I have a 61 F350.
I am replacing the manual steering gear box with a power one.
From looking at my original one it appears as if the outer tube of the column is clamped to the gear box and can be easily removed . Is this so?
Then how is the inside shaft connected to the gearbox, or is it part of the worm itself?
How is the whole thing removed?

Thanks,
Grigg

 

Grigg, First and foremost, welcome to FTE!! Removed many of 65 columns but not sure if the same. May want to compare and use info that applies. Remove bolt that secures the rag joint to steering shaft coupling. Further up the column, between the rag joint and firewall, remove bolt on bearing retainer which consist of a clamp with a bolt thru it. If column shift, note location/position of shifting rods and remove from the column shift arms. There are couple bolts securing the column to the bracket beneath the dash. May be able to remove column at this time, I have not been able to do so without doing damage to the firewall boot and it's housing. Otherwise, by removing the 5 or 6 screws/bolts securing the boot to firewall the entire column will come out, and easier to reinstall. Sounds involve but found it is not that time consuming. Goes without saying, disconnect wire harness. If intend using same column suggest rebuild by replacing few parts which should consist of couple bushings and retainers and not too expensive. Sometimes find in these vintage trucks the lobes on the turnsignal cam are broken, if budget permits, it's a good time to replace. In event find need to replace the turn signal cam suggest not cut the wire harness because should be able to remove the pins in the connector with tweezers or something simular. I prefer not to 'cut and splice' if don't have too. Hopefull more knowledgeable member with 61 column experience will respond and provide additional information. Again, welcome to FTE.

dave

 

Grigg,

The '61 steering system is a lot different from the '65-up, for example, it does not have a "rag joint" (sorry Dave). It can be removed in one piece - gearbox, column tube, & even steering wheel (I would recomment pulling the steering wheel off first, though.). (The '61 is not a worm, but a ball-screw, but it is integral with the steering shaft.) Another major difference is the '65-up pitman arm shaft is (sort of) vertical, while the earlier ones have a horizontal shaft that goes through the frame. There is a two-piece sheet-metal cover around the steering column tube where it goes through the floor. Here is what to do:

o remove drag link from pitman arm (the arm on the steering box's shaft)
o remove pitman arm
o disconnect shift linkage
o remove sheet metal cover & rubber seal (mentioned above)
o disconnect wires
o remove nuts/bolts on clamp at bottom of dash
o remove three bolts going through the frame to the box from the outside
o remove whole assembly out through the hole

A more important question is: What box are you going to use to convert power steering? There are a number of threads discussing this, so I recommend you do some searching on these forums, so you will be in a better position to ask more questions. I would not take anything apart until you have the whole project planned and all the parts acquired.

 

Sorry grigg!! Again, learn an old dog can learn new tricks. Talk about being a totally different animal. Thanks for the correction.

dave

 

You will prolly need a steering wheel puller to remove the wheel. Sometimes they can be muscled off by wiggling them...DO NOT use a slide hammer. To remove the Pitman arm, you'll need a "Pickle Fork" aka a Pitman arm puller.

 

Thanks Guys,
y'all confirmed my thoughts on how it is constructed and removed.

As for the replacement. I will be using the power box from a 78 GMC 6500 dump truck.
I have it, and it is very simple to install, only requiring drilling a few holes in the frame. I think I will mount it as far forward as I can on the frame rail. I don't think I can fit it at the rear where the original is, as it needs to be mounted on the outside top corner of the frame, and at the rear It won't line up with the steering column, and hard to get universal joints to make it work. If it is up front It is easy to cut off the original column at the floor, install a bearing in the tube to support the center shaft. Mount the bottom of the column rigid to the floor, and a shaft with u-joints to the front mounted box.

I'll post pictures,

Grigg

 

Will you be running a drag link back to the left spindle's steering arm? This does seem workable, but remember you want the drag link to be parallel to the ground or you will have a bad case of "bump steer".

One possibility would be to use a '65-up steering column which will already have the bearing at the bottom, saving you having to deal with that. I would suggest you consider mounting the steering column in the late fashion (less vertical angle), so you will not have as much angle for your U-joints to deal with.