Steering box is holding onto frame at one bolt. Other two bolts are rusted out from play, not attached. Looking to fix this and wondered if anyone had any creative solutions that's worked for them in the past. Was thinking someone might have fabbed a sleeve as often as I've seen this happen to Fords at the scrapyard.

 

You can't continue with only one bolt holding the gearbox. Is the actual bolts shot or the frame? If it's the bolts, remove the gearbox, repair whatever has play and caused all this. If the gearbox holes are enlarged, you are better off replacing the gearbox instead of a sleeve to take up the extra space.Then extract the rusted out ones and replace with the same length and grade.

 

here are some pictures to show you what I mean

 

 

https://imgur.com/a/W2s7q3E

This is what I was talking about

 

Because we can't weld rust, pretty sure you know what you will need to do.

Having seen some examples in the junkyard, you have to agree there are some chassis in better shape than what you have to work with. If the framework is paper thin, there isn't very much you can do to repair that because where you attach a healthy part to a flimsy part it just can't last and could be plain unsafe.

Decision time.

 

You're saying scrap it or get one of those and weld it in from the junkyard? Lol

 

Don't know how sentimental you might be about this vehicle, there isn't enough there to do a decent weld job.
You might be able to find one in a salvage yard in much better shape and see if you could make one good one from the parts of both.

 

I think I found a solid frame about 100 miles away. I've never done this type of job and my buddy is a whiz with a welder.

Have you ever done of these jobs or know how big of a job this would be?

Edit: the van is essentially a camper van I built out and would be rough to throw it away

 

A reminder, if you exchange frame assys , no problem, but if parts are altered, , any mishap and you accept all responsibility.