Leaking power steering box

[67F10YR]

I just finished changing my manual steering to power steering in my '67 F-100. I put a Saginaw box from a '72 F-100 but it leaks pretty badly. It looks like it's coming out of the seal on top. I tried some Lucas Stop Leak but it didn't even slow it down. How hard is it to replace that seal, and how do you do it? Can it be done while it's in place or do I have to remove it. I really hate the thought of that. Also, I put some power steering fluid in the pump when I ran out of ATF. I know that's probably not a good idea but will that hurt anything? One other thing, other than the bad leak the steering works really well, but it pulls to the right now. The front end was fine before as far as alignment, and it didn't pull one way or the other. Now when I let go of the wheel, it goes to the right fairly quick.

[fordman]

the leak: the top comes off of that with two bolts. and there is a adjust stud and nut to mess with. i don't know if the nut will coem with the cover or not. . i would take the other two nuts off and see what happens. it couldnt be that hard to deal with.

fluid: ford used type F fluid in the power steering units also. I THINK it was used to help keep the power steering pump noise in check.

alignment: the pitman arm is different for both steering boxes. so it could be that has thrown off the steering. even though you didnt move the linkage or the pitman arm lines up with the box internals. which pitman arm did you use on the 67 steering linkage? the early C9 or the later D2 pitman arm. mayeb that would throw things off. but it shouldn't

[67F10YR]

I'm guessing it was the D2 because it came off the '72 donor truck. It was shorter than the '67 pitman arm, which was a question I asked earlier at that time and was told to stay with the arm that went to the box, so I did just that. Can it be compensated for somehow?

[BobbyFord]

I have replaced the input and output seals in a Saginaw box without removing the box. The top seal was done through the cab floor with the column removed.

[67F10YR]

Once the column is removed, can't it be worked under the hood from above? I don't understand what you mean through the cab floor. There's room to get your hand in there and still see what you're doing?

[BobbyFord]

Once the column is removed, can't it be worked under the hood from above? I don't understand what you mean through the cab floor. There's room to get your hand in there and still see what you're doing?

Yes, plenty of room from the cab floor and easier than hanging over the fender.

[fordman]

as far as the D2 pitman arm. it is just bent differently than the C9 pitman arm. i am wondering if it could throw it off. because of the bend. i am unsure what to say abotu that deal. you could try resettign the pitman arm onto the drag link and see if that straightens the problem out. or maybe using the 72 drag link would do it. they say if you use the C9 pitman arm and the newer linkages that it could bind up. maybe taking it to an alignment shop would fix the problem.

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

im just going to say this. since you just converted you might want to jack the front wheels off the ground and start the truck (in neutral with wheels blocked, ect.) and see if the steering wheel turns itself. if so then the steering box has valve issues as well or is sucking air

[67F10YR]

Hey, Brutus, funny you should mention that because when it was jacked up and I first started the bleeding process getting the air out of the lines, I did notice that the wheels turned to the right by themselves. I thought maybe it was just the way it was tilted because I had the left side up higher than the right side, but you're saying it could be something internally. Ok. This has really been a learning experience for me, I tell you. I am not a mechanic of any kind or degree. Not trying to fool anyone. I have stumbled through this project but I've learned a lot about this old truck. Every problem just makes me more determined. (I hope my dad is watching and appreciating the trouble I'm going through bringing his old truck back to life.) My wife keeps asking, "Now is that ALL of the parts you're going to need?" And I just keep saying, "Yeah, that's it, honey. That's everything I need." Now where did I read in here where somebody told someone else where they could find rebuilt PS gear boxes with lifetime warranties for $135? It's starting to look like yet another part that I have to sneak by the War Department.

[fordman]

yes the rebuil tgear boxes are right around that at the parts stores. if you jack it back up turn the hweels in both directions several times while the truck is running with the wheels off the ground. that may free up the valves. it should also burp any air out fo the fluid system too.