Hey everyone, I need to find a manual steering box from a 73-76 Dart. Not sure if the Sport box will work or not but if it will that is cool. This is for the Swinger that I am building for a track car for my wife to drive. I was going to use power steering but she says she doesn't need it so, I have that to trade or a few other things sitting around that I wont need. Let me know what you want and maybe we can work something out.
73+ boxes are really hard to find, the pitman pins come from the top on 73+ and from the bottom on pre 72 boxes. I converted mine to a pre 72, just bought a manual box and pitman, idler arm, and drag links. Dont forget you need a collumn adaptor.
All steering boxes will physically bolt to all K-frames. The physical length of the boxes only differ between manual and power, therefore, steering columns only have two lengths - one for manual and one for power. Although you'll probably get a new one, the coupler block between column and box is specific for manual or power.
The compatibility problems with different boxes largely boils down to output shaft, or sector shaft size. First, there are two sector sizes, simply known as large or small sector. The large sector, just above the splines as it exits the housing, measures 1.22". The small sector measures 1.11".
All manual boxes used a small sector shaft with the exception of A bodies 73 to 76 and C-bodies and vans to 1988. The 73+ a body and big cars and vans used a large sector, presumably for added strength. It's also assumed these boxes used bearings instead of bushings.