Keep stock steering or upgrade?
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 5
From: nunya
I am contemplating putting a Saginaw box up front,swap spindles side to side and run a crossover type of steering on my '59 F250. I am also flipping the front axle on top of the springs. I am making perches to fit under the axle with locating pin holes and bolting in back in. I may have to notch and plate the frame.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
AFAIK there has not been any other steering box found suitable. There is a kit to use a GM box in a cross steer arrangement, but it produces a LARGE turning radius. What's wrong with using the Toy box, they are still readily available in the 100.00 range and work like they were made for our trucks. There is nothing in common between the Toyota and Bronco box.
Lance, good luck with that, I hope you know a great deal about steering geometry because that is going to be a BIG bag of snakes that could kill you.
Lance, good luck with that, I hope you know a great deal about steering geometry because that is going to be a BIG bag of snakes that could kill you.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 5
From: nunya
I dont understand what you mean? Is it the fact I want to flip the axle or the GM box up front? For that matter, I can even put in a GM 4x4 box up front and still have the front to back steering as stock and leave the spindles alone.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
"flipping the spindles side to side and running a crossover steering" plus putting the axle on top the springs. I am not a brand snob, I don't care what the parts came out of, but I do care if the finished product is safe. It may be able to be made to work, but it will require a great deal of engineering or a lot of luck to pull it off IMHO. There is a lot more to steering than just getting the wheels to move.
The problem with most steering boxes is they turn the wrong direction.
The problem with most steering boxes is they turn the wrong direction.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 4
From: Rapid City, SoDak
BlueOvalRanger, Thank you for your help and the pictures. This helps me alot.
Ax Racer and BlueOvalRanger - You both seem to have a handle on which type of vehicles are good for steering box donations. Other than the 80-85 Toyota 4X4's, are their any other donors you could suggest. I have a 1960 F100 SWB with a 302 in it. I believe I want to keep it Manual Steering for now(Keeps people from wanting to borrow it). I know I can have the existing re-built, but I kind of liked what I read about the benifits of the Toyota Converstion. ie turn ratio. lvin4jc33 mentioned using one from a Bronco. Other than it being a Ford part, is there any major difference?
Ax Racer and BlueOvalRanger - You both seem to have a handle on which type of vehicles are good for steering box donations. Other than the 80-85 Toyota 4X4's, are their any other donors you could suggest. I have a 1960 F100 SWB with a 302 in it. I believe I want to keep it Manual Steering for now(Keeps people from wanting to borrow it). I know I can have the existing re-built, but I kind of liked what I read about the benifits of the Toyota Converstion. ie turn ratio. lvin4jc33 mentioned using one from a Bronco. Other than it being a Ford part, is there any major difference?
Refyred
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,083
Likes: 12
From: Southern Nevada
Ax; I'm also interested in this for my 59 4x4. I have the toy box, pump and hoses. I was planning to us the Lincoln pump on the modular engine out of a 96 markviii. You say that one shouldn't use a pump from a disk brake system. Could you explain the reasoning. I have not checked into different pumps mounting to the modular engine. I was just hoping to keep it as simple as possible.
Thanks
Thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Ax; I'm also interested in this for my 59 4x4. I have the toy box, pump and hoses. I was planning to us the Lincoln pump on the modular engine out of a 96 markviii. You say that one shouldn't use a pump from a disk brake system. Could you explain the reasoning. I have not checked into different pumps mounting to the modular engine. I was just hoping to keep it as simple as possible.
Thanks
Thanks
No, I said (or meant to say if I said something different) that you should not use a pump from a RACK and PINION steering vehicle as they are low pressure pumps. Same goes for the pumps from non R&P land barges like pre 90's Caddy, Lincoln, Imperial as they are extra high pressure.
Use a pump from a compact to full sized sedan or light truck from the 70's-80's with recirculating ball steering and you'll be good to go. The Saginaw pump was pretty universally used during that era, and easily recognized by it's flat pumpkinseed shape.
Refyred
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,083
Likes: 12
From: Southern Nevada
Thanks for the reply. I think the original manual gear box on the 4x4 is the same as all manual 59 f250'S. So Looks like this toy gear box is ok as far as fitting. As the build moves forward I can check the pitman arm and drag link lengths needed. Sounds like I better do some research on compatible pumps for this system.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Shouldn't need a diiferent drag link or length, just need to check the pitman arm ball diameter. The conversion pitman arm being sold has the 53-56 drag link connector ball on it, I do believe it is the same diameter as the 57-60.
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