This has probably been asked before but, me being new here,I could not find the answer. TCI Mustang II front suspension on a 56 F100....I guess it can have Power Rack and Pinion or Non-Power Rack and pinion.....how hard is turning the steering wheel with NON power with a small block installed?

 

Depends on how strong you are. Just joken. I've driven some that were not bad at all. But others that were a bear to turn. IMO I'd go with power.

 

Oh by the way Welcome to the board

 

It depends on how strong you are (like Rusty said), but mainly how wide your front tires are. I run P235/60R15 fronts on an MII non-power rack on my 56. I reason that the wide tires are to put a footprint where the weight and disk brakes are. But it makes jockeying around in a tight parking lot a real bear!!!

I'm changing to power steering for sure.

 

I'd go with the power steering. These old trucks had manual steering, but had a slow ratio to compensate. The r+p ratio will be quicker than the old steering box, meaning more effort. Some have said that the power rack is too sensitive, but you can reduce the pump pressure if that's an issue.

 

if you are going to do a mustang II front end and you are going through all that work to get a new suspension and rack/pinion, you might as well go with power. Other than the few dollars more it costs, there is no reason not to.

 

Power steering will make the old truck even more fun to drive...

 

Some of the "dubs" crowd have discovered that when they put 22-24" wheels on their land barges they couldn't turn them at low speeds even WITH power steering!

 

power steering definitely, I have 17x8s on my truck and its feels pretty heavy without it, so I'm putting the power steering back on. When I had my 15x6 wheels on the front, it still felt heavy. I would go with power steering no doubt, its a heavy truck.

 

Try motoring a 56 F600 -9,000 LB.TRUCK INTO A PARKING AREA AND 172 INCH WHEELBASE WITH 20'' TIRES AND NO POWER STEERING---HA HA!!!it ain't fun----but I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well, you all made up my mind..... PS it is. Thanks everyone.