Source for power steering boxes?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Roseburg, OR
Source for power steering boxes?
I figured I'd ask this in the EB forum, maybe I'd have some luck.
Does anyone here have a good source for early Bronco power steering boxes that don't cost upward of $300? I realize they're a pretty desirable design for a lot of different applications, but jeez, people treat them like they're solid gold. I've explored the idea of an IFS Toyota box, and they are quite a bit cheaper, but I like the Bronco box for its direct compatibility, and the fact that I'd be able to use my drop pitman arm on it.
Anybody know something I don't? Secret supply of them somewhere?
(And if anyone has one laying around that needs to be taken away... lemme know...)
Does anyone here have a good source for early Bronco power steering boxes that don't cost upward of $300? I realize they're a pretty desirable design for a lot of different applications, but jeez, people treat them like they're solid gold. I've explored the idea of an IFS Toyota box, and they are quite a bit cheaper, but I like the Bronco box for its direct compatibility, and the fact that I'd be able to use my drop pitman arm on it.
Anybody know something I don't? Secret supply of them somewhere?
(And if anyone has one laying around that needs to be taken away... lemme know...)
Fleet Owner
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From: Brentwood,CA
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You need to go to a u pull it junkyark with a pickle fork and be on the hunt for a 73-79 Ford F-150 4x4 or 78-79 Bronco power steering box. That mounts right where your stock box does and BC Broncos sells a frame re-inforcement too.
If you use a 4x2 box same years you need another 4x2 box from 80s to make it work.
Its on the BC Broncos website in Tech.
If you use a 4x2 box same years you need another 4x2 box from 80s to make it work.
Its on the BC Broncos website in Tech.
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Originally Posted by Boba Fett
You need to go to a u pull it junkyark with a pickle fork and be on the hunt for a 73-79 Ford F-150 4x4 or 78-79 Bronco power steering box. That mounts right where your stock box does and BC Broncos sells a frame re-inforcement too.
If you use a 4x2 box same years you need another 4x2 box from 80s to make it work.
Its on the BC Broncos website in Tech.
If you use a 4x2 box same years you need another 4x2 box from 80s to make it work.
Its on the BC Broncos website in Tech.
I'm running the 2wd F-150 box on my '69, mounted on the inside of the frame with the Wild Horses bracket and cross-support kits. Works great with the 5.5" lift but would not be a good choice for a truck with less than 3.5" lift IMHO.
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Think about this..... the 4x4 and Bronco box does not need its guts changed becuase it mounts outside the frame in front of the axle, just like the EB, in the same area as the EB..... The 4x2 Box, on the other hand mountsbehind the axle, which is why it needs its guts changed.... The pitman are of the 4x2 box is pointing forward, whereas on the 4x4 box rearward. It has to work unless what you are trying to say is that on the Bronco you turn the steering wheel opposite the direction you turn it on an F150
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Roseburg, OR
Wait... those that are saying the '73-79 F-150 or '78-79 Bronco is a direct swap... don't those boxes steer reverse of the early Bronco / early F-100? That is to say, on my truck, the pitman arm points toward the rear of the truck, and I understand that the '73-79 boxes point toward the front.
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Its only a direct swap if you use a 73-97 F150/F250 4x4 or a 78-79 Bronco steering box. You should alse re-inforce the frame rail which you can do with a kit from BC Broncos because the box was intended for the heavier truck frame. You can also get picture to help you out from their website's tech page last time I checked.
If you use a F150 4x2 box you can either mount it inside the frame rail and flip the pitman arm and you need a special bracket and drill holes.... or if you want to mount it outside the frame rail like the manufacturer did you need to get the worm gear from early 80s 4x2 Ford F-150-250 (81-89? I think) which fits inside the 73-79 box and is set up for outside the frame rail box in front of the axle.
If you use a F150 4x2 box you can either mount it inside the frame rail and flip the pitman arm and you need a special bracket and drill holes.... or if you want to mount it outside the frame rail like the manufacturer did you need to get the worm gear from early 80s 4x2 Ford F-150-250 (81-89? I think) which fits inside the 73-79 box and is set up for outside the frame rail box in front of the axle.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Roseburg, OR
So it is a direct swap. Wow. I've been going off of this tech article and what an ebay seller told me, and they both say that those boxes steer the wrong direction for the F-100.
Tech Article
Tech Article
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Originally Posted by Boba Fett
Think about this..... the 4x4 and Bronco box does not need its guts changed becuase it mounts outside the frame in front of the axle, just like the EB, in the same area as the EB..... The 4x2 Box, on the other hand mountsbehind the axle, which is why it needs its guts changed.... The pitman are of the 4x2 box is pointing forward, whereas on the 4x4 box rearward. It has to work unless what you are trying to say is that on the Bronco you turn the steering wheel opposite the direction you turn it on an F150
And like I said before, the only direct bolt-up is the EB box..all other options require new holes and/or brackets to fit them on the frame.
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Originally Posted by Boba Fett
..... The 4x2 Box, on the other hand mountsbehind the axle, which is why it needs its guts changed....
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Copied from Chuck's web site (BC Broncos) tech tips library
POWER STEERING CONVERSION
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 width=154 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD>4X4 F-150 power steering box.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The 1979 F-150 4X4 power steering box (at right) is about the same length as the Early Bronco power steering box. The EB pitman arm will fit. The F-150 box bolts to the outside of the frame. The bore is a litle larger than the EB box. Two of the three mounting holes will need to be moved to match the EB frame holes. The worm gear/rack will need to be replaced with the worm gear/rack from a 4X2 power steering box like the one below to make the 4X4 box steer correctly for the EB.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 width=154 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD>4X4 F-150 power steering box.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The 1979 F-150 4X4 power steering box (at right) is about the same length as the Early Bronco power steering box. The EB pitman arm will fit. The F-150 box bolts to the outside of the frame. The bore is a litle larger than the EB box. Two of the three mounting holes will need to be moved to match the EB frame holes. The worm gear/rack will need to be replaced with the worm gear/rack from a 4X2 power steering box like the one below to make the 4X4 box steer correctly for the EB.