Probably not a new question but this is my 1st Ford.
What years can I get the power steering off of to convert my 68 f-100 2x2
Thanks
Bruce

 

Hi and welcome to FTE!

Yes, we get a lot of power steering questions here. A search of this forum will yield more info than you could possibly want, but in a nutshell, you have couple of options:

The simplest way to go would be to swap in a Bendix P/S box which was available in Ford trucks from 1966 to mid-year 1969. This box would be a straight bolt-in and you would be able to use your existing steering column. However, there are a couple of downsides to this setup. One is that the Bendix box is very hard to find and rebuild kits are even harder to come by should you have problems, not to mention pricey. Another is that the Bendix box has a somewhat "twitchy" feel to it due to it's internal design and many folks don't like the way it feels as it tends to make the vehicle wander a bit. Also, it needs a cooler installed in the low-pressure line as the fluid gets quite hot.

The other (and better) option is to locate a Ford/Saginaw box from a mid--'69 through (I believe) '79 (must be 2wd) and swap it in. You'll need the correct pump and brackets to mount it to your engine, if you have an FE V8 engine (which I presume you do,) you'll also need the driver's side engine perch as the box is a different shape than the Bendix or the non-power box and will cause an interference problem with the original perch. You'll also need the steering column from a Ford/Saginaw-equipped truck as that box is longer requiring a shorter column.

Sounds like a PITA, I know, but it's really not that hard to change out the needed parts like the engine perch and the steering column and as the later box is much more common (and reliable) it's definitely the better way to go. And if you get the right column from a later truck ('78-'79) you can even have a tilt wheel. (Later trucks had a different wiring harness plug on the column so that needs to be changed as well, but it's not really a big problem to do.)

 

BWB, Just so you will know, we save those kinds of questions for our souped up Super Moderator to answer, because he is the man.



John

 

Thanks for the reply's I'm going to a swap meet tomorrow so I'll see what I can find.

 

great post tiger dan. i just got done doing all of that stuff! i had bendix and switched over to ford saginaw. (although i took a griding wheel to part of my engine perch)
oh and whats also needed is the firewall mounting plate that is for some reason at a different angle. it is appropriately stamped "pwr stng"

 

I need to do this with my 71 highboy. I had a 72 f-100 and did it and I used a 79 f-250 box and pump. All that needed to be done was to weld the box to the frame. I didnt have to change the column.

 

Good point, thanks for catching that...I'd forgotten about that little detail! When I changed my '68 over to the Ford/Saginaw box I had to change that bracket as well, but did it later as I didn't have one the first go-round. Discovered the difference when I put in the steering column and and just clamped it to the existing bracket till I could locate the correct one. It didn't work too well, the clamp came loose and slid down till it interfered with the rag joint causing my steering to bind! Lesson learned...

 

are you supposed to swap pitman arms also?
cause i havent. i do hear a clunk from time to time, but i checked to make sure the linkage is not stressed or at a goofy angle and everything appears fine.

 

No, there should be no problem with the Pitman arm matching up...no need to swap.

 

will part of this recipe apply to 4x4 as well? (69 f100/390)

im in need of P/s but most articles ive found just say "should work on 4x4 too"

the should part is my concern, otherwise i'm ready to purchase donor truck or parts and do this asap (hoping to find front disc too )

 

That's a whole 'nother animal. The 4X4 box mounts to the outside of the frame rail ahead of the front axle and is front steer, while the 4X2 box mounts on the inside of the frame rail behind the front crossmember and is rear steer. I've read that some folks have adapted the Ford/Saginaw 2wd box to use for a 4X4 P/S conversion, but I don't know the particulars. I think the better option in your case is to find a Dentside 4X4 with power steering and get the box and all associated parts from it. Probably somewhere around a '77-'79. Do you have a particular donor truck that you're looking at?

 

no particular donor truck just yet but a local wrecker (wasneys) has come up with a parts list of items less the steer column.
ive asked them for complete parts list and what it (or they) may have been off of .

i found steer column at a buds today when i bought a set of mint inner fenders off him for cheap, lol

thread robbing, sorry, so i will post up a build thread of sort