I have a 76' f150 4x4 and just want to swap in a cheap manual steering box for a quick fix while the power stuff is being rebuilt. The whole system may be going in the garbage because it was already resealed once and the pump has been run dry a while back. I DD a 63' M100 with power nothing and really don't care too much about the added effort even with bigger tires. I'm guessing there's some way to convert early boxes from the 65-72 trucks. I would like to have the ability to swap in the current PS stuff if/when its fixed. Can anyone tell me what kind of box I should be looking for? I'd be willing to swap in junkyard linkages and knuckles if that helps.

 

Your PS gear mounts directly in front of the track bar bracket with the pitman arm pointing forward.. a manual steering box is mounted more forward, right up against the radiator with the pitman arm pointing towards the rear. You'll also need a different (longer) steering shaft. I converted from manual to a 79 integral PS... 'sent the manual box to a guy in Indiana but I still have the steering shaft. PM me if you're interested.

IIRC, a 70-75 manual 4x4 is what you will want to look for.

With the linkages, I recommend upgrading to the T-style linkages (78-79) instead of retaining your Y-style steering.

 

Is there no manual steering after 75'? Thanks for the offer but I'm in Northern Saskatchewan so shipping would cost alot.

Do the 2wd boxes have the same mounting pattern? If so I could use one of those and fab a shaft up seeing how I'd need to flip the arm and it would be turning knuckles on the front.

 

Not to my knowledge.. unless it is 2WD. Just double-checked... your option for a manual 4x4 steering box can go back to 1966.

The 2WD boxes mount in a different location... half-ton 4x4s were front steer (steering arms pointing forward) whereas 2WDs point to the rear (rear steer). Additionally 4x steering boxes mounted to the outside of the frame and 2WDs are mounted on the inside.

Fab a steering shaft? Nahh, it's not cost effective plus unless you can TIG weld.

Why not just wait for your steering gear, etc. to get repaired? Seems like alot of fabbing, trouble, and a waste of dough just to have your rig driveable in the mean time. It's not such a quick fix as you perhaps thought it was.