Has anyone converted their 1986 RWD F150, 351w from a power steering rack & pinion to a manual rack & pinion? Wanting to eliminate power steering unit

 

There was just a thread about this about a week ago. Try doing a search

 

gee, thanks. Appreciate you, (like I hadn't already done that and found the results to be unsatisfactory) by the way, delete your own reply...mwahahahaha

 

there are no threads, except my question, that fit my request...going back as 2009....thought I would check again just to make sure, either different years or different applications...mwahahahaha

 

So again I ask the question, "Has anyone converted their 1986 RWD F150, 351w from a power steering rack & pinion to a manual rack & pinion? Wanting to eliminate power steering unit"

 

It's not done often. I think someone else wanted to eliminate the pump and lines under the hood, and was asking about it. If you can find a manual unit, bolt it in and go. I don't know the particulars, I do know we did this a long time ago on a 67 ss chevelle, and found out the pitman arm had a different diameter. I can't predict what you might run into, but the first thing I would do is find one, that might be difficult though, I just looked at Autozone's site and they do not carry a manual box, only power. But rockauto does carry one for $119.00 so they are out there.

By the way, you might have better luck if you do any web searches by not calling it a "rack and pinion". These trucks use the old school conventional steering box, the newer cars and trucks use the long slender steering unit called a rack and pinion.

 

I think non-power steering may have been available in the 1980-82 F100s but don't know for sure, I'd look around some parts store web sites.

Yes, "rack and pinion" is the wrong term to use for these trucks but "steering gear box" should give more results.

Might look at Redhead, too (they rebuild steering boxes).

 

Yes, I forgot to mention that. On RockAuto Parts Catalog I looked up a 1980 f100 with a 300 six cylinder. They had a manual box listed under that truck.

What I would do also is look up the steering linkage for your truck and the f100. Make sure the part numbers are the same, then you will know that part will match up. The only thing you won't know is if the pitman arms are the same.

 

Sweet, now that is more helpful thanks very much. I have a mustang II manual rack & pinion, thinking of using it if I need to

 

Welcome.

Now, go help somebody here....

 

I've seen manual boxes advertised for these trucks. I'm a big fan of manual steering and I've always run manual steering in my cars, but in trucks it's just too tough to run manual. My trucks get lifted with larger tires and I tow, have to back trailers in tight spaces. I actually run a large transmission cooler on my power steering fluid as the fluid will overheat and cook, at which point steering gets vary hard. If you use your truck as a truck, run larger tires, or go off road you may want to reconsider this.

Not sure why you'd want to convert to rack and pinion. It's a truck not a corner carver, and I doubt most racks would last long in a truck application. It's a lot of work without any benefit that I can figure.

 

This truck is my daily driver, that I also run at mo-Jan dragway. Going straight fast, no need for power steering. So I really just need to replace the steering box is that what I understand from the other threads?

 

Yes, they had a manual version, but like I said, don't know if it be a total bolt in. I know it will mount to the frame, but after that you might run into something.

No way in the world would you ever be able to get a rack and pinion unit into these trucks with the original suspension. Too much bumpsteer. If you look at the original steering linkage, look how it mimics the twin i beam suspension.

You know what you really should do? Go buy a later model crown vic, unbolt the complete front suspension, and bolt it under your truck. Do some web searches on it, I believe there is a big thread in the 70ish forum, google might pick it up. It will give you the rack and pinion steering you want, better front suspension, and you can vary the ride height a little better.