Manual to Power Steering-68 F100 w/3-on-the-tree.

[ejgator]

I've had email conversations with Keith, and have read the tutorials.

Is there anyone who has actually converted Manual Steering/3-Speed to Power Steering on a 2wd truck? If so, I'd sure like to pick their brain a bit.

Thanks,
E. J.

[fordman]

no i haven't but i seems so simple. i'll take a shot.

[ejgator]

Well, with the Saginaw box bolted to the frame, and the 3-speed steering column in place, the shift arms are right up against the firewall. No amount of sectioning of the column will cure that.

It seems that I'm going to have to use the Bendix box, if I can find one, and put up with the problems Keith mentioned in the tutorial. That's one reason I wanted to find someone who had actually done the conversion.

If I can find a Bendix box, must I have a pump that matches, or will the pump that I got with the Saginaw box work?

If I must have a different pump, are the mounting brackets for it different than the brackets I got with the pump that I got with the Saginaw box?

Any insight you can provide, Fordman, will be appreciated.

Gator

[fordman]

i wouldn't see why the pumps would be any different. i have a bendix box on my truck now. the pump looks like the rest of them do. i was considering changing over to the saginaw that i have but why. i think when my box was rebuilt it stopped all of the leaking that it was doing. but i still am considering changing mine. yes with the rods hit the firewall that is a problem. i don't know if a person could find a three on the tree column that came from a truck that had a saginaw but probably not.

for some reason i was looking at my brother in laws dodge steering box and column the other day when his hood was open. the box is mounted clear out to the front of the frame and has what looks like a inverted shaft from a column to reach the column shaft. i thought that was one way to eliminate the rage joint in our years of trucks. but i'm not sure how that could help you with your problem.

lets see if anyone else has any ideas? hey you guys what do you think??????????????????

[Thundercat6870]

I am doing the swap right now. The columns are the same in 68 and under trucks but you need to swap to the power rag-joint coupler at the end of the shaft and use the original 67&68 Bendix box. 69 and up used the Saginaw box and used a power only firewall bracket that says (power steering) on it. Depending on which PS Box you use depends on which parts you will need. I took all my parts off a 68 factory PS truck to make it easier. All the pumps will work for either application.

[Thundercat6870]

In order to use the 69-73 Saginaw Box you need to get a 69-73 Column. We are talking 2WD correct?

[ejgator]

Yes. 2WD with column shifted manual transmission. So I'm absolutely clear, Thundercat, you're saying that I can swap a three-speed column and Saginaw gear from a 69-73 truck with power steering into my 68 and have no firewall interference with the shift linkage?

I'm sure this means I need the driver's side motor mount perch and the firewall/column bracket from the 69-73 truck as well??

Thanks for the info.
Gator

[Thundercat6870]

The 69-73 column is shorter to compensate for the bigger Saginaw box. The power firewall column bracket from 69-73 says "power steering" right on it. You have to make sure you get that one or the column won't line up right. The motor mount perches are all the same and don't need to be changed.

[72hiboy4x4]

I may be reading this thread wrong, but according to this....
http://www.fordification.com/enginestands.htm
the engine perches are not the same.

[Thundercat6870]

The different engine brackets are only different if you are changing your engine. The power steering has nothing to do with them.

[72hiboy4x4]

My bad - wrong link....

http://www.fordification.com/powersteering.htm

chapter titled "Left-side engine perch (Saginaw box only)"

[FORDification]

The left side FE engine stand is definitely different on Saginaw-equipped power-steering trucks. The steering box is larger and won't clear the manual-steering stand, although it can be notched to fit. The manual steering stand uses the rear set of frame holes and the PS stand uses the front pair....but the bottom of the stand remains in the same set of holes on the crossmember, it's the top of stand itself that is reshaped to clear the Saginaw box, as illustrated in pictures at the link that Mike posted above (the second one).

[Thundercat6870]

Wow, I guess I was wrong. This site has great info and I would have never known the perch was different. I just put PS on my 68 but I used the Bendix box, sorry.

[ejgator]

Thundercat....I started this thread asking for anyone who had installed power steering on a 68 with MANUAL COLUMN-SHIFTED TRANSMISSION.

Does your truck have manual or automatic transmission?

If it is manual, was the Bendix box the only change you had to make
(Not counting the pump, bracket, drive belt, etc.) ?.

Thanks,
Gator