HIO Silver here.. I have a 73 F-100 4x4 with a 390FE. in order to convert to an integral PS set up, you'll need from a 78 or 79 Bronco a PS steering box, pitman arm, drag link, and tie rod assy. You have two options when it comes to the steering shaft:

1) Grab the Bronco steering shaft and then grind a flat spot on the steering shaft coming out of the firewall (make sure that your steering wheel and Bronco steering box is each centered) to slip on the Bronco shaft.

2) Buy two 3/4-36 to double "D" U-joints and a cut-to-fit shaft from Borgeson (or similar manufacturer).

Mounting the Integral Box. Our boxes are rear-steer whereas the Bronco PS box is a front-steer (pitman arm points forward) so you'll have to drill the frame. I measured and photographed the donor Bronco to get a rough idea and then transferred the location holes using a template I made from the Bronco box. Drill the frame, sleeve the holes with steel pipe, tack/full weld the sleeves, and then mount the box. Long Grade 8 bolts are required and make sure you use threadlocker!

When it comes to the PS lines, I ended up having a set of lines made to adapt the old Ford pump on my FE to the Saginaw PS box. I recall the 76 is the only F-series year where Ford used their pump with the Saginaw. Yes, the Saginaw steering box is a GM-sourced part.

You may have to open up the steering arms on your knuckles as I had to do cuz the tie rod studs on the Bronco assembly is thicker. A 7-degree reamer from Speedway Motors did the trick for me. Ream a little at a time so make sure you get a nice tight fit.

The swap costs me LESS THAN $300 and worth EVERY penny. Since you already have the PS pump etc you'll come out waaay ahead of me.

 

First rule out any other play in the linkage, if you isolate it to the box then do it once and do it right, the chain store boxes may be cheap but you get what you pay for, do it right the first time.....Red-Head Steering Gears, Seattle WA - Red-Head Steering Gears Home,

 

There is more than one way to do a conversion. Thanks HIO Silver for the good info. There is a tech article on this site that I used. I sent a 79 bronco gearbox to a guy in Arizona and he rebuilt it and put a different worm gear so it would steer the correct way for our trucks. Then bought a older drag link for a manual steering truck from Rockauto to replace the cylinder and control valve. I already had a borgeson steering shaft. Had to cut it a little shorter. I used one of the original steering box holes had to drill the others through the frame. I think I spent more like $450 for my conversion. Steers better than it every did. I can give you the website if you want more info.

 

This what i was saying also.
have you tossed your rag joint and put in a Borgeson intermediate shaft and make sure the box is centered first .all other components have to be centered off the box not visa-versa

 

This is not a steering stabilizer, it's the Power Assist P/S's ram cylinder, used in conjunction with the Power Assist P/S control valve.

Power Assist P/S was all that was available (as an option) on 1973/77 F100/150 4WD's / 1973/76 and 1977 F250 4WD's assembled before serial number Y20,001.

Power Assist P/S uses the manual steering gearbox, because it has nothing to do with this type of power steering.

There were two totally different types of Power Assist P/S used in these 4WD trucks...the parts do not interchange.

GARRISON Power Assist P/S: 1973/77 F100/150 4WD's / 1973 F250 4WD's and 1974 F250 4WD's before serial number T80,001.

BENDIX Power Assist P/S: 1974 F250 4WD's from serial number T80,001, 1975/76 F250 4WD's and 1977 F250 4WD's before serial number Y20,001.

1977 F250 4WD's assembled from serial number Y20,001 are not High Boys, used Ford integral P/S, as did 1978/79: F150 4WD's & Bronco's; 1979 F350 4WD's and all the 2WD's beginning midyear 1969.

NOTE: 1966 F100 4WD's, 1967/75 F100/250 4WD's used a steering shaft and coupler composed of a replaceable U-joint and other parts. These 4WD trucks do not use a rag joint. The steering shaft and coupler clamps directly to the input shaft of the steering gearbox.

1976/79 F150/250 4WD's, and 1978/79 Bronco's used several versions of a one piece steering shaft and coupler.

This type of steering shaft and coupler has a flange on it that the rag joint bolts to.

No separate parts were available for this type of steering shaft and coupler, except the rag joint, which was first used in 1976.

 

wow, you guys are too smart!! glad i found this forum!! thanks for all the info. i need to go take some pics of my unit and then u guys can tell me what i have!

 

Your truck has Power Assist P/S. Power Assist P/S was the only type of P/S available on 1973/77 F100/150 4WD's as original.

If your truck does not have a separate P/S ram cylinder and control valve, it does not have P/S.

Or...if it does have P/S, but no ram cylinder and control valve, it has already been converted by a PO to Ford integral P/S...which does not use these two parts.

Power Assist P/S uses 4 P/S hoses: Two P/S hoses (pressure & return) route from the P/S pump to the control valve. Two short P/S hoses (pressure & return) route from the control valve to the ram cylinder.

Ford integral P/S: Two P/S hoses (pressure & return) route from the P/S pump to the P/S gearbox.

 

The adjustment you are talking about is the preload on the box. It won't "tighten up" the steering. It might make the wheel harder to turn if you over do it and it is easy to damage the box if it is too tight. It is set using a inch pound torque wrench on the input side of the box with the box disconnected from the linkages. The specs and procedure are outlined in the Factory service manual. If the box is "loose" it is best to replace it. The best rebuilds around are Redhead in Seattle www.redheadsteeringgears.com. They make new parts for the box and replace the cast iron bushings with needle bearings. My F250 4x4 cost $325. You have to provide a core as well, I love mine! The units you get from the parts house are just reseal jobs.

 

ditto .it should be done on a bench!and done right

 

my truck does not have power assist.. it might have from the factory but it does'nt now.. it doesnt have the ram cylinder. it just has a rancho steering stabilizer

 

have you tossed your rag joint and put in a Borgeson intermediate shaft and make sure the box is centered first .all other components have to be centered off the box not visa-versa