power steering swap discrepencies

[390Nut]

While getting my spare MS column ready to rebuild, I was going over the tutorials on the power steering swap. I'm not sure I'll be doing this right away, but in the mean time, I'll have a completely rebuilt steering column, and it's just a matter of swapping the shaft later when I do make the switch.

However, I noticed a few things from the tutorials that don't seem correct for the PS parts I have.

The first is the column to firewall seal. The one I have off a `69 auto/PS column is identical to the one in my truck now (manual steering) and also identical to the one I pulled off the `73 F100 parts truck, both of which look like the one on the left in this pic:

http://www.fordification.com/images/FAQ/colshort17.jpg

Another discrepancy, is the "power steering" firewall mounting bracket shown on the right in this pic: (the one on the left is for manual steering).

http://www.fordification.com/images/fir ... kets02.jpg

Now, here's the one I pulled off the `73. Nearly identical, except for the top mounting hole isn't where it should be. It is definitely different, and while not a HUGE problem, it is a bit confusing thinking it would fit. A small snag to be sure, but a snag none-the-less.

Here's the one off the `73 I have. Evidently they changed things a bit when they changed the body styles/steering columns.

[mk]

I think 'power' or p/s is stamped into the bracket for the p/s, isn't it? Maybe somebody changed parts on your truck before?

mike

[390Nut]

That isn't a part from my truck, it's one I was going to put on. And I know the history of this truck quite well, to know that it hasn't been changed; I've been driving it for nearly 30 years.

The discrepancy is that this part (off a `73) is different than what is shown in the pics in Keith's tutorial, so I am assuming (possibly incorrectly) that the `73 and later firewall mounting is different than the `67-`72.

And another difference I've noticed, is that the retainer at the bottom of the column, right above where the rag joint attaches, is different than what is shown in the tutorial pics, the pages shown there from the master catalog showing the column assemblies, and is also different than what is on my truck.

This is what I have in my truck: (a `69, and the same as what is shown in the tutorials)



And here's the one from the power steering column I dismantled to get parts from (mainly the shaft, it's also a `69)



The one in my truck, which is the same as the ones shown in the tutorials, are definitely different than this one, although they appear to be the same dimensions once assembled. (meaning they would create the same distance from the lower bearing seal to the bottom of the retainer)

Regardless, that firewall bracket wont work as-is, without modifications.

[390Nut]

Here's some examples:

These are straight out of the tutorials, in which the only example of this oddball retainer is on a bendix setup (which would really suck if this shaft is too long to work with the Saginaw steering setup I have)

Here's two different types:

http://www.fordification.com/images/FAQ/colshort15.jpg

Here's an example of this "mystery" retainer from the tutorials, the only example I can find:

http://www.fordification.com/images/Ben ... racket.jpg

You can also see the difference in mounting on the firewall bracket. every `67-`72 I've ever seen has this bracket with a mounting hole at the top center, or the smaller power steering bracket (that still mounts up to the same holes).

Compared to the one I posted above, it's obvious it wont bolt up without modifications.

[FORDification]

All the pictures used in the tutorials are bumpside parts...there aren't any dentside pics posted there. While the column clamps (at the bottom of the shaft) are different between the two, they'd work just fine. They'll just look different, but that's no big deal.

As for the firewall mounting bracket, I guess I've never actually looked that closely at the dentside piece. The holes around the perimeter of that bracket are just to give clearance to the inside gasket retainer screws. Apparently one of those screws has been relocated on the dentside trucks. Again, I see no problem with simply drilling one extra clearance hole.

Since it appears that your PS parts include a MS gasket and retainer, I'd venture a guess that a previous owner installed PS but made the MS bracket/gasket work. I suppose you could fudge it by moving them up a tiny bit on the firewall and redrilling holes, but it definitely wouldn't be the 'correct' way of doing things.

The next time I'm at the U-Pull-It I'll have to spend some time checking those out more closely, and update the tutorials with what I find.

[390Nut]

Sorry Keith, i wasn't trying to make it sound like the tutorials were wrong. if thats the way it sounded, my apologies.

I WAS curious though, if any of those parts in the tutorials were from dentsides. Knowing that they aren't, now, makes a big difference. I'll probably just hunt down the proper parts myself to do it up right. I know there are a few trucks available at the local yards, and IIRC there are at least two bumps with PS in them. Hopefully the stuff is a) Saginaw and b) relatively decent condition.

Any ideas on an overall length of the Saginaw PS steering shaft? I would like to know if the one I have is the correct one. If it's not, I can always offer it up to someone who needs it for a bendix setup.

[FORDification]

Sorry Keith, i wasn't trying to make it sound like the tutorials were wrong. if thats the way it sounded, my apologies....

No problem...I understood what you were asking/saying.

...Any ideas on an overall length of the Saginaw PS steering shaft? I would like to know if the one I have is the correct one. If it's not, I can always offer it up to someone who needs it for a bendix setup.

Measured from the top of the splines to the top of the flange lip (for the rag joint):

- Manual steering shaft: 34"
- Power steering shaft: 31.25"

[sideoilerfe]

Now to convert a MS to a Bendix PS, It's my understanding that all you need is the box, pump, belt and lines am I correct? Isn't the column the same?

On the other hand, I have a 68 MS that I'd like to convert and I also have a 72 CS with the Saginaw set up but: A) the box needs rebuilt B) the column would work but it's also garbage and it wouldn't match. Could I just swap the inner shaft from the 72 PS into the 68 MS column? Or would it not work due to the different steering wheels? I have all the other parts (pump, firewall mounting bracket, driver side tower, lines & belt.

[390Nut]

Yes, to swap to the Bendix setup, you can reuse your manual steering column. I measured the shaft I have, and it's definitely not from a saginaw setup, so I'm going hunting tomorrow.

As for your other questions, yes, you can use the shaft from the `72, but you'll need to cut down the top of the shaft by the threads, and then deburr it to make sure it's cleaned up. That's straight out of the tutorial, here. Main thing you need to look at is half way down on the right side, there's a pic that shows the difference where the steering wheel nut is: http://www.fordification.com/board/steering_68vs71.jpg

Hard to tell, but it looks like the nut is different too, maybe a little thicker on the later style. It's definitely worth double checking.

[kaptnkaos]

Yep... Paul yer right on that...
The nut on the newer models are are thicker than on the older ones.

KaptnKA S

[390Nut]

It looked like it in the pics. Being at the angle they are when the pics were taken, it's hard to say for sure, but it definitely looks like it.

[sideoilerfe]

Thanks