Steering box and frame repair

[@desiredkid]

Not sure what I like better, Eric in the shop or Eric om the trail. I lean more towards Eric in the shop. I admire his wealth of knowledge, and calm appraoch to situations which would stress the heck out of me.

[@erichill5208]

Back in the day I was a mechanic in a 4 wheel drive specialty shop. At least once a week I was repairing the frame on the old square body chevys right where the steering gear mounts. It’s a common failure point when guys go to bigger tires. I have seen a few that completely broke the frame in two. I don’t recall the manufacture but we had a fish plate kit for that. It was 2 pieces one fit the frame side one fit the bottom. Many times we will sell that as an upgrade to lift kits we installed. To prevent the frame from cracking and breaking

[@haroldphipps3457]

Steve Summers (another KZbin channel) just put a Rough Country kit on his. Looked similar to what Eric put on. IIRC, Eric had already beefed up the lower frame rail. Steve had too. So neither put the one from the kit on. Maybe Eric will touch on that in the next video. @recoveryteam

[@327JohnnySS]

That seems to be the Achilles heel those square bodies as I have seen it on 2wd as well.

[@TBGaels32]

It’s nice to see you have a shop you can work in while your other shop is being built. Glad it’s a GM dealership

[@thomascornelius510]

Nice job bro. It's pretty awesome that you're wife works with you. Stay safe .God bless.

[@MacsSpecialitiesMotorsports]

The fire stick and the BFH making it all better!

[@nonsequitur807]

Nice work. Build, break, repair (upgrade), repeat. Seat cover is a keeper. What a woman/partner! You're buddy's not too bad either

[@jameshall1691]

It's great that the shop where you work allows you to be able work on your own equipment after hours

[@adrianspeeder]

Well, he is the boss.

[@KJ-kw7gh]

@@adrianspeeder Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think he owns the dealership.

[@adrianspeeder]

@@KJ-kw7gh While the owner of the dealer writes the checks, the service manager runs the show on that side of the wall.

[@KJ-kw7gh]

@@adrianspeeder he’s not the service manager either.

[@steveschmitt2849]

Eric, we have been looking forward to this video, great job thanks for sharing. Stay safe and see you back on the trail 😊.

[@rcmcguyver7561]

Looking good Eric I think seat cover was thinking of the song shake shake senora

[@gayle4804]

What a journey I remember when it broke, One more step and you'll be back on the road again Prayers going your way

[@tomkrise4632]

Love watching you fix things. You really know your stuff.

[@shawntiaquino4714]

Good afternoon your dealership remained me of the the GM dealership I work for 18 years it’s wasn’t a very big place. Love the video thanks

[@rickmarshall808]

Sorry the wrecker broke on you, but its nice to see you at work and your work videos.

[@chevrolet1ism]

Looks good! Just got done doing the same thing to my 78. I added a plate on the back side also. I replaced the rag joint with a steering knuckle from a jeep. And replaced the tie rod ends with heim joints. Hopefully I won't have any more issues with steering!!

[@gregguggisberg4362]

Roger Petrek would be proud of your welding....

[@nathankirschbaum3856]

I’ve been waiting for this video to come out. Keep us posted on the beautiful wrecker.

[@jasonblaschka6216]

I don’t know how that lasted so long without a frame plate. Must have been because it was without a front locker for a while. I usually add a plate on the back side of the frame, then use heavy wall DOM through the outside part of the frame and butted to the inside plate. Very strong repair. I saw the PSC ram on the table. That would eliminate a ton of stress.

[@thomasexeter97]

The 1 tons tend to last without compared to the 1/2 and 3/4 tons

[@RustyZipper]

Eric has always been gentle with it 🤣

[@jasonblaschka6216]

@@thomasexeter97 I’m sure the locker didn’t help. That’s a lot of steering force.

[@TheOnlyBlackInMeWasWillieBrown]

1 tons have thicker and taller frames. If it was a CUCV frame it would have a factory frame brace.

[@jameshall1691]

Wow another great video and a walk through on what to do and how to do it.

[@drewsturm486]

I love the videos. I've been looking forward to this one. I've been watching since you had your last wrecker you snapped the frame on! Keep up the good work! 👍

[@tjs_welding_and_fabrication]

Ha. I have been there before with sqaure bodies. Both on my upper horns where the shocks mount were clean in half. Nice job.

[@TimsBitsnPieces]

There is a similar issue with 80 series land cruisers and I have had my chassis strengthened and plates put on it last year. So I can relate to all of this.

[@orangepickel2]

Looks like you were doing it right.

[@thecapturban]

Ole boy gettun some much needed love

[@KB-gs8zi]

Hey Eric !! Great work so far

[@haroldphipps3457]

I'm betting Rory has this mod done on towmater, and if it isn't already done on son of towmater, it will be before it hits the trail!

[@SmudgyContent]

It is surprisingly cleaner than I thought, especially when it’s always in the mud. 👌

[@joeltucker3024]

Boy that truck has saved more people you need to spoil her once in awhile

[@harveystephens6115]

Nice solid fix! Enjoyed!

[@jimmccabe801]

Another great video. Thanks.

[@Rickugg]

Hello: Only the big boys tackle the big jobs !!! That was slick !!! I had been waiting for this repair.

[@oneshotpete6.591]

the Wifey’s timing with the “ ya want a match book “ was spot on 😆

[@jeffclark2725]

Another great video,look forward to the next

[@bigbobk1963]

WTG Mara....we know Eric helped ya a lil 🤣🤣🤣🤣 TOWMATER is comin along nice!!!

[@kurtolson627]

Good job, keep the smiles and miles coming, bless you and all you come across.

[@MungTM]

The song is Jump in the line by Harry Bellefonte

[@henkoosterhof5947]

I know its steel! But cast iron and aluminium you drill a hole at the end of the crack to release the tension. Please comment on me. Am i wrong to say that for precaution/overdoing it it could be done over here? You have support on this. Your mss and mr towby. Hats of to both of them. And for your boss to give you the possibillity to work on your car.

[@jw2218]

Back in the 70’s I remember reading about Chevy frame troubles in that area.

[@RustyZipper]

Ohh yeah they were awful! Just think that this truck only lasted 35 years thankfully only being driven to the dump and maybe the hardware store on the weekend

[@TheOldaz1]

Well on the way to being fixed again. Should be better than new.

[@floydstowe]

Seems like the square body GMs had that problem especially when they were lifted love them old trucks

[@Bigdaddyslasher]

Ole notorious Chevy steering boxes breaking the frames. Even the new late models are setup like that. Time to reinforce your frame.

[@daven7915]

Mara's mystery song... "Shake your booty" by K.C. and the Sunshine band?

[@joeltucker3024]

What about putting a support bracket on the back side of the frame it does help

[@scottygunter6644]

Eric you look like a mad scientist with that hair standing up and your glasses on your nose ! Like a mad mud scientist !

[@dougdean3134]

Decent progress!

[@danzmitrovich6250]

I hope your wrecker comes back ready for action for the other four wheel drive events this year

[@richardratliff9436]

Man I could just feel the frustration oozing out of you when had to go for the carbide bit😤 hope your new shop gets finished soon I know how stressful that can be

[@HalfCutGarage]

Yup ! Great upgrade for almost any offroad truck! Bet your itching to get into your own shop! Been -30c here for a bit now so its been all shop time up north! Go check out my latest video working on my snowcat winch bumper! May catch your interest! Thanks for sharing this with us!!!

[@agabert1]

Anything to keep rust out in the rust belt is a positive 👍🏼

[@danhambrick6331]

Wow...What a job...👊😁

[@junkyardhillbilly]

It's looking good again

[@darrenboone681]

You got a lot done

[@oneshotpete6.591]

several years back i did one of those fish plate kits for my 77 square body 4x4 , i recall it being “ wonky “ also , didn’t fit flush , i ended up clamping it , then tacking it , moved clamp over then tacked it , kept doing that until i went all around the plate … ended up working fine , my bolt holes fortunately lined up …

[@ronziegler5416]

Thanx for the good watch, I learn very much...........

[@richardbryant7165]

I'm a little surprised that you didn't put a plate on the inside of the frame as well, considering that the holes had to be repaired. It would give it significantly more resistance to cracking beside the welds that you put in to repair the bolt holes. Great video all the same, keep up the great work!

[@D3thM3tal]

Hydro assist is taking all the stress of the steering off the box and into the cylinder. It won't be an issue again-

[@richardbryant7165]

@@D3thM3tal He had hydro assist on it when he ripped the bolts through, didn't he? I thought when he changed out the front axle, he put hydro assist on at that time.

[@robertdavis6708]

Eric , Good job and super crew assistants. Mig sounded weak. Turn up the heat and let it eat.

[@jamessmith7691]

I like your work, good ideas.

[@justinbgraf7565]

Primer attracts moisture.

[@stephenmckee6439]

That's one thing you should always address ahead of time kind of like the way you strengthen the frame before you put that crane on the, you should actually have that truck strengthened a little bit more, strengthen some spots throughout the frame from the back to the front and fix the power steering box area

[@RustyZipper]

That sounds good in theory but you have to remember that he (& everyone) lacks time and money 💰 there’s always going to be a weak link. Ideally he’d build a square frame custom built chassis

[@stephenmckee6439]

@m9 ovich but I was saying you know how the old Chevy square bodiesare known for the frame cracking by the power steering box.I was just trying to point that out before y'all have a problem with that

[@stephenmckee6439]

@m9 ovich I saw the whole video that's why I pointed out the power steering box area I was just letting y'all know ahead of time. I've seen them crack

[@stephenmckee6439]

I can point out on my 82 shortbed stepside GMC Sierra, somebody already welded the steering box area on my truck. I've seen the same problem on quite a few other ones

[@Graveltrucking]

The major step is done, wasn't that bad of damage at least the frame horn wasn't really tweaked.

[@alanack67]

Usually the k30s didn't break.... almost every k10/k20 i had broke/cracked the frame right there

[@luddtechnologies8795]

You had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would have rolled the most important part in that floor drain.

[@imzackson]

See you on the trails? it's supposed to be the woods!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hey eric how warm is that shop during the winter? good show progress has been made!

[@jamesmcguffin4473]

Great job bsf keep it up love your video

[@teamidris]

You can buy stuff? :o It never crosses my mind, I’d be gluing a quarter plate on there and then someone would say, “you know you can buy those?” :D

[@bigjay6743]

That poor old truck been worked hard for many years.

[@tobydyes]

You should reinforce the whole c channel on the backside to make it a square

[@j.walker3498]

Who is the new guy? surprised she didn't beat him with that broom.

[@doughboy1966]

It would be awesome if some company would donate a hydraulic assist steering for this wrecker.

[@D3thM3tal]

He already has a complete PSC setup going on with that new box.

[@rustyaxelrod]

Looks like a solid repair. 👍

[@25slider]

Eric I've been watching you for years whst happened to your shop you had way back in the beginning when you started your KZbin channel just wondering thanks for the awesome video

[@RustyZipper]

I imagine if it’s like any garage I’ve ever seen it’s usually full of junk that accumulates

[@bushcraftjoe1]

Great info and tips

[@markwilson9760]

Lots of fun.

[@anthonycook8737]

Chock this up to hindsight is 20/20... but why didn't you oversize the holes on the plate around the steering box bolt holes? This would have allowed a perimeter weld to the frame in the bolt locations making those holes even stronger and eliminating another point for water etc. intrusion between the plate and frame.

[@badgerpa9]

Mara I think you mean the song used in Beetlejuice from Harry Belafonte, jump in line (shake Senora) 1961 song or KC and the Sunshine band Shake your booty from mid 1970s. Stay safe and healthy.

[@maddad78]

Shake, Shake, Shake- was Shake, Shake, Shake…Shake your booty. KC and the Sunshine band. A lot of clubs and roller rinks played this.

[@jimfaughnan998]

Shake shake shake Senora song is Jump in the line by Harry Belafonte Also heard in the movie Beetlejuice

[@BassheadGTP]

@@jimfaughnan998 Beat me to it.

[@maddad78]

@@jimfaughnan998 New video posted addresses this. Good job!

[@danfuchs7324]

don't forget the exhaust leak while you got the dog house off...

[@Stratos53100]

While Yes.. That can wait longer, a leak thats been there for a long time is not going to hurt anything, and less pending during a crunch for time while using Actual work space. Wait till its back at the house and deal with it at leisure

[@RustyZipper]

What I do is remind myself when I start but get sidetracked when things go sideways then get ‘er all buttoned up and then remember.

[@maxironpaw]

Do you drill at the end of the crack before welding it up? Nice to see a nice strong repair.

[@andrewkoetz3933]

Blake said "Hot???" # Matt's Off Road Recovery. Considering Matt grabs EVERYTHING that was just heated up with a torch. LOL

[@wreckerjonny6144]

I seen guys box the frame in where steering box goes. Or go full hydraulic steering if using on off road

[@Oldsmob455]

I'm surprised that that plate wouldn't be welded onto the inside of the frame to keep the steering box in the same location.

[@tractorboy31]

Really though. The thickness is so small that you wont even notice. Just a small adjustment to the drag link and youre good

[@andrewkoetz3933]

Eric, did you tell the bosses you would have a "celebrity square Chevy" in the shop?????

[@rockinrc4146]

Hey Mara: "Shake, shake shake, shake your booty" KC and the sunshine band. @bsf recovery

[@carlcombs5327]

I've put several of those plates in , they are for the inside of the frame

[@Bigdaddyslasher]

How many trail miles do you think you have on that rig now?

[@mudslinger995]

French Manicure and a shop helper.... you go girl. Hey Eric what is the device between the frame horns?

[@andrewkoetz3933]

Eric; what recovery did the steering box get wrecked in??? I have been busy at work & have not been keeping up to date on BSF.....

[@mrmotofy]

LoL go back a couple vids and find it

[@andrewkoetz3933]

@@mrmotofy Found them & oh boy; looks like a similar collision (damage wise) as when he hit the stump & bent the frame up in Dresser IIRC. He didn't break the steering box, but bent the frame.

[@lloydrobinson7081]

keep the videos coming

[@Rx7man]

Was this done under warranty?

[@RustyZipper]

Yes, that’s why he took it back to the Chevy dealership. Unfortunately warranty work is at a reduced pay rate so they had to do it after hours.

[@j.j.clingman4083]

Eric it’s definitely coming along pretty good it looks like buddy!! Let me no how you end up liking the hydraulic steering set up after running it for a little bit please??? I put cross over steering on my 1969 Chevy 1Ton and installed a 2 wheel steering box with the ports already installed so that it should be easy to install at a later time!!! It is definitely pricey for the set up and that was why I had just done the cross over steering and not doing everything at once!! But I’m definitely thinking the time is definitely coming very soon hopefully!! Awesome video buddy!!! Remember keep up all the hard work buddy!!!

[@D3thM3tal]

You can drill and tap your own box and then you're into it just for a surplus center cylinder and some cheap tab material.

[@j.j.clingman4083]

@@D3thM3tal well I guess I didn’t no that!! But since I had to go to a two wheel drive box for the cross over steering if I remember right I had the option of getting a regular two wheel box or one with the fittings already welded in and then they just put caps on them so that you can just take the caps off when ready to plumb the new front hydraulic cylinder in!! I don’t think it was extra but if it was it wasn’t much at all!!! All I have to get now is the cylinder and lines for plumbing it in and I think that might be it other than maybe some brackets to mount the cylinder in?? Thanks for letting me know for the next one I might end up doing also!!

[@mrmotofy]

I'm sure there's plenty other vids of people that have done it and shared their opinions

[@gregholmes3661]

Tell the guy in the red to be quite, Eric is the one doing all the work.

[@tomwestley5332]

The song is from Harry Belafonte

[@michealcain6053]

Do you think that you weakened everything in Utah more wheeling?

[@D3thM3tal]

Utah was easy on the wrecker compared to what it goes through in the WI/MN trail system.

[@michealcain6053]

@@D3thM3tal okay and I didn't know if it weakened it by climbing the rock walls and stuff

[@Axial_Andrew]

Silly question I know, but will the wrecker get a sticker after this recovery???

[@RustyZipper]

Excellent question! What do you call two people out paragliding? A pair of paragliders?

[@justfurcomments]

I have a 1994 ford Econoline e150 that had the steering box jump off the frame and leave a hole in the frame where the bottom steering bolt goes. My steering box wiggles when I try to mount it, so the fix is to weld the hole in the frame?

[@blackheart30518]

For future reference with any cracks in steel you need to drill the end of every crack to stop it. If not it will continue to crack no mater how good you grind and weld

[@blackheart30518]

Just drill the ends with a small drill bit like a 1/16 or something 1/8 or under or you can fill bigger and weld it back up.

[@darrellroeters4951]

Good video

[@throttlewatch4614]

I see in the square body group on Facebook there’s a steering shaft from an XJ that eliminates the rag joint might be a considerable choice for the abuse the wrecker gets

[@D3thM3tal]

Rag joint won't be an issue with the assist unless the engine isn't running with the assist.

[@stephenmckee6439]

I clicked this on 25 seconds after y'all put that video

[@gregholmes3661]

Eric love your hair

[@t.l.robinson2162]

Isn't there a plate that fits between the frame and the steering box to prevent this damage?

[@mrmotofy]

You mean the one he puts on IN the video

[@brianhutchinson2377]

"Shake your Booty, Shake your Booty" by "K.C. & the Sunshine Band!" Cheers!!!!

[@Brimstone667]

the bettlejuice song