Why would you want a Jeep Grand Cherokee steering box in your ’64–’72 GM A-body? The ’96–’98 Jeep Grand Cherokee uses a Saginaw 800-style box that was used in many GM midsize cars and light-duty trucks, but with all of the best specs for A-body use. It has the quick 12.7:1 ratio that results in more responsive steering, and it has the proper amount of rotation of the sector shaft, at 43 degrees, 45 minutes. Even if you could find an F-body or G-body box with the elusive 12.7:1 ratio, internal stops in the box would limit the pitman-arm travel and, consequently, your A-body’s turning radius. The best part is all first-generation Grand Cherokees from ’96–’98 used the same steering box.
Why a used power-steering box? Saginaw 800 boxes are known for being robust, so a used box from a low-mileage Jeep will bolt right in and most will be perfectly fine. Ours was about $50 after all the taxes and a small core charge. A Saginaw 800 core alone is worth anywhere from $20–$135, depending on which remanufactured box you chose.
Tools needed
1 15⁄16-socket or large adjustable wrench for pitman-arm nut.
Pitman-arm puller.
13mm wrench or socket for steering shaft U-joint.
16mm and 18mm flare-nut wrenches (or open ended wrenches or even Vise Grips if you don’t care about mangling the hose fittings).
5⁄8-inch socket and extensions for the mounting bolts, accessed through the driver-side wheelwell.
