power steering conversion

[mljjones67]

Anybody seen or used this system? Looks good!!

http://wyoming.craigslist.org/pts/266977549.html

[72hiboy4x4]

I've seen him at a couple swap meets. My opinion is it can be done for a whole lot less that 1K.

[averagef250]

That's a kit to put a 78-79 power box on your truck. Those parts are under $100 in good working used shape.

[mljjones67]

For someone like me This would be a good option. Only because I need the step by step instructions and the templates to do the project. I am new to all this stuff so any help like a kit will make it better for me If you know what I mean!!

[72hiboy4x4]

I have just what you need.
it'll cost you .... $300!

please pay before you click the link!

http://www.fordification.com/powersteering4wd.htm

[averagef250]

You can get factory power assist in good working shape and it bolts on, no cutting, welding. Just two 5/16" holes need to be drilled and tapped to 3/8" to mount the hoses to the frame.

[mljjones67]

What year is the best to find that will work on the f-250 4x4? thanks

[FLATBEDFORD]

I think 460 crew has a some good points there. Slightly O/T; I have a '67 F350 with power steering. It appears to be from dentside. But everything is there and it works. How much is this worth? I'm trying to decide if I'll use it or sell it to recoup buying the truck.

[averagef250]

Any 73-77 F-250 4x4 with power steering has all the parts needed to convert a bump F-250 4x4. Far simpler and less work than the power box, just don't buy worn out leaky crap.

[460 crew]

I tried the ram assist setup that you can steal from a 73-77.5 and i'm sure they work great when in tip top condition but the fact is that those parts are 30 yrs old and chances are worn out and something does leak. In my case i have 3 of the setups all of them leak from places, so maybe up in your neck of the woods in a different climate seals last longer but down here in the desert all this stuff needs to be rebuilt and the consensus on the rebuilt units is that they just don't last as long as a rebuilt box, now performance i haven't had one that has worked correctly or not leaked so I'm very open to the fact that they may function better than an intregal box, And I FULLY agree they are by far the easiest way to get power steering on a bump. I was excited as can be when I found out that there was a bolt on PS unit for my crew, but it just wasn't for me. I just feel a negative vibe from them from my experience and that I have only heard positive feedback on the units from you and one other person I know in town and his truck with the ram assist is back home in Minnesota and is only driven on occasion, and he still complains about wandering but is a diehard Only Stock ford guy and does no altering.

Sorry for the run-on and I do respect you and all the info you bring to the table Averagef250, but i just can't bring myself to agree with you on the assist theory.

[72hiboy4x4]

Its true, the SW climate is HARD on rubber parts and batteries! I had a 80's something 3 wheeler I brought down from WA state, still had the original tires on it with lots of tread left. Within a year of being down there, and not even riding it that much, the tires had huge gaping holes in the sidewalls. Batteries last about 2 years on average (IIRC)
So maybe up here in this climate, with the modifications averagef250 is doing, we can have a good bolt-on system to use (but just in case, I'm keeping my 2wd box )

[averagef250]

460 crew, I know alot of people hate the power assist. I can't count how many told me the stuff was junk and to stay as far away from it as I could when I was figuring out how to put power steering on my truck. I followed the advice and went with the 2wd box. Soon after I fabbed on the 2wd box and most of the bugs worked out a good friend bought a '77 F-250 4x4 with factory power assist. The truck had 120K on it and was pretty well maintained. The power assist was the original stuff, had never been worked on and not only did it work flawlessly, but it made things look easy that stopped my power box dead. I've also encountered many more who praise the power assist since then.

The power assist does have problems, I outlined all of them in the recent power steering thread in the 4x4 section. You should have an above average mechanical background if you are going to repair a power assist system and for that I recommend finding one in good shape and keeping it maintained well (greasing it). The stuff is very common where I'm at. It's not at all hard to find one in good shape for under a couple hundred bucks.

I am working on an assist retrofit system right now. Maybe it will sway some of you non-power assist believers.