Hi All,
I am rebuilding a 50 Ford F1. I literally pulled it from a hay field after sitting for 30+ years. I've mounted a Ford 360 in it, shortened the driveshaft, replaced the brakes (disc on the front), etc, etc. I am currently working on the power steering.
I pulled a power steering gear from a ford truck in the junkyard as well as the pump. I had to cut into the frame and build a custom mount for the gear to fit and then beefed up the frame with some flat iron.
I used a pitman arm from a Ford in the junkyard and used a file to cut splines in place of the flats so I could position the pitman arm at any position I needed. I then built a drag link to connect it to the steering system.
So here are my questions:
1. The gear box travels further than my steering linkages will, meaning when my steering linkages and tires are turned hard right or left against the physical stops of the wheels, the gear box still has travel left. Is there a way to adjust for this? It puts a lot of stress on the front linkages and components.
2. Other than question 1 above, this mod was pretty easy. Is there a reason everybody leans toward the Toyota gear box instead of sticking with Ford parts?

Sorry for being so lengthy - Thanks for anyhelp on question 1.

PJ

 

Probably because you are the only one who has found a Ford box that turns in the right direction and is meant to be used with a pitman arm/drag link setup. Most all I know were used with the pitman shaft pointed down and with cross steering. I hope the mods and parts you made are structurally sound and the geometry correct. Some photos and details on the parts you used and how you made the mods would help to evaluate what you did.
The easiest way to shorten the pitman arm throw would be to shorten the pitman arm itself, but that would possibly stiffen the steering to the point of being like manual steering again.
IMHO a lot of us use the Toyota box because it has been proven to work, and is safe. Besides the brakes the steering is the one part you don't want to fail.

 

Ax,
Thanks for your input. I will try to get some pics - may take a few days as work is busy and I am coaching baseball (one advantage to Southern California - year round baseball).
It was dumb luck that I got one that turns in the right direction - I did not even think about it until I got it home and started looking at it.
I am hesitant to shorten the pitman arm. Right now the drag link sits pretty level to the ground. I am afraid if I shorten the drag link it will it will pu the drag link at an angle which may cause or worsen bump steer.
Thanks,
PJ

 

running up against the steering stops won't damage anything.

 

You can bolt some angle iron to the frame that the pitman arm will stop against, just before you hit the stops on the axle.