We need a different steering box for Thumper, one that mounts either inside or outside the frame...but, we need one that when you turn to the right, the pitman shaft rotates the opposite way to the left.

 

I will check in the morning as to shaft rotation, but I have the steering off a 85/89 F150. The box is located in front of the axle.

What worries me is that they are small boxes - not the big cast iron one the older trucks had. Ford used the same steering box on all trucks up to 5 ton back then.

Will the smaller (newer) box turn the big 33 inch tires when the truck is stopped?

 

I can't say for sure..., but we need something to start with. Manual or power...just to get the beast set up to turn/steer.

Whatever we use can be upgraded later, right now we're dead in the water.

 

Back then means what?

1965/72 F100/350's M/S gearbox (C5TZ-3504-D) is not the same as the one used on F500/750's (C9TZ-3504-B).

1973 and later F100/350's vs F500 and larger trucks isn't the same either.

I have a suggestion...what y'all need to do is visit a large truck dismantlers wrecking yard and compare steering gear boxes.

There's one of the largest truck wreckers in the US here in LA. I've been a customer and friend of the two owners since 1967, and can walk past the front counter, out into the yard and thru all the buildings without supervision. This yard has specialized in Fords since 1929.

If anyone wants to come here, let me know...I'll meet you at the yard. You can then compare 100's of different gearboxes (off the trucks--on shelving) within a few hours.

If enough ppl want to scrounge the yard (which is closed to the public), the owner will open up on a Sunday. Several local Ford clubs have had "a day at the junkyard GTG's" here over the past 30 years.

If you look around, you'll see 1000's of NOS Ford parts from the 1950's thru the 1970's here too. Need a coupla a NOS 1958 F500 front fenders? How about new 1967 Cougar quarter panels?

Mebbe a joint NorCal/SoCal GTG would be a possibility.

 

GTG or no,I'd still like to make it down there,N.D..

 

ND...problem is we're cheap baztards and don't want to spend money


I looked at my Chevy Diesel 4x4, and the box would work...we'd have to run a GM PS Pump on it though, since the GM box runs at higher pressures than Fords do.

I'd assume Dodge would work too, as long as it wasn't cross or T steering.

I sent an email to a guy on CL that was giving away a GM box/pitman arm and adjustable draglink...so maybe we'll get lucky and he still has it.

 

Clint,

Just got your message you left on my cell about the box.

Let me explain some.

The box we have now is like yours...set up for cross or T steering and mounts on the outside of the frame, unfortunately we don't have cross steering parts, plus we'd have to machine and drill the top half of the steering knuckle on the pass. side of the front end, in order to adapt cross steering to it.

Ours is setup with a draglink, the ptman arm pushes and pull the draglink, but the arm needs to work opposite of the crosssteer box, so the wheels turn the correct way.

Good news is I made contact with the guy with the GM 4x4 box, this will solve lots of our issues, box that works the correct way we need it, an adjusable drag link, plus a portion of the steering shaft, and the pitman arm.

I've done some researching over the past few days, seems the "hot" setup for offroading is to use heim joints instead of tapered ends...whats good about this is, if I have any issues adapting anything, I'll just pull it off, drill out the taper and use a heim joint and be done with it.

I have my truck here I can look at and reference to set things up.

We can keep this box incase someday we comeacross parts for the cross teering setup, but this is the cheapest, easiest and fastest way to get it done.

Besides...you didn't think I'd let this truck get on the road without a little of the General in it, did you?

 

That is sooo cool, Mike. You can speak ancient Aramaic (or somethin'). I have no idea what you said, but it sounded like it was important.

 

Well, it is a waste of time to ask me to look at my parts for something GM - but then this will give us something we can break and not feel bad about.

Let me know if your deal falls through - I have an idea we can try.

Also, I never understood why people did not want to weld on steering arms - we weld frames and they take an even bigger load without breaking.

 

I have the box lined up, I got the message late last night that he still has it.

As far as welding on the steering, in our case there's nothing we could weld to that would solve the problem with the box rotating the wrong way.

The only reason I found out the box is wrong for what we have, is I was going to mount it and weld a sleeve up on the draglink to adapt to our pitman arm (taper on the existing drag link is larger than the Ford pitman arm taper) with some of the other steering stuff Dan had left in the bed to get things setup temporarily.

You can weld on the steering arms, but it's really something that should be heat treated properly first so no hydrogen brittlement occurs...unfortunatley that's beyond my shade tree knowledge to do it right...be a real bummer if somethnig came apart while driving it.

Physically, the GM box and the Ford box look the same, I don't think strength will be an issue.

 

Sorry Chet...I shuld have just said:

Our steering box don't work.

 

I think I have a steering box. I am not sure if it is the right type though. I will take a photo of it and post it tomorrow.

 

Karl, before posting the pic, just make sure the shaft coming out the bottom rotates opposite of the top.

Thanks.

 

Gee Mike... you are assuming I understand something mechanical like that? I am still trying to figure out how to put air in my tires.

I'll check in a few and get back to you.

kgs

 

Too funny...pretty sure ya can fugure it out my man!

Hey, gonna email you instructions on how to read the digital tire gauge...