The steering box on my stock '56 is leaking pretty badly. This would be the third time in 21 years that it's had to come out.

What is the best option for a steering box if one intends to keep manual steering?

I did hear that an F-600 box would fit and are better/stronger in every way.
Is that right? They must be pretty rare too....

Or do we just go Toyota?

 

I am going another route with my 55, my son inlaw just picked up a crown vic front suspension for his 63. His recirculating ball steering on his 63 f100 is excellent, I'm going to swap that in. Its not a 100% bolt in but its close enough to make it a good swap I think. I have searched around but it looks like I will have to figure out the details myself.

 

The Toyota power or manual box are recirculating ball design, wich means they have minimal wear points making them very durable. changing from the stock box means you'll loose the steering wheel horn button unless you install the conversion kit Mid Fifty sells. Latest info update on the Toyota box is the manual and power box can both use the same conversion pitman arm.
I have a complete 56 custom cab (with built in turn signals) floor shift steering column and box I'm willing to part with. It has some play, but I have not tried adjusting it, I swapped in a Toyota PS box and tilt column. PM me for info if interested.

 

As it happens I was lucky to be able to locate a 1980 4x4 Toyota manual box.
I guess I'll use Mid-Fifty for the pitman arm etc. Has anyone used the manual box? Impressions?
I think the steering ratio is considerably faster on the Toyota box- would this affect the steering effort (harder) ?

 

While I am not entirely opposed to power steering, on the old truck, my thought was originally that I don't really mind the high steering effort that they exhibit, and the conversion would be cheaper and less complex (slightly).

After all I have 4 other vehicles, all power assisted everything, and I can't really remember ever really finding the stock steering to be so hard that I just HAD to go power.

As I mention above , I do have a source for a manual Toy box, but am worried that due to the faster ratio, that the effort will be even HIGHER.
That scenario is one I do wish to avoid.

I have searched around the net, but find no reports of a manual Toy conversion and how the steering compared to stock. Anyone reading this have experence with this?

 

While I know nothing about the Toyota swap. I use the f600 boxes whenever I can, I just so happen to be doing a f600 box swap today in a 53 panel. I really like how they steer.

 

Yes, I have heard that it's a good option.
How does it go, swap wise, and where do you find the f600 box?
Seems like a really rare bird....

 

Its a bolt in swap and only one hole has to be redrilled in the frame for the f600 box to bolt up. The pitman arm fits with no modifications,

The nice thing about the f600 boxes is usually they don't have very many miles on them (fire trucks)

 

I'll keep the manual Toyota box in reserve for now since replacing the existing box isn't critical at this point. I'll look around for the F 600 box in the meantime and maybe somebody will comment on how that manual toyota box steering effort compares to stock.