PS trouble from swap

[tod-hog]

I swapped out my engine, tranny, gear box and column from the LWB to the SWB. The power steering worked perfectly in the LWB but now it is REALLY tight and oh so touchy! I am clueless! A little help please.

[kaptnkaos]

hey tod-hog,

Did you swap steering boxes or just the column?
If you changed boxes you have to make sure match the pitman arm to rest of the front end on the truck.
If you didn't swap steering boxes, do you know anything about the box on the truck yer fixing?

KaptnKA S

[tod-hog]

I swapped the column and the box. Should I put the pitman arm original to the truck on it?

[fordman]

i swapped a box once without even paying attention to which direction the pitman amr travel was. i had the pitman arm on half around its travel. the truck would barely turn to the right. once i put a different box on it i centered up the travel of the box and arm and it turns fine now. i thought my wife was full of it when she told me it wouldnt tunr right. she was correct.

[kaptnkaos]

you need to match the pitman arm to the front end you are using.
if it's '67 to early '71 you need to use the old style P' arm.
If it is late '71-'72 you need the new style p. arm.
Ford switched mid year '71.
Check the tech pages to see how to identify which on you need.

KaptnKA S

[tod-hog]

Both trucks are the old style, 67 & 68 so I guess that's not it. The only thing I can think is that the steering is just tighter in the 67 and that accounts for the difficult turn. The 68 was real loose and easy to turn. Perhaps, it's just different, not malfunctioning. It does turn and is easier than non- power steering, just not as easy as it was in the other truck. This sound like a plausible explanation?

[kaptnkaos]

It could be...

Try greasing the king pins and tie rod ends...
The fittings could be dry, which would cause it to be stiff as well.

KaptnKA S