i dunno about a 64 but lotsa people here convert to power. Lots posted in the archives about it. As I understand, if you get the right year compatability its pretty easy.
The more I grease this one and the more I drive it the better it gets. Sitting for a few yrs in a garage must have dried everytrhing out.
do a search for 64 PS conversion I bet you will find a bunch.

 

Interesting thread...

On my safety inspection my mechanic made an issue about the fact that the steering box lost all of it's oil (overnight) after he filled it. He then pumped her full of grease and mentioned that he would pass her for the inspection, but recommended that I work on the 'problem' as oil was the preferred choice.

I'm starting to wonder after viewing this thread.

On another note, I was wondering if some play was merely a part of how these old trucks drove. I've never driven any vehicle that did not have PS, so picking up this old girl was a real thrill and challenge between the steering, column shift, no power brakes...etc... Sweet!

 

they have play no doubt...
as for the oil, i filled mine and it all dripped out too, I dsont think its made to hold fliud, so pumped full of grease is the method I used too.

I had a 66 VW bus with the same type of steering and it drove like these.... my bus had more play in the wheel but the kingpin/manual steering... yah they feel alike. a little wander, a little slop in the wheel. I think its just "normal"
the more I drive it the less i notice it.

for state inspection he is nit picking the steering box?

I must be lucky.... my station is nit picky on new cars, he saw this oldie and checked the lights and brakes along with a quick once over of the body.

I think your inspector is to picky... besides most of them disagree on simple issuers like "oil or grease" ect...
I make thise nit picky things my worry.

 

As this was my first time having an inspection done on a vehicle, I was not sure what to expect.

He actually mentioned that it would pass with the grease, but that I should have a look into a rebuild or at least some new bearings on it...etc.

Hearing your perspective gives me a little different insight into this procedure however.

 

Man I think I have started something with the steering box questions Well my 66 which is getting its swapped out is soooooooooo sloppy...the wheel moves about 1/3 of a revolution with no action at the pitman arm....what a drive home....slow and thru town.
The donor box I got off of my 65s kissing cousin(built same day) is as good as day one...zip for slop, just like my 65 with 225K on it
I would look for a good used box....The interchange is mentioned in the thread where I was asking about it a couple days ago....its a wide range of interchange. My 65 , is all over the road too after replacing rear bias with radials and keeping bias up front....got new tires up front now but no freeway trips as of late. But if its alot better I will let you know as my RH kingpin is scary bad....upper bushing is all but gone....again, swapping out an axle thats straight and with decent pins makes a huge difference I bet....will keep you posted.


cs65

 

Does any one know the name and or part # for the small bearing that goes at the end of the steering Worm shaft in the Re-Circulating Ball Type steering box of a manual steering 1963
f-100.In the manual I have it calls it the lower bearing.And if i can find this part does it just sit down there at the end of the shaft in the box or is it pressed in?When i took it apart it was just sitting down there in the grease.And a few of the ball bearings had fallen out.I think this is most of my troubles with the steering on this truck. The rest of the box is pretty tight.There does seem to be some kind of race in the box on the pitman arm side where the sector shaft exits the box. And I think I might as well replace that while im in there.Does anyone know how I can safely remove and install a new one.Oh and a couple more things things.When reinstalling the Sector Shaft in the box where should the steering wheel position be and how should the gears from the sector shaft line up with the gears on the Ball Nut.And how do you know when the end of the shaft is tight enough in that lower bearing. Any help would be great. Thanks Jeff Goldberg

 

I found the Lower Worm Shaft Race and Bearing for the 1963 manual steering box I have and have decided to stick with the armstrong for now.The parts are in the mail and i'm hoping there the right ones.So now I ask of you that know.My steering box has what looks like a freeze plug in the bottom of it. And just on the other side of that plug inside the box is the lower Race and Bearing i'm going to replace.How does that plug and Race come out. And what is the method to reinstall the Race. Thanks .

 

PS is no problem if you swap boxes to a power one. After that all you need is a pump and resevior that mounts to your motor, possibly pulleys if no groove is available, a belt, and some lines to connect the pump to the box. It is all inclusive and the parts should be easy to come by since they are stock. As long as the box lines up and you connect the column right you are home free because brackets, pulleys and pumps all come in stock form for any ford engine you may have.