Steering swap - manual column housing with power shaft?

[Beelicense]

Hi, I was just referred to this forum and I think it's awesome. What a great resource.

Anyway, I have a '71 F100 and I just bought a setup from a late 60s pickup to convert it to power steering (Saginaw box). My question is can I put the guts from the new power column inside my old manual one? I realize the lengths are different but I really would like to keep the original column in my truck since it's the right color and everything.

I don't know if it's a simple matter of cutting a few inches off the housing or if there are bearings and stuff inside that would no longer line up if I did that.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Eric

[390Nut]

Click on "Tech & Tutorials" at the top of the page for tons of info on these trucks, as well as mods, swap info, parts interchangability, etc.

The one you want for the power steering swap is the first one in the second section, found here:

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

Hope this helps, and !



Now go to the Welcome Mat and tell us about you/your truck

[fordman]

yes you can swap the center rod. the outer housings are the same length.

[Beelicense]

Perfect. Thanks.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Beelicense...

Welcome to Fordification...
Make sure you thank the one who referred you here.
Like recommended above, read the tech info on doing this...
I opened the page then saved it to my favs so I could just point and click everytime I wanted to check on something.

Does your '71 w/manual steering have a 4-speed or is it an auto tranny???
I just did that swap on my '68 CS... it has a 4-speed, so the housing is already the right length. I used a center shaft from a '71 CS.
It went really smooth once I got all the parts I needed.

Here's what you'll need...
1. Sag PS steering box
2. the proper length steering column
3. the proper length center shaft
4. the proper inner and outter column retainers (brackets)
5. the proper PS pitman arm.
The PS pitman arm has to match the rest of your steering parts. they changed in mid '71 so '71's have 2 differant ones, the older style PS and the newer style. You will need to know which one you have the early style or the later style. The part number is on the pitman arm. The tech sheet can tell you which one you need with that.
(just a side note, the nut that holds the pitman arm to the steering box is a 1 5/16") I ended taking mine to a machine shop 'cause the biggest socket I had was a 1 1/4".
6. PS pump and the proper brackets for your engine.
(I think there are many differant ones that could work... it's your job to figure out which one works the best for your application .
7. the hoses that connect the pump to the PS box.

This is where I am now. I have everything else installed except the pump and have a bunch of differant brackets...
I'm not exactly sure which ones need for both the PS and the A/C unit I still have to install.
If you wanna replace the upper and lower column bearings I have a pair of brand new ones (still in the package). The columns use the same bearing top and bottom.
I can let ya have 'em for $10 plus the ride.

good luck and keep us posted on your progress..
If ya have any problems give us a shout...
I probably asked a couple hundred questions on mine so far.

KaptnKA S

[Beelicense]

Well, I read the tech info on column swapping and it looks pretty straightforward except for the welding. I have a MIG but I don't know that I'd want a welded steering shaft in there... Just seems like asking for trouble if I didn't get it perfect.

Anyway my original column is an auto, as is the new power one. The guy I bought this setup from gave me everything - saginaw box, pitman arm, column with wiring harness, power steering pump and hoses, and a bunch of bracketry. Some of it might be for an FE motor, but I think my friend has some old brackets and pulleys off a 289 we pulled from his mustang so that will probably work.

I can use the power column as a whole, I just don't want a black column in my green truck. I know I could paint it green but I don't have access to any painting stuff and I don't want to start playing around with the interior of the cab because once I start I won't be able to stop. Pretty soon it will be new bench seat, new dash pad, new credit card, etc. etc.

I don't know when I'll get to work on this project but I might want those bearings. I know my dad and I replaced some little bushings or sleeves or something in that column many years ago - we got them at a wrecking yard and my memory is a little fuzzy but I think they might have been plastic. At any rate Kap thanks for the offer and I'll let you know.

[fordman]

the bearings are steel the upper bearing sleeves are plastic. the lower ones are also steel. you can change out just the center steering shaft. it will work for the power upgrade the column outer housing the green one will not have to be cut down. if you try it you will have to weld the bearing holder back the the bottom of the column housing.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Beelicense,

Check the column housings ...
I might be mistaken, but I think the auto column for manual steering is about 2 inches longer than the PS auto column...
A little sand paper, a rattle can of primer and a rattle can of green paint would very easily turn the black PS column into a green one... then you wouldn't have to change anything.
If the PS column is out of a '68-'69 you will need to change the turn signal switch plug at the bottom of your column.
I know the '68 has 2 connectors (I think the 69 does too) the '71 only has one.
The same number of wires, they just need to be carfully pulled out of one connector and put into the other connector in the right hole.

About the pitman arm...
you said that you got the PS stuff from a late 60's truck (68-69?)
If that is the case then the Pitman arm, that came with the PS is probably an old style PS one.
In '71 Ford changed the pitman arms mid year.
The first half of the year was the old style, the second half was the new style, so you could have either depending on which part of '71 yer truck was made.
The '71 CS I parted out had the new style pitman arm. Since my manual steering was the old style (pre late '71) I had to get the old style PS pitman arm in order for the steering box to connect to my front end.
It worked great after I got it on.

KaptnKA S