'73 highboy power hydraulic to gearbox swap? Will it work?

[nytreeman]

I have a 73 highboy with the original closed knuckle hydraulic assist Dana44 front end on leafs.
At the junkyard I found a '78 F250 4x4 with a dana 44 front w leaf springs. What I was wondering is can I use the power gearbox from the later f250 on my highboy? The box on the highboy now is the original manual box that sits just behind the radiator support and the '78 has a power steering box that sits in the same place.Will these interchange? I realize i'd probably have to mod or swap the pitman arm and change the the steering arm.Any info would be greatly appreciated

[Wes]

I don't know about interchange but it can be made to work. My self I would grab all of it including the axle.
I would love to see some pictures of this setup, if ya can get some

[460 crew]

Wes is right the boxes do not interchange and some work is involved to get the box in there because the crossmember is in the way. In the 78 your looking at they(77.5-79) are kicked out at an angle for the box, so in ours you need to cut into it to make it fit. I have the swap in my 70 crewcab thread on page 5 if you'd like to take a look. http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 9&start=60
Well worth it IMHO.

[nytreeman]

Thanks for the link to your pics 460crew very nice job with the mod,I had noticed the crossmember in the 78 was angled and mine is straight, looks like I'll have to do a little cutting and welding

[nytreeman]

Which pitman arm did you use from the original or the new box?

[basketcase0302]

Don't you have to change the tie-rods and drag link too?

Basketcase

[460 crew]

If you use the 78 axle also you can use the pitman arm and draglink off the donor truck. If you use your axle a 44 close knuckle you will need an adjustable draglink or some sort of custom lenth deal for your application, or if your going with a little lift a drop adjustable is available here.. http://www.ntwonline.com/acb/showdetl.c ... 3&CATID=27
But either way the 78 pitman arm is used.
I have crossover steering so my pitman arm,draglink, and passanger side knuckle steer arm for a 79 D60 axle are custom bought pieces from various sources.

[nytreeman]

I'd be using my closed knuckle 44. I have already put in a new ring and pinion,seals,bearings/u-joints hate to swap it,but it would be cool to turn the wheel half as much and not be dripping oil all the time, so looks like if I do it I'll have to do some fabbin'

[willysrul]

I am a bit confused. Are you wanting to swap the steering box and still use your hydro assist original axle? Does the ram run off its own pump? Why couldn't you use a bigger pump tap the PS box and then build some lines to run from the box to the ram?

FWIW I am using a 79 Bronco box that is ported to run a hydro assist setup on my 67. With everything just placed by hand it appears all I need to do is cut some of the inner fender. All the steering linkage will be custom because of the 79 HP60 in the front.

[nytreeman]

I want to use the original front axle but remove the hydraulic rams and manual box and convert it to power steering

[willysrul]

Gotcha.

What is this truck used for?

Do you want to remove the hydro because of the upkeep and leaking lines?

If you just want power you will need to have the pass side be a flat top knuckle. Then buy a highsteer arm to connect your link from knuckle to pitman and then reuse your original tierod. Some custom work but nothing severe.

[nytreeman]

At the time it's a work/plow truck yes the cylinders leak and it would be nice to have power steering =half the turns steering btw what do you mean a flat top knuckle?

[willysrul]

Basically a knuckle that has a flat top. it needs to have aenough meat on it to either mill it flat and tap it for studs or is already that way from the factory. Here is a ton of info on crossover steering and the brake down of 44 steering.
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/flatop_knucles.html

[willysrul]

Where bouts you at in NY?
I have a lot of family up in Elba around Batavia. Run a lot of excavating and plow trucks as well as some OTR.

[460 crew]

I think he'd be ok with the original knuckle arm on his 44 axle and adding the PS box and an adjustable draglink. This is what I ran untill I lifted my truck more. The adjstable draglink I sold to a member on here not sure who it was anymore, it was straight like the original but was adjustable on both ends. There is no reason for flat top knuckles unless your running Hi steer or crossover.