I am in the process of rebuilding a 1950 Ford F1 and am trying to use a steering box from a 1988 Ranger. It was recommended for me to use a manual steering box rather than a power steering box and I purchased one from a local junk yard. The rubber boot-type grease sleeve on the Pittman arm was not functional so I was going to purchase a new Pittman arm. Ford dealership here doesn't service that year Ranger and the local NAPA, etc. cannot find any evidence of a 'manual' type steering box for 1988 or several years earlier. Can anyone out there tell me if the box I have could be a manual box and if so and it is ~1988, where I could locate a Pittman arm. I initially thought I could just replace the rubber boot, but it appears that it was factory installed with a metal ring to hold the boot on the arm. Any help would be greatly appreciated. phil w.

 

If the box has two female threaded connectors in it, you have a power steering unit.

 

I can tell you that the 85 manual steering box pitman arm had a tapered hole for the drag link bolt. The drag link had all the gasketry and lube / bearing functions. No need for a rubber boot on the pitman arm. I would be surprised if a pitman arm had any failure points as they are not really a common replacement item. They just 'last' as there's nothing to worry about but rust. {and loose tapered holes if you let them wallow out...}
tom