The saga of my steering (or lack thereof) continues. I just installed a new power assist ram unit and while bleeding the system found that the power steering pump looks like it's leaking from the pulley side. I can obviously replace the Ford (Thompson?) style pump, but reading various threads it sounds like upgrading to a Saginaw pump might be worthwhile? The cost appears to be about double.

Has anyone used the Wild Horses kit on their F250? I'm guessing maybe the hose lengths will be wrong? My truck is an early 77. https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/produc...-Steering-Pump.

I think NumberDummy has posted that 80-82 Econoline vans with the 351M/400 came with the Saginaw pump. If I can find one of those, I assume I'll need the bracket and....?

Thanks for any advice.

 

A Saginaw upgrade is worth it, hands down 100%. Walk and talk right here. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...51m-400-a.html
Yes the info ND put out is correct, I am looking for the diagram to get the application years correct.

 

It's worth it - I switched to one while moving to a Hydroboost setup and have been very happy with it. Wild Horses has a bracket assembly that works on the 351M/400 with or without AC (I don't think there is a difference in the plumbing between and F150 and F250 for that...?). To your point, hoses WILL be different.

 

Thanks for the replies. That other thread really sold it. I've order the Wild Horses kit. It's expensive! I hope it's the final piece of the puzzle for the truck. I'll post back once I get the shipment.

 

1977/79 LTD with a 460 or...get the saginaw pump and brackets from a 1975-91 Econoline with a 351W (M?) / 460

I think Christmas is coming early for some one.

 

The real problem isn't the pump it's the POS steering system. if you want a real upgrade do the integral conversion.

 

I need to add power steering to my highboy.

Are 351m/400 PS pump brackets and AC compressor brackets compatible with the 360 FE?

 

I've never tried it but they're totally different engines so I can't imagine how they'd work.

If you want to add real power steering get the benchworks kit. I think they have the brackets and pumps too. not cheap but worth it.

 

My challenge is that over the 5 or 6 years I've had this truck, I've slowly been replacing the steering system a piece at a time... so at this point I'm kind of committed to getting it back to at least as good as it's going to get with the Bendix power ram setup. The PS pump and the steering gear box are literally the only things left that I haven't replaced -- and I know the pump that's on there from the PO is not the original. These vehicles must have been able to steer and turn when they came off the assembly line back in the late 70s. So I know it has to be possible to get it to work better than it does now (which is hardly at all).

 

They sucked when they were new , my dad had new ones and I learned to drive in one. .

The power of the ram was never what the power steering box has but with stock tires it did a pretty good job. the real effort wasn't in turning the wheel it was turing it back and fort fast enough to stay on the road. driving like crap and oil leaks were the real downfall not steering effort. so if you need excessive effort it may be your pump.

Nothing wrong with the original style pump, if you can find a quality reman one. you can also buy a new one now but I don't know about the quality.

 

I am frugal but uncompromising on quality.

I would prefer to cobble something together out of junkyard parts, but done properly.

I have seen photos of setups using boxes mounted outside the frame with the pitman arm reversed. Seemed like didn’t require any cutting or welding.

 

Realized I hadn't wrapped up this thread with the results (side tracked by lack of brakes preventing me from testing the power steering changes).

The Saginaw pump and brackets from Wild Horses along with the rebuilt control valve and ram from Red Head Steering are all installed and the truck now turns without herculean strength for the first time since I've owned it! It's no Lotus, but you can now get the truck in and out of a parking space.

The most difficult part of the project was dealing with the lines to/from the pump and the control valve. None of the hydraulic shops in town could make anything with metal tubing. They all offered to make a rubber high pressure line with any combo of elbow connections on the end, but that wouldn't have snaked around the steering shaft. In the end, I carefully re-bent, shortened and flared the existing lines from the Thompson pump. If I had a 78-79 (that the kit was intended for) this wouldn't have been an issue because the lines don't have to cross over the frame to get to a control valve.

 

Looks good, don't forget to get a cotter pin put in the steering link to hyd cylinder bolt/castle nut.

 

As soon as I posted that picture I knew someone would say something about the cotter pins! They are faithfully installed on both castle nuts for the ram. Had to get a new castle nut for the one by the diff — screwed up the threads with the hammer love taps trying to get the old unit out.

Love it that this community truly helps people and looks at the details. Thank you.

 

Just looking out for a fellow FTE member. I posted a pic of a temporary install of a pit man arm and while back. I got reminded that I need to put the lock washer on.