Steering box frame support?

[NickaBritt]

I bought a Ford e350 7.3 and while getting it aligned it was discovered that the frame was cracked and rusted through where the steering box connects, so the box is moving side to side. This seems like a common issue, but i can not find any frame supports or steering box supports to hold or reduce the strain on the frame from the steering box.

Does anyone know anything if there is a solution to this?

[TomsBeast]

I've cut and welded on that frame area on my van, but I haven't needed to reinforce around the steering box. With the LF wheel removed you can get access to inspect the area yourself.

More often then not, the steering box bolts get loose, the steering action will 'wallow out' the holes and surrounding area over time, so bad that a simple tightening won't fix it for long.

The frames on these van are pretty stout, almost 3/16" thick steel. I wouldn't expect it to be so rusted that a skilled fabricator couldn't use the 'plate and tube sleeve' approach to repairing the area. You can search hard core 4x4 forums like Pirate 4x4, etc, that have lots of build threads where guys modify that area for a different steering gear. That will give you an idea of the work involved.

[NickaBritt]

Appreciate the response. My friend who is a fabricator it trying to figure out how to fix it.
The frame has surface rust all over it, but where the steering box is it is rusted all the way through on the inner facing part of the frame and it travels behind the I beams

[carringb]

Just remove a front frame rail section from a donor van, and weld-splice into place. A CJP with steel backer ring will not need any reinforcement.