power steering box....

[62fairlane]

ok I am looking to convert my fairlane to power steering using a newer steering box off a fullsize ford or chevy. now as far as getting it mounted I am ok but the shaft should rotate the same for either a front steer or rear steer right? and as far as pitman arms go will it be ok to stick weld the two halves together and then box up the sides into an 'H'?

mainly I am looking for a much higher ratio box and would like to have some assist for those parking lots.

Nick

[62fairlane]

bump

[Stevie G]

Your suspension is similar to a mustang isn't it?

[Fat Hack]

I think an early Mustang/Falcon box might be your best bet...but most of those early Ford power steering set-ups used the funky actuator thingy on the draglink. (Looks sorta like a shock with lines run to it!

You'd need the swap parts from a car equipped with power steering.

Not sure, but POSSIBLY Mavericks will have what you need?

I dunno about welding pitman arms...a buddy of mine tried that...luckily it broke in his DRIVEWAY!

[62fairlane]

it is the same as a v8 mustang but as noted those setups are not good. they rely on slop in the steering to actuate the control valve. from what I here they have bad problems at speed with wandering and following the road and with the bulk of them I was preferring a compact unit like on newer cars so that there are only two lines to run instead of mounting a ram (might become a ground clearance issue as I have the front dropped 4"-5") and I am also installing a turbo shortly and need room for 3" exhaust.

I have heard of the off road guys welding arms when they do a lift on a truck and if it can work for them it shoudl eb able to work for me.

Hack,

do did your friend weld his? mig? tig? stick?

I could see a cold weld mig breaking but I find it hard for a proper tig or stick to break. also did he "box" it in? I am looking at adding two vertical sides to make it an 'h' beam to help take some stress off the weld.


nick

[Fat Hack]

62fairlane...my buddy's rig was a sky-high F250 4x4...the dumbass probably gas welded it...I'm SURE he didn't box it or anything.

Another buddy had a lifted Jeep that featured a home-built dropped arm that worked great. It was way overkill, but I'm sure it'd never break, either!

As far as 'wandering' with the 60s Ford power steering, I've found that to be more a product of tires. I've owned and driven 60s Rancheros, Cougars, Mustangs and Fairlanes all with power steering, and they only 'wandered' or followed cracks in the road on bias tires. Radials took that problem away on every one of 'em!

[62fairlane]

well the other reason I am leaning away from that stock ram style is that they are hard to find around here....as are parts. figured if I used a ranger or s10 box they would be a dime a dozens and have no problem with parts for them. I guess I will give that a try. maybe if I get lucky I can just get my stock arm drilled out for a different box and use that.

nick