and the wheels went in opposite direction of what the steering wheel was turned.

I can't remember exactly what the screw up was, 2wd box or before/after date of steering changeover, or what, but for some reason I DO remember it was a red short bed Adventurer w150.

The square body Dodge trucks use a Saginaw steering box. The truck boxes, GM and Dodge, mount on the outside of the frame. (The GM car boxes mount on the inside of the frame, so car and truck boxes will not swap.) The GM and Dodge truck boxes look similar, but I've never taken any measurements for a more precise comparison.

I would guess this steering box was used from back in the 1960's up till at least 87 in the GM trucks. I looked at a mid 1990's 4x4 Chevy and the steering box in it looked different. The 2 wheel drive Chevy trucks may have continued to use the older style steering box into the 1990's though. I'm fairly certain the 2 wheel drive trucks use a very different front suspension from the 4x4 GM trucks in that era. Chevy 2 wheel drive and 4x4 trucks both had independent front suspensions, but very few parts will swap.

VL21, you are thinking of the reverse rotation steering box used on the 4x4's in the mid to late 1970's. It looks the same and will bolt in, but it's NOT the right part!!

Thanks for mentioning the Chevy trucks may have had a faster ratio box. I will do some more salvage yard "research".

Yes, 4wd boxes are opposite, as they used a longitudinal drag link.