Is anyone else interested in another group buy? I just found out yesterday my steering box is leaking, I am calling Red Head tomorrow. But if I can get a group buy going then we can save some money.

 

I first centered my steering wheel and then dropped the draglink loose.

I used one of the "loaner tool kits" from Advance Auto Parts for an evening (yeah, I put it on my CC and just got it credited back the next day when I took it back) , loosened the big nut some, sprayed the splines with some CRC, set the puller in place and tightened up good, let soak while I ate supper, came back and whacked side of pittman arm with hammer, and it popped loose.

 

Thanks. I guess it will be easy to tell when the rebuilt box input shaft is "centered" for reinstallation? Do you remove the flex coupling with the box or leave it in place on the end of the steering column?

 

If anyone is interested in another group buy through Red Head please go to this thread for more info: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post13029643

Thanks.

 

Everyone I saw that said so, Red Head shipped the box already centered they wrote.

I know in my case it was centered when shipped as I bench checked it myself and sure enough, it was centered. I marked it with sharpie, then turned all way one way, then turned back the other way carefully counting turns and part of turn, then backed up exactly 1/2 way and there I was, at center and marks lined up.

I loosened and removed the lower pinch bolt and left the flex coupling on the steering shaft. When I loosened my steering box bolts, I removed two and pivoted the box forward and pushed the coupling off the shaft.

Be careful taking the last bolt out, it's heavy if you are alone on your back and not positioned well.
I actually removed it upwards out the top side and eased new one back the same way, from above.
I installed one lower bolt and then sat in the truck and centered my steering wheel again and tied it well .... and slid box back and engaged splines.
I secured it with the other two bolts, snugged up, and installed pittman arm and found it slipped right in place .... it has a wide slot to accommodate the wide spline so it only goes one way so it all was according to someone's plan.

My front wheels were already straight where I had "parked" them and after I finished, I later popped the steering wheel loose and moved one spline up there to center it.

Note that in my case, '77 F150 4x4 I did drop track bar at frame end while doing the swap.

Almost too pretty to use, I waited long enough .... I had wanted it for a few years, just needed a good swift kick like a "group buy" at the right time to motivate me.

 

Thanks for the tips!

 

[QUOTE=IslandBlueV10;13029669]Is anyone else interested in another group buy? I just found out yesterday my steering box is leaking, I am calling Red Head tomorrow. But if I can get a group buy going then we can save some money.

 

How much do they sell them for?

 

If interested I have some updated info here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...group-buy.html

I was quoted $356 for mine. I did find some rebuilt ones for like $107 on up for my truck. But looking around and reading everything on this site I feel Red Head is worth the extra. I plan on keeping my truck for as long as I can, so I don't want to do this twice.

You could give them a call for a quote for your truck or email them.

 

I just like to say that I am very glad I got in on this group buy. The people at Redhead are great. Not only do they have an excellent product but they were fast with the core credit and since I was already shipping my core back I asked Harvey if he wanted to buy a gearbox and hydraulic control arm I had removed from the highboy frame to do this 78-79 power steering upgrade. They gave me $150 for it, so I added it to the return box . If I ever need another steering gear, there is little question where it will be coming from.

 

I got my steering gear out. Wow you think that a 1970 truck has all the room in the world under the hood to work on things but it was tough to reach the coupler bolts and squeeze that box out.

My '70 F250 has the bracket on the top of the old gearbox that secures the brake lines. I have to remove it and install it on the new gearbox. When I remove the redhead top cover is there a specific torque spec I need to reinstall it too? Are there any springs or anything that can jump out when I remove the bolts to remove the brake line bracket? I'm going to have to find a "cheater" bar to remove the bolts on the old gearbox, they are tight.


edit: I got brave and removed the bolts from the old gearbox, no big deal, I painted the bracket and put it on the new box. Now to wrestle this thing back on the truck.

 

I'm sad to say that I organized the group buy, but, due to circumstances out of my control, was not able to participate. But I have been speaking with Redhead, and will pull a core at the local yard today, and ship it to them. (Today is half price at the yard, so I'll get the core for $25 and save a bit.)

Steering has always been an issue with my '75. Although I've changed all the tie rods, king pins, bushings, etc., steering remained a challenge. When I replaced the box with a 'rebuilt' one from one of the parts houses, there was no improvement.

Adding disc brakes all the way around, with a hydro boost system, brought the brakes into the new millennium. Adding a tight steering system with be a major improvement.

I was quoted $265, plus $35 shipping. Add to that the $25 for the j/y core and $35 shipping, and my total comes out to $355. I consider it money well spent.