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I am having trouble with my steering column swap. Upgraded from a manual to a mid 70's Saginaw power steering gear box. When I went to reinstall the column it's binding at the firewall bracket. I thought I read somewhere that it was possible to reuse the manual brace?
This is on my 69', 390, with a floor mounted 3speed
It should work and you won't have t drill new holes.
Thanks Teach, the holes are all lined up. I was using a universal DD to 36 spline adapter instead of the rag joint. Wonder if this is was is causing my binding?
The bracket you're referencing is called a "concentric" bracket by Ford.
The Saginaw PS gearbox is taller than the manual steering gearbox or the Bendix PS gearbox. Being taller would naturally mean the attachment angle of the column to the box would be higher. The change in height necessitates a shorter bracket.
This is a photo of my old manual steering column bracket on the left and the power steering column bracket, from a Bumpside that had a Saginaw box in it, on the right (I installed a '78 F150 tilt wheel column in my '69 F100).
The concentric power steering bracket is shorter in height. Also note that the two lower bolt holes are slotted, compared to the manual steering column bracket.
There was also a similar concentric bracket on the Dentsides --although, some Dentsides with a Saginaw PS gearbox don't have a concentric bracket mounted to the engine side of the firewall.
The Dentside concentric bracket is the same configuration as the Bumpside bracket, with the exception of the top bolt hole. It's at the 1:00 o'clock position instead of being at the 12:00 o'clock position like the Bumpside bracket. The existing Dentside bracket top hole could be welded closed and a new hole drilled in the top center or, the existing hole could be left as-is and just add a new hole at the 12:00 o'clock position.
You'll also have to change out the column firewall seal on the inside of the truck. The manual column seal is smaller than the seal for a column mounted to a Saginaw gearbox. --ask me how I know this. I found this out the hard way and had to take the column completely back out to swap the seals out.
Manual column seal on the left. Power steering column seal (for use with a Saginaw box) on the right.
Yep, that's where I was checking Baer. I wonder if I can cut back the manual bracket to try and reduce the angle?
Cutting down an existing manual steering concentric bracket is going to take too much material out of it for it to remain rigid. It's best to just do this right and get the appropriate bracket to start with. It takes all of about 5 minutes or less to pull one from a donor truck.
The bracket you're referencing is called a "concentric" bracket by Ford.
The Saginaw PS gearbox is taller than the manual steering gearbox or the Bendix PS gearbox. Being taller would naturally mean the attachment angle of the column to the box would be higher. The change in height necessitates a shorter bracket
The concentric power steering bracket is shorter in height. Also note that the two lower bolt holes are slotted, compared to the manual steering column bracket.
There was also a similar concentric bracket on the Dentsides --although, some Dentsides with a Saginaw PS gearbox don't have a concentric bracket mounted to the engine side of the firewall.
The Dentside concentric bracket is the same configuration as the Bumpside bracket, with the exception of the top bolt hole. It's at the 1:00 o'clock position instead of being at the 12:00 o'clock position like the Bumpside bracket. The existing Dentside bracket top hole could be welded closed and a new hole drilled in the top center or, the existing hole could be left as-is and just add a new hole at the 12:00 o'clock position.
You'll also have to change out the column firewall seal on the inside of the truck. The manual column seal is smaller than the seal for a column mounted to a Saginaw gearbox. --ask me how I know this. I found this out the hard way and had to take the column completely back out to swap the seals out.
Manual column seal on the left. Power steering column seal (for use with a Saginaw box) on the right.
Thanks Steve! I knew I could count on you Any help with sources for both would be GREATLY appreciated
Thanks Steve! I knew I could count on you Any help with sources for both would be GREATLY appreciated
I don't know of any '69-'72 Bumpside PS column support brackets available in the wrecking yards in my area. The only one I knew of was the one I got for my truck 3 years ago.
I have the Dentside PS column bracket that was pictured in my previous post --also seen below.
It would require an 11/16" hole drilled at the top, center of the bracket to bolt into a Bumpside. I have drill bits at home that are smaller than that diameter and some larger than that but, none that are 11/16". I'm not sure what we have at work. I would have to look when I go to work tomorrow.
I don't have a spare firewall seal for this setup.
I don't know of any '69-'72 Bumpside PS column support brackets available in the wrecking yards in my area. The only one I knew of was the one I got for my truck 3 years ago.
I have the Dentside PS column bracket that was pictured in my previous post --also seen below
It would require an 11/16" hole drilled at the top, center of the bracket to bolt into a Bumpside. I have drill bits at home that are smaller than that diameter and some larger than that but, none that are 11/16". I'm not sure what we have at work. I would have to look when I go to work tomorrow.
I don't have a spare firewall seal for this setup.
As luck would have it, we did have an 11/16" drill bit at work.
Just like factory.
I still have to chamfer the edge of the hole on both sides but, I'll have to do that after I get home from work. ....after that, re-bead blast, prime and paint the bracket.
As luck would have it, we did have an 11/16" drill bit at work.
Just like factory.
I still have to chamfer the edge of the hole on both sides but, I'll have to do that after I get home from work. ....after that, re-bead blast, prime and paint the bracket.
Any help with sources for both would be GREATLY appreciated
