Power steering or not?
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Power steering or not?
The 1960 F-100 me and my son bought steers like a log truck, very hard to turn. I've driven vehichles that were not factory power steering and they were a lot easier to turn than this. Did these older trucks steer this hard or is this truck supposed to have power steering. If this is normal, how difficult is it to convert a 60 to power steering? I'm fairly mechanically inclined, early years as a muscle car nut, but this is my 1st attempt at a vehichle this old. Thanx
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Granite Bay USA
Power steering or not?
Not my strongest suit but since everyone else is ignoring you I'll offer my 2 cents worth.
After driving with power steering, manual always seems harder. You might want to check the steering box to make sure its in good shape and check the width of the tires. The wider the harder. Without going to my book I can't remember the exact stock tire width but it wasn't much more than 6 or seven inches if that. 5.60's does ring a bell.
I think you can find a power steering unit and a pump off a 60 car (I know the pump would work) and maybe the steering box would work or you can alway get an after market unit such as the Toyota that is used on some of the Fords.
Maybe my comments will generate some real info from someone who's done it.
After driving with power steering, manual always seems harder. You might want to check the steering box to make sure its in good shape and check the width of the tires. The wider the harder. Without going to my book I can't remember the exact stock tire width but it wasn't much more than 6 or seven inches if that. 5.60's does ring a bell.
I think you can find a power steering unit and a pump off a 60 car (I know the pump would work) and maybe the steering box would work or you can alway get an after market unit such as the Toyota that is used on some of the Fords.
Maybe my comments will generate some real info from someone who's done it.
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Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Pensacola Florida
Power steering or not?
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 27-Sep-01 AT 11:15 PM (EST)[/font][p]Haven't done it but I've decided to go with a Fatman Fabrications Mustang IFS kit. This will give me modern suspension, disc brakes and power steering.
Thanks Charles
Thanks Charles
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Vancouver USA
Power steering or not?
I have a 57' f-100 that I am doing a frame off resto on. I drove it for many years with stock steering, and once you are moving it wasn't all that bad, it's the standing still and trying to turn the wheels that is the killer. Even with that big old steering wheel.
My project leans more towards the sleeper approach, so I am going to go with the toyota conversion, both for convienence and cost.
My project leans more towards the sleeper approach, so I am going to go with the toyota conversion, both for convienence and cost.
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Power steering or not?
Thanx for the replies, the tires on it aren't very wide but it is a bear to steer moving or sitting still. Must be something wrong with the steering box apparently.Thanx for the info on the swaps, we will have to look into the availability round here and see which way to go. Again, thanx for the advice.
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Illinois
Power steering or not?
if it is that hard to steer, maybe it is the king pins. Try to grease them and see if you can get them to take grease. If it doesn't take grease, try to heat it with a propane torch and then try again. If you can't them to take grease, it is time to replace the king pins.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 262
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From: Lake Jackson, Texas
Power steering or not?
I also have a 60 F100. When we got it took two arms and a leg to turn it but I replaced the steering gearbox with one from a 59 and now it drives with one hand. The old gearbox bearings were shot. It took an afternoon to change it out. When I pulled the steering wheel the steering shaft wobbled and slid up and down a couple of inches. I found the used gearbox by putting an ad in the classifieds on this site(FTE). I got several replies from folks who were doing P.S. conversions and one who just had a lot of trucks for parts. Any year from 57 to 60 for sure will work, I don't know about earlier years and I'm pretty sure they are different on later years. There are also rebuild kits available if you want to go that way. Hope this helps.
Bob
Bob
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