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Anyone know what the correct PN of the '66 Toronado steering gear is? Also, just wondering if it is interchangeable with any other models?
I have a PN from the assembly manual which shows as 7800256. I've noticed that these PN's are not always valid so I checked against the parts catalog and, of course, the '66 is left out of the catalog (the electronic version, at least). I don't have my physical parts catalog handy. See attached references below:
1966 (only) Toro part # started as 5695171 in 1966 parts book, replaced by #7800256 - in a 1973 parts book, I don't see that number listed for any other application. Especially compared to 1967, I have no idea what the difference(s) might be - of course, it is known that gremlins were found in 1966 that resulted in changes in 1967.
Interesting, in 1969 parts book, no 1966 Toro listing at all ?????
I’ve upgraded both of my 66 big cars to 2.5 turns lock to lock boxes. You might look up the parts numbers for 88’s and 98’s and see if it’s the same as referenced here.
Lots of Toro parts are Toro-unique, as you’re no doubt aware. And Cutlass parts usually don’t swap in, but here & there, big car parts were reused in the then-new Toro series.
From what I’ve learned there was wide reuse of a few common boxes across many years, makes and models within GM and I think even Jeep. Easy to see where Toro’s might be an exception, but it just might be more common than you think.
1966 (only) Toro part # started as 5695171 in 1966 parts book, replaced by #7800256 - in a 1973 parts book, I don't see that number listed for any other application. Especially compared to 1967, I have no idea what the difference(s) might be - of course, it is known that gremlins were found in 1966 that resulted in changes in 1967.
Interesting, in 1969 parts book, no 1966 Toro listing at all ?????
Thanks for that.
Yeah, I gotta tell ya, looking up the correct parts for this car gotta be one of the most irritating experiences for me. Every.....single....part.....is like pulling teeth. I mean, I love the car and I really enjoy repairing it but these part "quests" are just infuriating. There's always some complication. I can't imagine what the techs & parts guys, back in the day, dealt with on these things. Absolute nightmares.
Last edited by ourkid2000; Apr 14, 2024 at 09:00 AM.
As for interchanges, it's a Saginaw 800 box. The all physically interchange. The differences are the gear ratio, straight or variable ratio, location of the internal stops, and the size of the torsion bar that governs how much force is required on the steering wheel. Any 1966-70 Toro/Eldo box should be close enough, but why not just have your original rebuilt?
As for interchanges, it's a Saginaw 800 box. The all physically interchange. The differences are the gear ratio, straight or variable ratio, location of the internal stops, and the size of the torsion bar that governs how much force is required on the steering wheel. Any 1966-70 Toro/Eldo box should be close enough, but why not just have your original rebuilt?
Great suggestion and excellent question. My current approach is to try to replace the worn or damaged part and rebuild the old so that the car is never out of commission. Expensive, perhaps, but that's how I've been doing things because I've become super aware of the Toronado parts problem and this allows me to have a backup solution. I work out of a small single attached garage and sometimes I need access to that garage so the car needs to be mobile just about at all times.
Keep in mind that this box has a larger bore than most saginaw boxes. A box with a smaller bore may not be able turn the wheels at a stop. In my '66, I have one from a 90s Dakota with the snow plow package (big bore) and works fine for me.
