My 40 Ford pickup is on an 86 Ranger chassis and uses the stock Ranger steering gear. My question is about the connections on the steering box. I'm using a GM power steering pump and several steering gear vendors have told me that outside of needing to adjust the pressure for the correct feel, the combo works. I fired the truck for the first time tonight but the steering wheel went crazy, shaking around and finally spinning on it's own to a hard left. Some quick research leads me to believe that I have the lines reversed but it would be great to know for sure. I did manage to find on e diagram of a Ford PS box on Google and it shows the lines reversed of what I have set up on my truck and I can't for the life of me remember how I figured out what the plumbing should be when I installed it. Can anyone tell me which port on the box is the inlet and which is the return?

 

The forward most port on the power steering box on my 91 Ranger is the pressure inlet. The stock line that goes there has a smaller size hex line nut than the return line which is larger. My 91 has an 86 gear box in it.

 

Thanks! I also managed to track down a diagram of a Ford box online last night that bears out what you said! I did a little creative plumbing today and got the lines turned around...Will fire it up later and see. I expect things to be fine.