does any one out there have any rough dimension for a power steering box. im posting this because i saw a picture of a 80s ford truck steering box and it looked like i might be able to adapt it into my 59. but it was a internet picture so it was hard to tell size. any measurement or more pictures would be greatly appreciated. thanks alot.

 

Are you going to use cross-steer with the old straight axle?

I know for 53-56, a toyota 4x4 steering box with a bracket you can buy, will bolt right in with a little work to the column. It keeps the stock steering the same, along the driver's side frame rail.

 

i was considering that option but the toy box are getting kinda hard to find. so i figured if i could adapt something from a newer truck that is a little easeir to find.

 

To get meausurements as accurate as you want (or don't want) them, i'd just go to the local parts house tape measure in hand and ask to see a power steering box.

But otherwise:
the issue you run into with the 80's box vs. the 50's box is the index of the steering shaft and the steering arm direction.

First off a 59 uses "front to back" steering with the arm sticking out of the box through the frame while the 80-96 uses "side to side" steering with the arm hanging straight out the bottom of the box. You would have to convert the 59 to some sort of cross steering to use the box (if you reindexed the arm on the 80's box, it would just arc up and down once you got the box lined up with the 59's column).

Secondly, on a 59 the column coming out of the box is nearly vertical while on an 80-96 the box is almost horizontal. The issue here is that since the 80's box is side to side steer, one you index it up enough to line up with the 59 column your steering arm direction and arc are going to be all out of whack.

While the box may be doable, i'd think it would be quite the hassle.

EDIT: This just hit me.
UNLESS you were to make a bracket that turned the 80's PS box 90* so it's mounting face was towards the front of the truck. Then the side to side steer would become a front to back steer with the shaft protruding from the drivers side and the arc wouldn't be effected by the index of the box.

Justin

 

I have seen the newer box used on older trucks. Some used a section of the new style frame and others made a plate. Some used the OEM axle and welded/adapted the linkage and others replaced the axle. An internet search for "replacement axles" should bring up results with companies that sell adapted replacements from the box to a complete box and axle swap.

One of the best retrofits that I have seen is to use a 70 - 80's rack and pinion stearing out od a pinto/mustang in a light duty 2x4 truck!

 

You don't have to re-invent the wheel if you don't want to. Besides the Toyota box, there is also a kit that uses a GM 605 box in a cross-steer mode. They give you everything you need, or you can get the idea and buy your own stuff.

I had a 53 f100 one time, and went through all the ins and outs. I do know the way the leaf spring frontend is designed, the original front frame rails are not very strong. So if you use a cross style steering, the frame will have a tendency to twist, unless you have kept the original corssmember at the rear of the front springs in place. Most people cut this out though, for modern tranny clearance.

This stuff needs to be well though out, or you will have bumpsteer, which is very annoying to the point you will not want to drive the truck. Lots of geometry involved in a frontend.

 

thanks my truck is 4x4 and yes my plan is to find a box and rotate it however many degress neccasary to get it to work.

 

Also be aware that all steering boxes have a different gear mesh in the center of their travel. This makes them very tight when driving straight down the road for a good road feel, and makes them easy to steer in a parking lot. If you don't keep the steering box centered when the front wheels are centered going down the road, the steering will feel very sloppy. Then if you try to tighten up the box, when you do pass through the center spot, the box will have a stiff spot in it.

Another reason to keep the box centered, is most boxes rely on the steering system as a travel stop. If you get the box too far off center, and it bottoms out inside the box, it will eventually be damaged.

 

thanks ill be sure to make sure and keep it centered