Questions - Bendix power steering system
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: charlotte, nc
Questions - Bendix power steering system
I'm going to try and rig up a bendix power steering setup on my 70 3 on the tree. I'm going with this so I don't have to shorten my column or find one of those rare power steering 3-speed columns.
What components will I need? I can think of the steering bow, the pump, pulley, bracket to hold the pump, and hoses. Is there anything else needed? a special pitman arm (not sure if thats the right word)? a cooler or something like a little radiator to keep temps down?
Anyone have some good pictures of a complete system, or better yet, a diagram or schematic drawing from a service manual?
What components will I need? I can think of the steering bow, the pump, pulley, bracket to hold the pump, and hoses. Is there anything else needed? a special pitman arm (not sure if thats the right word)? a cooler or something like a little radiator to keep temps down?
Anyone have some good pictures of a complete system, or better yet, a diagram or schematic drawing from a service manual?
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Sounds like you have your shopping list fairly complete. The idler arm should be the same, but not sure. If you can find a donor truck with p/s suggest take everything remotely connected to the power steering. May need to take the harmonic balance, and water pump pulley if 2 or 3 groove pulleys are required for the pump. Not sure if there is an issue with the bendix and hose connections with later model pumps. Should be some info on topic if run a searched.
Made the upgrade on my 65, went with the Ford box because of headers. Column not an issue have the ole T18 4 speed. It has a 302ci so had to scavenge from different vehicles. Failed to remove the 2 groove harmonic balance pulley, and water pump pulley during initial scavenge and later found difficult locating the correct combination. Liked the upgrade so much, now in process of doing same on other 65 with 3 on column. Also going with the Ford box, again because of exhaust system. Removed the column from later model and having the column mount swapped. Guess my winded way of saying try and remove everything you require the first time, rarely is it there the second time around. Drove the truck with standard steering for some 25 plus years and what a difference.
Good luck,
dave
Made the upgrade on my 65, went with the Ford box because of headers. Column not an issue have the ole T18 4 speed. It has a 302ci so had to scavenge from different vehicles. Failed to remove the 2 groove harmonic balance pulley, and water pump pulley during initial scavenge and later found difficult locating the correct combination. Liked the upgrade so much, now in process of doing same on other 65 with 3 on column. Also going with the Ford box, again because of exhaust system. Removed the column from later model and having the column mount swapped. Guess my winded way of saying try and remove everything you require the first time, rarely is it there the second time around. Drove the truck with standard steering for some 25 plus years and what a difference.
Good luck,
dave
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,613
Likes: 6
From: Coal country
The pitman arm is NOT the same for the Bendix boxes.
All pitman arms '65 - '66, 2WD, power or manual steering, F-100, F-150 (and maybe F-250, not sure) will fit the steering linkages of any of those trucks. Put another way, the steeing linkage stud will will fit into any of those pitman arms.
However, they won't interchange with each other on the gearboxes. The output shafts on the steering gearboxes are different sizes, and are splined differently.
I believe the Bendix gearbox has a unique shaft, so be sure to get the pitman arm off the Bendix box when you go to the boneyards.
I confirmed this information personally by comparing physically the pitman arms from the following trucks, when I did the Bendix swap into my truck. (Later, I went with the Ford box when I put in a C-6):
'66 F-100 manual steering
'72 F-100 Ford power steering
'76 F-150 Ford power steering
'70 F-100 Bendix power steering
'73 F-100 manual steering
'75 F-100 manual steering
None of these interchanged with a pitman arm from a difernt type box! The '72 and '76 interchanged, and the '73 and the '75 interchanged, but that was it.
Hope this helps.
All pitman arms '65 - '66, 2WD, power or manual steering, F-100, F-150 (and maybe F-250, not sure) will fit the steering linkages of any of those trucks. Put another way, the steeing linkage stud will will fit into any of those pitman arms.
However, they won't interchange with each other on the gearboxes. The output shafts on the steering gearboxes are different sizes, and are splined differently.
I believe the Bendix gearbox has a unique shaft, so be sure to get the pitman arm off the Bendix box when you go to the boneyards.
I confirmed this information personally by comparing physically the pitman arms from the following trucks, when I did the Bendix swap into my truck. (Later, I went with the Ford box when I put in a C-6):
'66 F-100 manual steering
'72 F-100 Ford power steering
'76 F-150 Ford power steering
'70 F-100 Bendix power steering
'73 F-100 manual steering
'75 F-100 manual steering
None of these interchanged with a pitman arm from a difernt type box! The '72 and '76 interchanged, and the '73 and the '75 interchanged, but that was it.
Hope this helps.
