Steering gear box id help

[abe]

So the steering gear box blew a leak out of the seal in the back and the trouble is, the box is a mystery box. Its in a 76 2wd c 10 with a swapped in big block, but the box is mounted on the inside of the frame, instead of on the outside like all the other ones I have seen. Question is, how do I find out what this came out of so I can go about getting the correct replacement parts and so on... any advice is much appreciated

 

[RetroC10Sport]

We'll need pics of this, I'm not even sure how that is even possible!

 

[highdesertrange]

really, I gotta see this too. highdesertranger

 

[RetroC10Sport]

Beginning to wonder if someone didn't subframe your truck.

 

[highdesertrange]

that's what I was thinking. but with what? highdesertranger

 

[abe]

Allow me to rephrase part of that first, its not litterally inside of the frame itself. By inside the frame I meant mounred on the engine side of the frame and not the fender side. And as for pictures, can't figure out how to load them up on mobile.

 

[abe]

I think this should work for a picture of the thing if it helps
http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/album.php?albumid=701

 

[RetroC10Sport]

That's some custom work there. Definitely looks to be subframed.

 

[abe]

That would explain other issues as well. With this being my first truck of this era, didn't know any better that a lot more than than the motor and trans were changed out. Does that gear box or piece of frame look at all familiar to anything.

 

[highdesertrange]

well just taking a stab at it here but to me that looks like a nova/camero box. common conversion on the straight axle trucks. really can't think of why someone would do it to your year but I've seen odder things. highdesertranger

 

[abe]

Assuming you're right, which I'm going to for now at least, is there a way to verify that anywhere on that front end or even just the generation of vehicle it came from? And also, I'm going to guess that the pump is original to the motor, which I believe is a 75, and if the gear box is off a camaro or whatnot, is that going to cause problems? Maybe why the box didn't just start leaking but almost quite litteraly popped the seal loose. I think if those questions are answered I might finally be able to sleep at night!

 

[highdesertrange]

well I would check the casting numbers on the box and see if you can track it down that way. you could check the part numbers on the bare pump(no reservoir) see if they match. I mean check a truck of your year and a nova/camero I think the camero/nova you need to look at is '68 through '74 not 100% sure on this though. on another note I don't think the pump caused the seal to fail. highdesertranger

 

[abe]

I'll be looking into those without a doubt. The number on the gear box is apparently a common one for several gm cars, not trucks. As for what is is exactly not sure yet. Unfortunately the junkyards around my area lack pretty much most late 60s early 70s vehicles. At least I'm heading in the right direction to get this puzzle solved. I cant thank you and all the others enough that have shared your wisdom. Have learned my lesson when it comes to buying projects!

 

[RetroC10Sport]

I can see if the numbers match up in anything in my interchange manual.

 

[abe]

The number on the cap is 7806688
The only other ones i could make out are a 1 28 on the lid and a big 76 on the bottom