'75 vs '77 F250 Differences
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 0
From: Maple Ridge B.C. Canada
for the price i would say buy it. at the very least its a good start to having the truck you want to have. when the truck is as old as ours are, you will be wrenching on it anyway. when it comes time to repair something your not happy with on the truck,then upgrade to what you want instead.as for the front axles, i have had drum brakes on dana 44s with power assist steering before they work fine if there in good working order. as for drum brakes on the closed knuckle front diff,i never found it to be a problem. i would say buy it and try it. the first pic of the front suspension,it looks to me like the steering ram is not connected to the drag link. i see that color on trucks here in western canada. the seat is an easy fix, replace it with a seat out of a newer truck, the seats fit up to a 96 model, the salvage yards are full of nice replacement seats cheap. good luck on your build.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 0
From: Maple Ridge B.C. Canada
im not sure why it would be disconnected. it could be the bolt fell out? or a number of reasons. the steering upgrade is not too expensive. my 74 has the same power assist ram and it works good, and my truck has a larger dana 60 diff to move. it can be hard to find rebuild parts in some areas,but not impossible.if the truck your looking at is a 75 f250 it will most likely have a bendix steering unit.the 73-74 trucks use a garrison steering unit, and some where in 74 they changed over to the bendix unit. the 75-77 high boys are bendix (im not sure how to tell what you have ,i know the difference when i see them though.). then in 771/2 they changed again with the frame changes to power steering instead of the earlier trucks power assist type steering.the 60s ford cars used the power assist steering too, so many fords are equipped with it. i think jeffs bronco grave yard , or NPD, blue oval parts may carry what you need . if some one else could help with parts numbers that would be useful too. maybe Number Dummy could help, he is a great source of info and knowledge of ford parts.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
That steering assist ram is busted. The threaded end is bent, and must have had to be removed. The lines are still attached so if it leaked the pump would have to have been disconnected also. This means that everything related to the power assist steering might have to be replaced. These dont work well after they have been operational and then taken out of service. Usually leak like crazy after this.
Upgrade the steering now, and be done with it.
Still a nice truck. I happen to like the 75's
Upgrade the steering now, and be done with it.
Still a nice truck. I happen to like the 75's
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 1
From: Goliad, Texas
well I was just wondering if your 99 was a 4x4, cause in July 07 my buddy bought a 99 F150 4x4 4.6L from Austin. this August another of my friends bought a 97 F150 2wd 5.4L from Bastrop (I think).
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 15,014
Likes: 35
From: Semper Fi tell I die!
That steering assist ram is busted. The threaded end is bent, and must have had to be removed. The lines are still attached so if it leaked the pump would have to have been disconnected also. This means that everything related to the power assist steering might have to be replaced. These dont work well after they have been operational and then taken out of service. Usually leak like crazy after this.
Upgrade the steering now, and be done with it.
Still a nice truck. I happen to like the 75's
Upgrade the steering now, and be done with it.
Still a nice truck. I happen to like the 75's
when they work you can turn 38's with your pinky
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 10
From: austin
What kind of price am I looking at for the steering upgrade? How much of a project is it?
Are you saying to upgrade to a '77+ power steering setup or to upgrade the stock system?
-Chris
Are you saying to upgrade to a '77+ power steering setup or to upgrade the stock system?
-Chris
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 349
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
in my opinion... that is a good starter truck... if you're still partial to either disc brakes, open knuckled HD 44, or a spd, get your self a 77. and as far as steering goes... there are alot of guys on here who have converted their power assist systems to a power steering system... and it is well worth the effort. but this is all just my opinion
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,158
Likes: 5,786
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
For that price, IMO, I would buy it just to have it. A true "High Boy" is a steal at that price.
You can upgrade/fix whatever later on when ever you are ready, just having the truck is the best part of the deal. IMO
You can upgrade/fix whatever later on when ever you are ready, just having the truck is the best part of the deal. IMO
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
But cost a fortune to replace and still utilizes the junk push pull steering design. This design is not worth fixing, nor is it worth replacing when a truck is purchased in this condition.
Why waste money on an antique system when for equal or less money, a hydraulic assist system with an integrated power steering box and crossover steering can be installed?
Turning 38's with a pinky is a slight exaduration, and while I can aggree the power assist system is a decent concept, the entire design is poor, and rather expensive. Too many lines, valves and incorrect steering geometry with the factory system makes it a system that leaves much room for improvement.
Might be a reason why it is not being used to day, and why it was eventually discontinued.
Crossover and power steering by itself is leaps and bounds better than any push pull design ever was or will be.
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