Tierod and ends help, 1950 or later model?

[EdsClassics]

Hello guys, ladies. This will be my first post for this forum so first I'll let you know what I have and then my problem. I purchased a 1950 Chevy 1/2 ton last summer. Since that time I've learned by replacing parts that not everything is stock. This came as no suprise since it has a 283 with a TH400 tranny and has been converted to 12 volt.
While replacing the wheel bearings on a 5 lug hub I learned that things were going to get interesting to say the least. Now I'd like to try and have the front steering parts replaced either by me or farm it out. Either way I have had a problem trying to know for sure if all of the front end parts are from a 1950 1/2ton 3100 or possibly 55 to 59 parts.
By looking at LMC's cat. ref.'s to the tierod and ends the background picture of the 47 to 55 steering parts dont exactly look like whats under my 1950 yet the 55 to 59 does. I located a manual online from the orig for a 1950 and it looks differant from LMC's pictures.
I'm hoping someone here will take the time and look at the pictures I took under the truck and see if they can tell if this truely is 1950 parts (47 to 55) or if they are from a 2nd series setup, 1955 to 59 so that I can order the correct parts. I have them posted on photobucket at http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v136/19489Dodge/1950%20Chevy%20pickup/
I really need your help on this or even some idea what to look for to id them. Feel free to look at the other albums if you like but I would sure like to get this front end done so I can drive my truck since thats all that is holding me back. Here is one of the pictures in the album. Thank you, Ed
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/19489Dodge/1950%20Chevy%20pickup/DSCF1923.jpg

[romeske1950]

that there looks to be a 47-54 tie rod.

[EdsClassics]

Thanks Andrew. Did you look at the other photos from the link? Reason I ask is I'm curious if the other parts connected to the tierod and ends look the same as your 1950 does. I dont know the proper names but what also concerns me is if the steering connecting rod and the steering arm? that that connects to looks like yours too. I can and will provide more pictures if needed if that will help. I really appreciate the help, Ed

[romeske1950]

I looked over your pictures again, and fortunatly, im doing some steering work right now, and those look no different than mine. The steering arm coming down from the box is the pitman arm, looks like mine, just alot cleaner, ha, and the tie rod is the same, and the link from the tie rod to the left wheel is the same crazy round shape as mine (made like that for strength), and finally the rod going from the left to right wheen looks the same. Make sure you grease those joints too, it can do wonders :cool:

[EdsClassics]

I looked over your pictures again, and fortunatly, im doing some steering work right now, and those look no different than mine. The steering arm coming down from the box is the pitman arm, looks like mine, just alot cleaner, ha, and the tie rod is the same, and the link from the tie rod to the left wheel is the same crazy round shape as mine (made like that for strength), and finally the rod going from the left to right wheen looks the same. Make sure you grease those joints too, it can do wonders :cool:

Once again, thank you Andrew! Thats what I've been needing to read. Several views at the thread yet only one person to answer pretty well had me still asking around with no results. Sorry that your having to work on yours but very helpful on my end. What are you having to do on your trucks steering?
I did find one person who has a 53 that looked at the pictures and he said that my kingpins looked shorter than his. He's supposed to take some pic's of his front end for comparison but I havent seen them yet. It being a 53 makes me wonder if there had been some slight changes or even modifications by a previous owner to his truck. Yours being a 50 model as mine makes me feel that I'm on the right track.
As loose as the front end componants are by just turning the steering wheel I think greasing the joints is beyond helping the steering at this point but will be a point well taken once the front has been rebuilt. Appreciate the suggestion. Ed

[romeske1950]

Hey, no problem! hell, i love working on my truck. I'm missing a bearing at the end of the worm gear in the box, so its unstable and i got ~360 degrees of play in the steering :eek: pretty crappy. My responce took a while too, sorry about that. I was in the great Deutschland.

[EdsClassics]

Are you going to have to replace the worm gear as well or just put in new bearings?
What about the adjustment on the motor side. Have you messed with it?
I adjusted it in some at first and it helped a tad but... still need to do the rest to be able to drive. My next step will probably be the steering box too.
Do you have any pictures of your truck posted anywhere?

[romeske1950]

Naw, i did the adjustment, but it didnt do anything for me really. I Opened it up and found that i am indeed missing a bearing at the little insert where the worm gear ends. I am probably just going ot replace the whole box, as i also have a stripped mounting hole, the one closest to the radiator. I could retap it and get a new screw, but screw it, a new one always looks and feels better.

[EdsClassics]

Have you priced differant sellers steering box's yet? I know I'll need to sooner or later, probably sooner. I saw one, maybe LMC's catalog, but it was'nt cheap. Could have been out of Classic Chevrotlet Parts but thats the only two I know of so far that carry's them.
If mine isnt chewed up, etc., I'll try using a rebuild kit. It depends on what the shops going to tell me once I have the tierod, tierod ends, king pins and anything else that it needs replaced for steering. I'm just gonna farm that out since I dont have a reamer as well as I had'nt done a complete front end rebuild before. It looks pretty basic but I look at it like this. At least now I'll have it on the road soon and can get back to my other project.

[romeske1950]

ya theres jim carter chevy and hell even ebay. I like lmc usually but in the case of steering columns, its way more expensive. Its usually between 215 and $400, and i think chevy dudy (classic parts of america) has the cheapest that i know of and its $225 with a $125 core charge. I would just rebuild it if you wanna save money, rebuild kits are only around $65. Thats if you know how and the stuff isnt too bad.