I'm planning for the future with installing power steering on my 66 swb. I got a power steering gearbox out of a donor, a 1977 f150. I plan to send it to Redhead for a replacement.
Here's my dilemma, through research, I found that if I use this gearbox, I have to use the steering links and pitman arm also? Well I'm not using the spindles from that truck, I'm staying with my 66 spindles. Will there be any problems with this setup? I understand that the ball joints are longer is why I ask.
I'm planning for the future with installing power steering on my 66 swb. I got a power steering gearbox out of a donor, a 1977 f150. I plan to send it to Redhead for a replacement.
Here's my dilemma, through research, I found that if I use this gearbox, I have to use the steering links and pitman arm also? Well I'm not using the spindles from that truck, I'm staying with my 66 spindles. Will there be any problems with this setup? I understand that the ball joints are longer is why I ask.

 

Anybody done this conversion? Just caught myself with a mistake. I didn't mean ball joints, but referring to the steering linkage. Need to know if I order the linkage for a 77 f100 if it will fit my 66 spindles. Need the longer connection to the pitman arm of the 77 gearbox, but need it to also fit my 66 spindles. Anybody know?

 

I'm not sure what the answer to your question is or what will happen if you start mixing parts.

In my case, I have a '69 F100 short bed Ranger that had manual drums all the way around and manual steering. I removed the drum brake front suspension and replaced it with the entire disc brake front suspension from a '77 F100. This eliminated any potential steering linkage problems of mixing steering linkages/tie rods with older spindals. It also gave me much better brakes of going to discs from drums.

I installed a Saginaw PS gearbox from a '78 F150 and a power steering pump/mounting brackets from an '82 F150 300 on the 240 in my truck. I installed a tilt wheel column from a '78 F150 that is the compatible (shorter) length to bolt up to the Saginaw PS gearbox, although, any non-tilt wheel steering column from a mid-year '69-'79 Ford F100-F350 with power steering could be used.

The steering columns for an automatic transmission will have the NSS (Neutral Safety Switch) mounted on top of the column, inside the truck, near the firewall. On '78/'79 trucks, the NSS was moved off the column and onto the side of the automatic transmission.

Using a Dentside steering column will require some wiring changes at the connector to hook it up to the factory underdash wiring harness but, it can be done without cutting or splicing any of the factory wiring. I made a short 'patch cable' to go between my original '69 main wiring harness connectors and the '78 turn signal connector on the steering column, without cutting any of the underdash harness in my truck.

Reference/photos to these various changes are shown in this thread.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ont-drums.html

 

I have not done this separately so I don't know below the gear where the set can move. The better Saginaw gears steering column connect point is closer to the firewall so you need the matching set column. Do you have an automatic, 3 on the tree or 4 on the floor. The column needs to be correct for that. Then you have pump mounting, the 6 banger is different from the v8.

Because of all these issues I stick with buy a donor harvest all parts. I bought a 76 donor for my 66 dropped the 76 I-Beams slid them over under the 66 and bolted them right back up. I went from a 3 spd to C6 auto at the same time. I also think the power disc brake upgrade is an awesome investment and can be done at the same time. Surely something to think about.

I sold parts from the 76 and recovered my purchase price, so my upgrade basically was -0- in cost.


John