power steering conversion on a 66

1966 M-100 · Post by **1966 M-100** » April 4, 2009, 4:24 pm

I have found a 77 F100 truck for parts. From what I have read, this year of truck would be a good donor for a PS upgrade. I am not sure if I will need to swap the steering column or shorten mine. I think I read that since I have a 4 speed(granny), my column may be the right length.
Can any one confirm what I need from the donor?
Thx...Jim

banjopicker66 · Post by **banjopicker66** » April 4, 2009, 6:09 pm

The truck will also be great for a power disc brake upgrade!

For Power Steering you will need:
Brackets, belts and pulleys to fit your engine (hopefully the '77 donor has the same engine!)
PS gearbox with rag joint coupler
PS lines - recommend you get new - both pressure and return!
PS pump - recommend you get reman or new
Steering column - You will need to shorten yours, or use the donor truck column for sure. The good news is that yours is the easiest to shorten.

For Power Brakes you will need:
Spindles with rotors, bearings and all. (Recommend do the regular brake job, and replace rotors, bearings, grease seals, etc.)
Calipers - recommend you get new or reman!
Brake hoses - new!
Brake hose brackets that mount to frame (there is an option to use hoses from a mid 80's Dodge Charger I've heard)
Proportioning valve
Steel brake lines - you can use the originals if not rusted, and splice into the rear line.
Master cylinder - recommend you get reman!
Power brake booster
Bracket for power brake booster (mounts it to the firewall)
Brake pedal to booster rod bolt
Don't need the donor brake pedal - but it can be used if altered

That should be about it!

1966 M-100 · Post by **1966 M-100** » April 4, 2009, 10:43 pm

Thanks, that is a great list. The donor I am looking at has PS but not disc brakes (still looking for power/disc donor).
The donor has a 351/auto, while I have a FE block, so brackets will be wrong. But I can have whatever steering parts I want from the donor for only $40, or may buy the whole thing for a couple hundred $.

cdherman · Post by **cdherman** » April 6, 2009, 9:38 pm

WTF -- I thought a 77 would have disc brakes. I thought it was the law at that point. Or do you mean it didn't have POWER disk brakes????

Oh, you will NOT have to shorten your steering coulum or use the 77. That is assuming that you have a manual transmission on the floor with the corresponding plain jane no shifting stuff steering column.

But you will need the steering SHAFT from the 77, which is shorter.

Look close at the 66. There is about 2 inchest of shaft sticking out of the bottom of the column before it gets to the rag joint. The later shaft is shorter.

Whater you do, get the flange that sits on the firewall from the 77 as well. I beleive it will be a rubber covered peice of steel that bolts up from the inside. Quite a lot different from the 66, but it will work.

You can make this work!!

6166 Junkyard Dog · Post by **6166 Junkyard Dog** » April 6, 2009, 9:51 pm

73-76 Has the steel power steering bracket on outside of the firewall under the master cylinder as where as the 77-79 has that big flange that bolts on the inside only and ALL 73-79 F-100/150 trucks had disc brakes also 73-76 still had the metal bearings on the bottom as where 77-79 had that plastic lower bushing on the columns

1966 M-100 · Post by **1966 M-100** » April 7, 2009, 12:09 am

I guess I best go look at this donor truck, I have only spoken to the owner on the phone. I was surprised when he said no disc brakes, but maybe he thought I meant PB. All the better, as I was waffling on this donor because I thought I should be able to find a PS and disc brake equiped truck. Gonna go look tomorrow! Truck was in daily use till it hit a fence post recently (maybe no steering or brakes).