What kind of steering gear box?

[Speedrdr]

Maybe this is an ignorant question here but I am wondering which gearbox I have and is it the factory box for my ‘77. All the numbers all over it have me thinking that I should ask the learned collective here for clarification.

Randy

 

[DirtDonk]

I don’t know from numbers, but that looks like a stock box to me. The stylized S on the inside stands for “Saginaw“ which is the gearbox maker for many of the automotive manufacturers.
Is it just slightly more than four turns of the steering wheel lock to lock? In that case it is certainly a 77 “type“ of box.
Whether or not it’s original is hard to guarantee. But it’s very likely.

 

[Speedrdr]

Thanks, Paul. I have been calling it a 4-turn lock to lock, but that was kinda guesstimating as I didn’t do the tape method to determine accurately the # of turns lock to lock as well as centering the steering wheel.

Randy

 

[Oldtimer]

Your tag says it is a 4-turn lock to lock, found in 76/77 Broncos.

SPA-AU is 4 turn
SPA-Z is 6 turn

 

[Speedrdr]

Thanks, @Oldtimer. Where did you find the data you showed in your post? I didn’t see it in my shop manual.

Randy

 

[Viperwolf1]

25976 is a date, 259th day of 1976. This was when the case was cast.

314 on the top cover is also a Julian date. This was when the box was assembled. The 314th day of 1976 would be Nov 10th or 11th.

 

[toddz69]

Thanks, @Oldtimer. Where did you find the data you showed in your post? I didn’t see it in my shop manual.

Randy

I'm guessing that's from the Ford Car Master Parts Catalog. They have them for 65-72 and 73-79. Good reference material to have. The paper copies are good for holding your house down in a tornado. Electronic versions are handy to have. Here's an example:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3869139248...d=link&campid=5335857059&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

Todd Z.

 

[Speedrdr]

25976 is a date, 259th day of 1976. This was when the case was cast.

314 on the top cover is also a Julian date. This was when the box was assembled. The 314th day of 1976 would be Nov 10th or 11th.

Thanks @Viperwolf. You would think it would be easier to just stamp the date on it like normal people use…nah, that would make too much sense. Lol

Randy

 

[Speedrdr]

I'm guessing that's from the Ford Car Master Parts Catalog. They have them for 65-72 and 73-79. Good reference material to have. The paper copies are good for holding your house down in a tornado. Electronic versions are handy to have. Here's an example:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3869139248...d=link&campid=5335857059&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

Todd Z.

Thanks Todd. I believe I’ll get the online version as my wife had started to complain about the amount of paper I’ve generated regarding my ‘77.

Randy

 

[Oldtimer]

And you will end up getting both volumes.

Note: Early Bronco is in the car version, not truck version of MPC.

 

[DirtDonk]

Interesting how they flip-flopped back-and-forth on car versus truck designations.
On the one hand, it was an ultra-light duty GVWR, probably not far off of a standard station wagon. And it was referred to as a station wagon in most cases as well.
But when you look at standard service manuals, they’re included in the truck manuals. They were built on the truck assembly lines, and many Bronco parts have the unique “T” truck-only part designations.
Just another slight variable that we get to live with…