I have a 70 f100 with a 300-6 and manual steering. The previous owner put a power steering gear box in but no power steering pump. I am wanting to put a manual steering gear back in and not mess with the power steering stuff. What gear boxes are interchangeable from certain years? My local junkyard has tons of f100's, is there any particular gear I need to look for? Are they all universal or vehicle/engine dependent?

Any and help would be great. I plan to find a gear box this wednesday.

Thanks

 

65-72 look to be the interchangable years..

Can anyone confirm this?

 

C5TZ-3504-D .. Manual Steering Gearbox / 1965/72 F100/250 2WD, 1967/72 F350.

When P/S was swapped in, the PO would have had to change the steering column, as the steering shaft is a different length with P/S.

 

And also the firewall support bracket and inside dust cover if he did it right. Unless it's an early Bendix steering box which bolts right into the standard column.

 

I believe I am correct, Mr. Wilson will know, There are 2 power steering systems, the older Bendix will swap without the column changes. If is the 73ish & up Saginaw gear that most of us use, the column length is effected.

Thumper can you provide a top shot photo of the gear in your truck?



John

 

The steering shaft with Bendix P/S is a different length than with manual steering. A member contacted me just after I signed on 11/2006, needed a Bendix shaft, applications and the specs.

Since then, I've listed this same jazz at least 200 times for other members.

C5TZ-3524-H .. Steering Shaft & Flange-35 5/8" long-Use with C5TZ-3504-D manual steering box (see post 3).

C6TZ-3524-M .. Steering Shaft & Flange-34 5/16" long-Use with Bendix P/S.

Bendix P/S: 1966/68 F100/250 2WD / 1969 F100/250 2WD before serial number D96,001.
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Ford integral P/S: 1969 F100/250 2WD & F350 from serial number D96,001 / 1970/79 F100/250 2WD & F350 / 1976/79 F100/150 4WD / 1977 F250 4WD from serial number Y20,001 / 1978/79 F250 4WD.

The steering shaft is a different length with Ford integral P/S than with manual steering. 1969/72 examples:

C9TZ-3524-C .. Shaft & Flange Assy-32 7/8" long-Use with Ford integral P/S / 1969 F100/250 2WD & F350 from serial number D96,001 / 1970 F100/250 2WD & F350.

D1TZ-3524-B .. Shaft & Flange Assy 33 3/8" long-Use with Ford integral P/S / 1971/72 F100/250 2WD & F350.

Saginaw is the maker of Ford integral P/S, but Ford never called it that because...Saginaw is a division of...General Motors.

 

Never doubt you on that Numberdummy but there are sure plenty of people who have done the swap who say the standard column works on the Bendix box. Have you ever tried the swap to say it won't work? I haven't so can't take up the argument. Maybe, just maybe, you can slide the column enough on the mounting holes to make it work. I have seen some columns in my past 67-72 collection that have the upper mounting holes are longer slots than some of the others. Much longer than the 1 5/16" difference in the 2 according to your data.

This copied from a tutorial at Keith's site;

The Bendix box has almost the same dimensions as the manual steering box, so it is a direct replacement. Usually, no alterations of the steering column or frame are necessary with this box, though in some cases, the slightly-longer steering column shaft will push the steering wheel out a tad, creating a gap between the end of the column and the steering wheel. If this happens, you might be able to adjust the column mounting to take up the slack...but in some cases there will be insufficient adjustment available.

 

Like I said, a member contacted me when he ran into a problem, needed the Bendix shaft, wanted to know its length, what it's applications were.

It's been too many years ago, so I don't recall if I located a NOS shaft, or he found one on his own.

I've never tried the swap. Owned a 1965 F100 for 44 years, P/S wasn't available for 1965's, either factory or dealer installed, but I had no use for P/S cuz the manual steering worked just fine.

If people fixed the worn front suspension and steering, inflated the tires properly, they wouldn't need P/S. About the only time it comes in handy is for parallel parking.

My grandma didn't own a car with P/S until 1952, prior years back to 1912, she drove Pierce-Arrows, Packards, a Duesenberg, and a Cunningham. HUGE cars that rode and steered like oxcarts.

First P/S: 1951 Chrysler. Prior years, everyone was in the same boat as grandma.

 

Yup, I never had much use for it either, back when we ran skinney bias ply tires (and I was much younger without arthritis).. They actually steered a lot easier than radials at low speed.

 

Would I need a whole new column? Or could I just replace the shaft? I would hate to get a different column, the one in it is pretty nice.





I can get better pics tomorrow if needed. I forgot to take pics earlier and its already dark here.

 

Looks like I have the ford/saginaw gear box

This means a new column along with proper manual steering gear?

 

So does anyone know if I can replace the steering shaft in my current column that has the saginaw box and get the shaft and manual gear box and put the manual shaft in the same column?

 

The gears fit the same holes on the chassis. The Saginaw gear has the hydraulic connections on top of the gear that move the connection point to the column about 2.5 in towards the firewall. They each connect through the rag joint and both shafts share the same end. The shaft & column tube length have to be modified to keep the original.

If I didn't cover it all, you are welcome to clarify.



John

 

Usually you can keep the old column mast, just the shaft will need changed, at least on the few I've converted. Numberdummy can help here but the Saginaw shaft lengths changed a few times from 68-72 and I think one year was by itself so not just any Saginaw power steering shaft from 68-72 will work for you. You will have to know for sure what year the column is, if it isn't original to the truck. I have made the newer ones work with the earlier steering wheel by cutting off the top end where the safety snap ring groove is.

 

Ok I think I asked my question wrong..

I have the saginaw steering gear. I am wanting to go back to manual steering. Since that would require a different shaft is it possible to remove my current saginaw box and shaft and put in a manual box with the shaft from the same donor truck without needing to replace the entire column?