Straight axle with power steering

Long63 · Post by **Long63** » November 17, 2008, 3:11 pm

Would it be possible to put power steering on my '63 Uni BW? There is 390 / C6 being assembled and I'm considering having the straight axle dropped and while I've got the machine apart for that, I'd like to add power steering and disc brakes. Any advice out there?

Truckrat · Post by **Truckrat** » November 17, 2008, 4:43 pm

Well there is the Toyota 4x4 power box conversion that is supposed to work pretty nicely in straight axle trucks, and that power rack and pinion set up that appeared last year also for beam axle trucks. If anyone has this setup please chime in here. I don't have either one, but I am sure someone does. No Limit has the beam axle R&P set up.
Several of the other vendors like Classic Performance Products has the Toyota kit as do others. Good luck on your project. TR

blackagatha · Post by **blackagatha** » November 17, 2008, 8:43 pm

both look like pretty good ways to go....

I scrounged a Toy box, I'm afraid it wont play nice with the 390 though.... I think it looks to tall,I think we decided.

The rack looks like an ideal way to go.

YA Know guys, I been thinkin about it again..... The "BAD IDEA" of putting the rack on the frame.......

Yeah. Bumpsteer. How bad could it be? It seems like the bumpsteer coming from the stock draglink would be just as awful, and I dunno if I've ever noticed such a thing....

EHHH nevermind. I just realized, It would draastically change the toe-in with a change in load or air-bag height, as is planned in my case. Maybe hanging it on the axle IS best.... I need to find a nice Manual rack I think...

spstack · Post by **spstack** » November 17, 2008, 10:38 pm

ok this keeps comming up again and again i have a 63 with a 289 and put a toyo box in with NO problems just put block hugger headers on and have lots of space as for bigger motors i dont know ,as for drilling holes in your axle and bolting a rack to it the thought of drill a large hole in the main piece of the front end scares me ..Oh if you want to ditch the straight axle Bobs just came out with a bolt on ifs..

listen you can hear chevys rusting

DFM1 · Post by **DFM1** » November 18, 2008, 10:41 am

Ok, UpOnBlocks

Let me see if I can shead some light on this. I tried to use the Toyota 4X4 steering box myself. I have a 63' shortbed stepside that I have installed a 428CJ/C6 in. I used aftermarket crossmembers that are available from a number of places. I wound up having to shim my front crossmember up 3/4" to achieve good fan blade alignment in the fan shroud. I am running a 70'-72' F-100 HD 4 row radiator with fan shroud, designed for the 390".

OK, here is what I ran into. In order for me to keep the same steering shaft angle and have room for a rag joint I was going to have to lower and move the Toyota gearbox forward, to the point that it was going to protude below the lower frame rail about 2". This meant notching the lower frame flange and installing an offset flange. Notching the frame is easy enough, I just didn't want to butcher my frame. If I had had elected to this there would have only been about 2" between the bottom of the frame and the leaf spring. Oh, did I mention about finding a left side header that would clear the larger Toyota steering box, I tried everything Sanderson offers for the FE.

Here is what wound up doing. I went with the rack/pinon system from NO Limit. I have reservations about the lines having to run to the rack/pinion which is mounted on the back of the axle but it looks it will be fine. There will be tons of room for my steering to clear the exhaust system now.

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » November 18, 2008, 2:47 pm

DFM1 wrote:I went with the rack/pinon system from NO Limit.

Glad to hear from someone who has installed the No Limit rack and pinion setup. I'm planning to do that myself. What did you do for a steering column?

DFM1 · Post by **DFM1** » November 18, 2008, 3:00 pm

Grits, I have not completed the installation yet. I have done the mockup on it to see how everything fits. It looks great. I am caught up in duck season right now. My chassis is complete with the exception of brake lines, final mounting of rear alum. fuel tank and bolting on the rack/pinion. Once the cab goes back on for the final time I will be doing a final fit for an after market tilt/automatic column.

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » November 18, 2008, 3:59 pm

DFM1 wrote:I will be doing a final fit for an after market tilt/automatic column.

FWIW: Not sure which direction you're going in but I found out that it may be possible to have Ididit retrofit the stock steering wheels to fit the Ididit columns. I want the stock look so I am going to take a photo of the back of the steering wheel and send it to them so they can see if they can modify it.
(Easier than sending them the entire wheel until I get ready for it).

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » November 18, 2008, 4:03 pm

The correct Toyota 4x4 steering box is no bigger than the stock Ford Manual box and installs through the same pittman shaft hole in the frame. Its why they are used on effies 53 to 56 due to the small box.

I did this swap on a 63 uni and had Zero clearance issues with a SBC and hedders. It went in the same place as the stock box on a fabricated bracket mount.

Most issues develop when person's set the engine in the center line of the frame. Fords are designed to have the engine offset to the passenger side of the truck about 1.25 inches. This is to provide room for the steering box and other crap. It also allows the drive shaft to "Line Up" with the offset pinion nine inch rear.

Garbz

Gnant · Post by **Gnant** » November 18, 2008, 5:26 pm

Garz, you amaze me everytime with your knowledge of this stuff.

slick4x4 · Post by **slick4x4** » November 18, 2008, 6:17 pm

sure is an asset to have as many members, as this site has ,with so much knowledge on these trucks

debauchee · Post by **debauchee** » November 18, 2008, 6:30 pm

This thread is very interesting to me since I'm planning on doing something with my steering this winter. It’s currently got a lot of slop in it and my tie rod is bent pretty badly so even if I stay without power steering, I'm going to have to replace/rebuild the whole thing. I actually like the idea of staying manual but being a city dweller and needing to parallel park frequently makes a power steering option very attractive.

So let’s just say for sake of argument that both the Toyota box and the No Limit rack/pinion options are exactly the same price and effort/complexity to install and there are no clearance issues at all. And drilling a hole in your I-beam is not a factor.

If that was the case, which one would be the better performer? It seems that most people like the Toyota box over Ram assist kits because they don’t have hoses hanging down and exposed and the Ram's seem to leak but would the advantages of a rack/pinion set up make up for having your steering box and hoses exposed and that close to the road? In fact, is there any advantage of rack/pinion over the stock set up with the Toyota box or am I just assuming there is because it’s more modern?

Long63 · Post by **Long63** » November 18, 2008, 6:35 pm

spstack wrote: ..Oh if you want to ditch the straight axle Bobs just came out with a bolt on ifs..

OK.
Who is Bob? And which PS box works with his IFS?

If headers are a clearance issue, what would be the best choice for exhausting the 390?

UNIFAN · Post by **UNIFAN** » November 18, 2008, 8:25 pm

I assumed BOBCO.

spstack · Post by **spstack** » November 18, 2008, 9:40 pm

you are correct bobs f100 please read this months classic trucks they have a nice install with pics .and that is also where i got my bracket from classic performance also makes a brackes but it a little different all in all i like my toyo box the best as i reseached them all .Also i was ABLE the keep the 3 on the tree what good is a hot rod if you cant shift it ??? .IF anyone has any questions jest pm me and i will be glad to help

I can here a chevy rusting can you

blackagatha · Post by **blackagatha** » November 21, 2008, 9:52 pm

perhaips the box I got is the wrong one.... It looks friggin huge compared to the stock box.

As far as drilling holes in the axle..... I would get it professionally done by an axle shop, but shouldnt be an issue. Heck, they'll drill 21 more to match them if you want....