Steering help
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New User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Longmont Co.
Steering help
I've got a 55 f100. I kept the straight axel but put disk brakes on. I'm running a 351 cleavland. My steering box has got a lot of slop in it and I've adjusted it all I can. I want to get power steering on it but the conversions I've seen use a toyota steering box. I refuse to use a toyota part on a my truck. Has anybody upgraded to power steering with american parts. I can just about fabricate anything in our machine shop so thats not a problem. Thanks for any help.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
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From: Durham NC
Why reinvent the wheel? Forget who used the box first (Toyota probably didn't build it either) and use it, it works great, and now it's a Ford box! After all, this day in age, a Ford has parts in it from all over the world and probably wasn't even built in the US. Yamaha built the engine in my Taurus and it was assembled in Mexico, and the Ranger comes off a Mazda assembly line.
Last edited by AXracer; Aug 22, 2005 at 02:43 PM.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,958
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From: Rio Rancho, NM
Easy there AX, your going to start a major screaming match with some people out there.
You're right, most vehicles now-a-days are a conglomeration of parts that were manufactred in various places around the globe. I catch alot of grief from my Harley buddies for riding my old Honda even though its made in the USA.
F1004me
First off, welcome to the board!! You've come to the right place for answers (and sometimes they are even the right ones). The toyota box is quick and easy and almost a direct bolt in. I'm sure that there are many other boxes out there that would work if you are willing to spend the time and money.
Good luck with it
Bobby
You're right, most vehicles now-a-days are a conglomeration of parts that were manufactred in various places around the globe. I catch alot of grief from my Harley buddies for riding my old Honda even though its made in the USA.
F1004me
First off, welcome to the board!! You've come to the right place for answers (and sometimes they are even the right ones). The toyota box is quick and easy and almost a direct bolt in. I'm sure that there are many other boxes out there that would work if you are willing to spend the time and money.
Good luck with it
Bobby
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: north central illinois
I kept my steering box on my truck and stayed away from the power steering. One of the guys on the forum board here has a box for sale and i bought it and it's alot tighter. There are a few companies out there that sell rebuild kits or you can send your in and have it rebuilt. I took my old on apart and it is SO simple it's not funny. when the play fun gets some spare money in it i'm thinking about buy a rebuild kit and redoing it for a spare. the rebuild kit is like $300 or $350. i'll have to look to find out the name of the place again.
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From: S.C.
I went with the toyota box with the straight axel replaced everything in the front end except the king pins, the steering was terrible until I changed them now it steers like my "04" F-150; however you may want to check your king pins, tie rod ends, and drag link if these are worn a tight box wouldn't matter much. 
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From: Longmont Co.
Thanks for the reply. King pins are new. Front end was completely gone thru before I put the disk kit on. If some guys want to build up their trucks with other parts thats thier choise, I would rather put up without power steering than put that crap on my truck. My truck says FORD on it.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Then you won't like the second choice either, it wears a bowtie.
Sorry, steering boxes were not one of Ford's better ideas, they never updated their 30's design until they went to cross steering. I guess they never figured anyone would want to drive a truck at more than 20 MPH. I have a ram power assist I took off my truck when I put the Toy box on I'll make you a deal on, and you can keep the stock box, in fact I'll even throw in another one.
Sorry, steering boxes were not one of Ford's better ideas, they never updated their 30's design until they went to cross steering. I guess they never figured anyone would want to drive a truck at more than 20 MPH. I have a ram power assist I took off my truck when I put the Toy box on I'll make you a deal on, and you can keep the stock box, in fact I'll even throw in another one.
Last edited by AXracer; Aug 22, 2005 at 10:18 PM.
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From: Longmont Co.
Bowtie doesn't bother me as long as its american made. My rotors are Ford and the calipers are GM. With these new cars you do get a mix of american and japanese parts but thats out of my hands. I can't do anything about that. But building the truck myself I do have a sayso in what goes on it. What are you asking for your parts?
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From: HANNIBAL MO.
I'm Putting A Gm Box On My 48.it Was The Only Kit That Would Work On 48-50.sacramento Ford Said That The Toyota Kit Would Not Work On My 48 But They Are Working On One That Will.if You Run A Gm Box You Will Need 4 Turn Box With A 5-5-1./2" Pitman Arm Off A 65-75 Gm Car.you Will Also Have To Have A Set Of Headers Made.351 Cleaveland Dose Not Leave Any Room For Much Of Anything.i Would Leave Stock Steering Box But My Lady Wants To Drive This Truck To.keep Her Happy And She Don't Say Anything About Working On The Truck For Days And Days.
Good Luck
Art
Good Luck
Art
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Rio Rancho, NM
Originally Posted by g84t8f1
I'm Putting A Gm Box On My 48.it Was The Only Kit That Would Work On 48-50.sacramento Ford Said That The Toyota Kit Would Not Work On My 48 But They Are Working On One That Will.if You Run A Gm Box You Will Need 4 Turn Box With A 5-5-1./2" Pitman Arm Off A 65-75 Gm Car.you Will Also Have To Have A Set Of Headers Made.351 Cleaveland Dose Not Leave Any Room For Much Of Anything.i Would Leave Stock Steering Box But My Lady Wants To Drive This Truck To.keep Her Happy And She Don't Say Anything About Working On The Truck For Days And Days.
Good Luck
Art
Good Luck
Art
Good luck witht the GM box
Bobby
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
Originally Posted by f1004me
Bowtie doesn't bother me as long as its american made. My rotors are Ford and the calipers are GM. With these new cars you do get a mix of american and japanese parts but thats out of my hands. I can't do anything about that. But building the truck myself I do have a sayso in what goes on it. What are you asking for your parts?
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From: Longmont Co.
Got your note. Thats a good price but I told my wife that the disk brake kit I just installed would be all I'm going to spend on the hot rod this year. So it looks like power steering will have to wait until next year but thanks for the offer.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
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From: Durham NC
Originally Posted by sparky30_06
I kept my steering box on my truck and stayed away from the power steering. One of the guys on the forum board here has a box for sale and i bought it and it's alot tighter. There are a few companies out there that sell rebuild kits or you can send your in and have it rebuilt. I took my old on apart and it is SO simple it's not funny. when the play fun gets some spare money in it i'm thinking about buy a rebuild kit and redoing it for a spare. the rebuild kit is like $300 or $350. i'll have to look to find out the name of the place again.
Elder User
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From: HANNIBAL MO.
You should get a second opinion, I know that there are many 48-52 trucks out there with the toyota box. When I was trying to figure out steerign options I did alot of searching around online and came up with several sites where people put the toyota box in their trucks. Admittedly the kits are all for the 53-56 trucks but the brackets are not that hard to fab. I mounted mine a little weird though. I've stuffed 500ci of Caddy engine in my truck and I mounted the box forward of the axle instead of behind it. I could have reworked my engine mounts to get the exhaust to clear the power steering but I didn't.
Good luck witht the GM box
Bobby
500 caddy that thing should fly!I CALLED AND ASK ABOUT TOYOTA KIT.THEY SAID THERE KIT WILL NOT WORK ON 48-50 BUT DID NOT SAY WHY.
ART
Good luck witht the GM box
Bobby
500 caddy that thing should fly!I CALLED AND ASK ABOUT TOYOTA KIT.THEY SAID THERE KIT WILL NOT WORK ON 48-50 BUT DID NOT SAY WHY.
ART