I have manual steering on my 1972 ranger XLT with an automatic transmission. Can I use my same steering column and add power steering to it using a Ford gear box, or do I need to obtain a steering column on an automatic truck already equipped with power steering for it to work right?

I do not want to cut anything on my exsisting manual steering column if I can help it. I plan on selling my manual steering column along with the gear box when I am done. Someone please point me in the right direction!

 

I don't know why you would need to change the column, I would suspect that a change of the standard steering box with a power unit and pump, and... would be all that is required.

 

If you want to use the Ford ps box you need to scrounge up a ps column, it's about 2 inches shorter coming through the firewall.

Barry

 

If you want to change to power steering, you have two choices.
1. Use the plentiful Saginaw steering box. In this case you have to get a differrent column for PS or cut down the existing column somehow.
2. Use the Bendix (expensive) box and keep your existing column with no mods.
I saw a bendix unit listed in Macs catalog. Said 68 only but am not sure that's true.

Larry
www.larryscars.com

 

Only the shaft is shorter, the rest of the colunm is the same, But the 67-72s don't all use the same length for some reason. As mentioned you can shorten your old one by cutting out a piece and welding it back together.

LBell101, what's the story on the bendix box? I am not familiar with that.

 

68 and half the years of 69 used the Bendix I belive.

 

I don't know exactly when the phase-out date was for the Bendix, thought it was mid '69 but a poster here had one in his early '70, that's got to be the end for sure.

Barry

 

So if I get a Bendix gear box I can use my exsisting manual steering column with no mods??

If thats the case I would be better off to get a Bendix rather than obtain the column and ford gear box.............

 

I can send you pictures of the Bendix box in my truck, or make measurements if that will help.

Kevin

 

Correct; get the Bendix box and you're set with what you've got. Except for the pump, bracket, and lines, of course.

You can special order the Bendix box through most parts houses, but they're about $250 with a $150 core. I've often wondered if they'd recognize if you gave them back a Saginaw box as a Bendix core...

 

OK great!

My next question is does the Bendix PS box bolt right in, or do I have to do any mods on the frame or anything?

 

Should bolt right in. Have you found a Bendix box?

 

Not yet. I may just buy a bendix box straight out and just eat the core charge. Power steering will be worth that to me!

 

Somebody could make a mint on producing this
conversion for the 67-72 F100. I have a 1970
302, C4 automatic that I also want to convert.

 

I just finished doing the manual to PS swap using the Bendix box in my '66. I learned a lot along the way. The Bendix was used '66 to '69 or '70, mostly for trucks with 3-on-the-tree shifters, but a few with automatics. As far as I can tell NO Ford PS boxes were used on trucks with the column shifter, only the Bendix. I have heard rumors of such a beastie, but every one I have checked out turned out to be either a misunderstanding, or a butchered and nearly inoperable shortened steering column with column shift.
The Bendix box was the only PS box used in '65 and '66, whether for auto or manual shifter columns. It is the same dimensions as the manual steering box, so it is a direct replacement for the manual box. No alterations of the steering column or frame are necessary.
This worked great for me, because with the arthritis in my shoulders, power steering by Armstrong wasn't good enough anymore. It was an easy, direct bolt in.
I didn't want to switch to a C-6 and eliminate the 3 speed, because I have the hard to find (in working order) T-85N Warner overdrive for the trucks, not the car version. I get about 18MPG at 70 MPH with a 352, so I'm doing good. The alternative was to put in a Ford box, use a plain no-shift column, but put the shifter on the floor. That wouldn't work for me either, due to the arthritis.
There is a drawback, though, actually, several, to using the Bendix box.
1. The Bendix box is hard to find. A rebuilt one without a core is going to cost you about $400 - and that doesn't include the pump, brackets etc.
2. The Bendix box is notoriously weak, and prone to heat failure. Be sure to put a heavy duty cooler on yours, if you get one.

Now the Ford box is much more popular, is easier to find, and is more robust. Cheaper too. Ford phased in the Ford box starting in '67, and used it exclusively starting in '70. It is about 2 - 2.5 inches longer. It bolts to all '65 - 79 frames, but the steering column must be modified or replaced. Any steering column from a '67 to '79 which was mated to the Ford PS box will fit in the '65 to '79 trucks. You will need to relocate the column support bracket and redo wiring, but those are minor jobs and more effectively done, as opposed to attempting to cut a column shift steering column short.