65 Ford steering
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,836
Likes: 3
From: Elizabethtown, PA
Define "rough". 
I have a '65 with manual steering and bigger tires, and my impressions are:
1) Once moving, it steers pretty easily
2) The ratio is not very quick, meaning you must wildly flail the wheel to make tight turns
3) Having everthing in the front nicely greased makes a big difference
4) Proper tire inflation, and having some tread on the tires, makes a lot of difference also
If what you are trying to say it that the steering is not smooth through it's arc, you may either have some worn linkage that is binding or a bad steering box.
If you feel it's just too hard to steer and you've done all the maintenance above, then you may be a candidate for a power steering swap. Most guys swear by this upgrade, but I'm not a big fan of the numb feel that goes with it. A matter of personal taste. Plenty of posts on how to do it if you perform a search.
I have a '65 with manual steering and bigger tires, and my impressions are:
1) Once moving, it steers pretty easily
2) The ratio is not very quick, meaning you must wildly flail the wheel to make tight turns
3) Having everthing in the front nicely greased makes a big difference
4) Proper tire inflation, and having some tread on the tires, makes a lot of difference also
If what you are trying to say it that the steering is not smooth through it's arc, you may either have some worn linkage that is binding or a bad steering box.
If you feel it's just too hard to steer and you've done all the maintenance above, then you may be a candidate for a power steering swap. Most guys swear by this upgrade, but I'm not a big fan of the numb feel that goes with it. A matter of personal taste. Plenty of posts on how to do it if you perform a search.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
steering
That's the beauty of these trucks-you get to really DRIVE them! I guess if you want power steering, etc. that can be done, but then why don't you get on of these newer "sterile" trucks? Just food for thought. 
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 175
From: Central Texas
I personally love driving my 65 F250 daily, but don't like to work up a sweat parking it. Do the pwr steering conversion, its easy, relatively inexpensive and you'll enjoy driving it more!!!! Just another opinion.....
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 2
From: Parkville, MO (KC)
As ddavidv points out, aside from poorly maintained stearing and suspension components, the major culprit with difficult steering is wide tires. The original bias ply tires were relatively narrow and bias ply tires do not "squat" down like radials. So even if you have original rims, or narrow aftermarket, just running radial tires will make turning it harder.
I am running original rims, with 215/75/r15 radials and I find that combo to be reasonable to steer. They sit rather low (I am not into low vehicles, but that makes it about the right height to ease in and out of). I have well maintained steering, from the box to the spindles though.
I think that if you want to run big fat tires, you will have to consider power steering if you are not very big/muscular.
I am running original rims, with 215/75/r15 radials and I find that combo to be reasonable to steer. They sit rather low (I am not into low vehicles, but that makes it about the right height to ease in and out of). I have well maintained steering, from the box to the spindles though.
I think that if you want to run big fat tires, you will have to consider power steering if you are not very big/muscular.
