Finally got the Blue Top in! Not the biggest PIA, but a significant one. The O-Rings I got sealed it up, so no leaks, as of yet.
I read where you need to remove the fuel pump fuse so you can crank the starter while moving the steering wheel back and forth in order to bleed the system. I removed the starter fuse and nothing happened. Not even a “click.” So I reconnected the fuse. Took the return hose and attached another, similar hose, to that and fed it into a bucket. I took a rubber cap and sealed the return line port on the reservoir. Went through about five and half quarts of Redline ATF. I would first fill the steering pump reservoir and then start the engine, turn the wheel from lock to lock once, turn off engine, repeat. I found that the reservoir, with engine running, empties pretty fast, so I only got one pass with the steering wheel, lock to lock, before I had to stop and refill.
At the end, before I finished topping off, I removed the return hose extension, rubber cap and reattached the return line to the reservoir.
After aligning the front end, I had to center the steering wheel, so that was a PIA. It took me, and my archaic way of doing things, about six test runs, making adjustments in-between until the steering wheel straightened.
The EX feels like it did when it was brand new! No wonder. It is actually a pleasure to drive now.
This is steering box number four (4): new, Redhead, Ford Reman. and now the Blue Top. We shall see how this one holds up.
I want to thank Ryan at Blue Top who coached me through this process and who gave me a break on their core return policy due to my wife’s illness.
Hope this helps someone.

 

Quite a few of us have installed the BlueTop steering gear with great results. I had the opportunity to drive ArmyLifer's Excursion with the BT steering gear and was impressed. I ordered one shortly after and have about 7,000 miles on it now.

Here is just one thread on another sub-forum: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-gear-box.html

 

I have almost 10k on my Blue Top and with all the other steering and suspension conponents she drives like a sports car.

 

I don't remember - what's so special about the blue top steering gear? is it just a more robust unit, or does it offer a better steering ratio?

 

They're just a quality remanufactured stock steering box. Some of the employees from redhead split off , started their own company and called it blue top. From what I've read (no first hand experience) they're on par with redhead with the only issue being is that they're often short on core steering boxes. So you may have to sent in your original box first sometimes if they don't have a core of the same model steering box you want on hand.

If I hand money just falling out of my backside, I'd probably get one of these for the Excursion.
https://www.pscmotorsports.com/motor...ist-21216.html
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^^^ This is correct.

In addition, if they are out of stock for a gear you want, give them a call and they will give you a good idea of when the gear will be back in stock. They answer the phone and are very helpful.

Use the UPS Simple Rate to send back the core. It is 50% the cost and still tracked and fast shipping. I laid out the instructions on how to get Simple Rate in the thread I linked above.