My 76 highboy steering is wore out. The steering wheel still has about 1/4 rotation of play in it and I tightened it as much as I could. The power steering one the outside of frame and the assist cylinder were both leaking so I took the pump and assist off and just use manual now. My question is is there a different year complete power steering setup that is better than this that I can put on my truck? If not would a stock manual steering setup work? What trucks have a manual setup that would work if you think I should go that way? Any help would be appreciated. THANKS

 

You can convert to a 78/79 steering set up but it requires notching out the frame. A lot of people do a cross over steering system on their rigs. 76's had manual steering if you want to go that way, the box would be a different ratio and probably much easier to steer then it is currently! Me I couldn't afford any so I had my steering cylinder rebuilt, only 175 bucks.

 

The highboy has always had a poor steering design. It requires a little frame modification to install a 4 bolt 78/9 power steering box, but this looks clean and can be a real positive upgrade.
I chose to upgrade to x-over and use a saginaw box as well as a saginaw pump.

Easy to mount and pleasant to drive.

 

Do you have a pic of the saginaw pump on Big Red???

 

All 1973/77 High Boys (F250 4WD's) have a manual steering gearbox whether they have P/S or not.

With the Power Assist P/S used 1973/77, the gearbox is the same one as used with manual steering.

 

So what is involved in mounting the saginaw pump and box? It looks like it is outside the frame so the frame doesn't have to be notched like with the 78/79 conversion.

 

Would I just need to replace the steering box to get rid of all the play in my steering wheel or do I need to replace the shaft going up to the firewall? If this is as easy as it gets for the manual steering I don't mind. It isn't that bad.

 

Fordtrucknut; I will send some pics of the saginaw pump for you. I looked through my photobucket and I guess I do not have any, so I will take some for you.

427 Forman: As ND has mentioned, you already have a manual box and if this is plain wore out, then replacement may be necessary.
If the steering shaft is bad, the joint may have some play in it and this may need to be replaced. This is mucho expensive.

Have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while you inspect and verify where the play is at. This will isolate the problem down and help you with replacement.
This prevents you from just throwing parts at this problem.

 

well ill be darned, i just found a sag box just like the one in the pics above in my dads garage. the things we find when we aren't looking. not trying to hijack, just making an exclamation.

 

On a 4WD, this is a shaft and coupling assembly. There are at least 5 different types, depending on year and series.

The 1973/75 shaft & couplings have a replaceable U-Joint, the 1976/79's do not.

All the shaft and couplings are obsolete, and are very hard to find new.

The only one I know about that is new, fits 1978/79 F150's. GREEN SALES has one, their price is a whopping $450.00!

 

Borgeson is about your only option if you need a shaft....unless you are really good at fabrication....Some later model shafts can be hacked up and used....we used a lower shaft from a Jeep Cherokee on an early Bronco before to get rid of the "Bell" joint.

 

I put a chevy box on mine ..not much modification


[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2097335870100331771SnSyxt

 

75F350, What do you think of running the remote reservoir saginaw pump?? I was thinking it might be the easiest as far as adapting to where a Ford Thompson Pump originally went. Plus I can mount the reservoir where it's easiest to get to...like maybe the core support or inner fender.

 

Vans and other applications use the saginaw pump, so brackets and stuff are pretty easy to come by. I have not had any volume troubles, but I do run a large cooler with an electric fan. I suppose just about anything can work just fine.


I also wanted to mention something about using the chebby 4x4 saginaw box. If you ever intend to upgrade to crossover, the 4x4 chebby box will not work. These units have a sector shaft that will only accomodate push / pull style steering. This sector will not allow the pitman arm to be removed and re-indexed.
A dodge, or 2wd chebby truck is more desirable. These will have splines all the way around the sector (just like the ford box) and this pitman arm can be re-indexed for use with x-over steering.
Just a heads up.......

 

crap. thought i found something good.