Sterring box RFI
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From: seattle us
Sterring box RFI
I have a '61 unibody and the power steering box is completly toast. I see rebuilds run $500 or more. So that got me thinking PS conversion. I am aware of the Toyota conversion, but not specifically if there is a kit, or if it's all junk yard salvage, etc. What I am trying to find out is that if the Toyota conversion cost is comprable or even less than rebuiling the manual box, I'd consider doing it. So who can tell me approx. how much to do the conversion?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Central Oregon
I did the Toyota conversion on my 66 F-100 4x4, the cost for the salvage yard was- $175 for the box, it came with a drag link for a mid 70's Chevy truck to use for a part of the drag link. $10 for the hoses off a differant Toyota, differant yard. $12.50 for a working pump off a mid 70's Ford FE, needed the brakets for the FE on my truck. $10 to replace pressure end on the Toyota hose with a Ford, to hook in to the Ford pump. $60 for machine work to put the piece of Chevy rod together with the Ford to make a rod going from the pitman arm to the original drag link off my truck. Machined left and right treads for a turnbuckel so the lenth can be ajusted. Total cost $267.50
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,062
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From: Central Oregon
I have not looked at a 61 truck in a long time, so I don't know if this will work for you. Your truck has a straight axle and leaf springs, mine has coil springs. You may need to look into a 70's ford 2wd with power steering to put on ezer. The Toyota box sits just behind the radiator on the outside of the frame. The steering column has a u-joint in it. I will get some pictures of the set-up and see if I can post them at some point. If I can help anymore with this let me know.
Allen
Allen
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Glendale Arizona
Ok need a little more input...... you have power steering currently on the 61?
Avalible power steering was through a pump and ram assembly for 61 to 64 straight axles. if this what you have?
if it is a power steering gear then the posibility exists the it allready was swapped for something. Volare clip, ect..
The toy 4x4 box is by far the easiest way to put PS on the 61 to 64 trucks. the 65 thru 79 ps box will not provide a viable solution with out major draglink shenie compenent modifications. I have seen one truck converted like this and it scared me and it was not moving.
No limit engineering has a kit with all the components. Pricey but everything is there.
Garbz
Avalible power steering was through a pump and ram assembly for 61 to 64 straight axles. if this what you have?
if it is a power steering gear then the posibility exists the it allready was swapped for something. Volare clip, ect..
The toy 4x4 box is by far the easiest way to put PS on the 61 to 64 trucks. the 65 thru 79 ps box will not provide a viable solution with out major draglink shenie compenent modifications. I have seen one truck converted like this and it scared me and it was not moving.
No limit engineering has a kit with all the components. Pricey but everything is there.
Garbz
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From: seattle us
I have a stock '61 front end (4x2) with manual steering and it sorely needs rebuild or replacement. The rebuilds are at least $500, so I was thinking it would be worth looking into PS conversion. I heard about the Toyota conversions, but don't know much about them (I keep trying to search here, but the search feature is down all the time). Bertha66 said he did one on a 4x4, so I was wondering if this is a 4x4 only conversion or if it works on the 4x2s also. Basically, I am looking for any info on a PS conversion for a '61 F100 4x2. Things like cost, is there a kit, and who sells it, etc.
PS I just realized I misspelled steering in my subject line...Oops
PS I just realized I misspelled steering in my subject line...Oops
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Central Oregon
There is a 61 uni F-100 down the street, I will go down and see if they will let me take a look at it. I will let you know if I think the Toyota will work.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Central Oregon
I did get a chance to look at a 62 unicab today, and putting a setup like I have on my truck looked like it would be hard to do, not impossable, but hard. I don't know if there is a kit for your truck or not. I was looking at the steering set up on my sons 66 2wd, with pieces off one of these and the power steering box off a mid 70's I think that you may be able to do a set up and make it work good. If I can be of any help let me know. I will be at the Portland swap meet in Apirl if you want to come donw and talk about it. Good luck
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From: seattle us
Bertha, thanks for checking on that. I will also be at the Portland swap. After your info. and the other searches I've done, I'm thinking more about just keeping the manual steering. I'm going with an early 60s custom stlye rod and manual is more "period correct" anyway. I was just thinking if it was easy and the same or less than the manual rebuild, I'd do it. The other thing complicating this is the much bigger motor than stock (390FE) I'm running. So unless anyone else out that experience with this, I'll stay with the manual. It wasn't that hard to drive anyway (at least compared to my '71 Highboy with 33" tires! 
)
)
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Utah
Comet, just finishing my PS conversion. We have the exact same setup. 61 uni. I used a mid 80's Toyota box, made my own bracket (thanks Dave on this forum!) , bought a Flaming River column w/dd shaft, bored out a piece of solid stock 3/4" and then filed the flats to approx 1" to accept the dd shaft. Welded that to the ujoint that came with the gearbox (had Toy splines), drilled hole in both to lock joint to shaft. Used original dash mount, but had to shim because ford column is bigger that FR column. Had to offset the column a bit tho the right due to Toy box mounting on frame. Had to offset brake pedal, because now the column was in the way of the brake pedal. Need to make lower firewall column mount and fabricate new floor plate to cover old column hole in floor plate. Not a bad project if you have the time, patience and most of all tools. I used a lathe, mill, cutting torch, stick welder and wire feed welder. Other air tools helped with the sheetmetal.
Am looking forward to seeing how much of a differeence this project makes. Next project....front disks on 8 lug wheels.
Am looking forward to seeing how much of a differeence this project makes. Next project....front disks on 8 lug wheels.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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partsamerica.com (==Advance Auto in my area) lists a rebuilt manual steering gear box for $212 plus $75 core, with a 1 year warranty. I have a feeling what they are showing isn't the correct part. I emailed the rebuilder (lares corp.) so I will report back what they say.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,060
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From: Glendale Arizona
Randy
Keep us posted on the eight lug conversion.
I was looking at a set of rotors and hubs and fitted bearings the correct diameter bearings from a bearing house. Then figgure a mount, possibly a GM two pin caliper as thay are the easiest.
Garbz
Keep us posted on the eight lug conversion.
I was looking at a set of rotors and hubs and fitted bearings the correct diameter bearings from a bearing house. Then figgure a mount, possibly a GM two pin caliper as thay are the easiest.
Garbz