VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Steering Box in 1950 Chevy coupe w/powerglide

I need to have my existing steering box rebuilt, there is a little more play than I like. The rest of the steering portions in the front end have been replaced.
Old Car Parts in Portland can rebuild it for $ 395.
Is the $ 395 a good deal?

Is there anything special I would need to do before removing the steering box, like marking it in any way?

thanks for any help you can give.

Since the column is part of the gear assembly, how will that be handled ?

If you are reasonably handy with automotive tools, you can rebuild it yourself. Here is a link to an illustrated posting of rebuilding the steering box:
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/225413/
Most likely it needs only the steering pitman shaft bearing replaced. I have done it, it is not that hard to do. Chevies of the 40s has the bushing #266316 for $22.50. You likely only need one, the outer one, closest to the engine. They and The Filling Station both have steering box rebuild kits available for $80(FS) or $105(Cot40s). Those kits include the bushing and the upper and lower steering gear shaft bearing sets, and other parts, which you may not need.
This would be a good time to replace the pitman shaft seal, and clean out the box and put in a semi-fluid grease like John Deere Corn Head Oil.