Steering Box

Just took the old Torino on a 500 mile trip. Ran great, and got lots of looks and thumbs up.

My biggest complaint is the stock steering box (which I have never liked on this car). The power steering is over boosted and is way to slow. I am planning on redoing the suspension and steering on the car this year (it was supposed to be last year until the house ate all my money). This year I have the cash set aside, and I am doing it come hell or high water.

Plans inclued all new steering linkage, new coils all around (much higher rate), Bilstien shocks, Addco sway bars, all new suspension bushings (not sure if I am going to go poly or not), sandblast and paint all suspension parts, and possible Metco LCA's.

Is there a Ford steering box that will bolt in place of the stock unit, but with a more performance oriented feel? Perhaps something from a 71-73 Mustang? Anyone upgrade the steering box on their car?

There is supposed to be a close ratio Mustang box that works well on our car but I can't remember the details. Hopefully someone else has more details.

Thanks for the info. Do you know where I can get the box?

How did the mods improve your car? What springs did you use?

This place has the gear boxes........

On my ex  police torino came with the ford box. After I had felt the difference with the saginaw box in my old LTD wagon I put one in the torino. Some LTD II's and 77 to 79 cougars may have these boxes and yes in 71 to 73 mustangs and I've seen them in T-birds. To bad Auto parts Colmar got rid of the LTD II that had saginaw box.

Saginaw boxes bolt into the frame using the same holes as the Ford. You'll need Saginaw specific hoses, thats all. 

My 74 Torino (Base Model) came with the Saginaw Box and Ford PS Pump stock. The one down side to it is the preasure hose is hard to find if you need it in a hurry. Most auto parts stores can get them, but I haven't found one yet that carried them in stock.  

Thanks for the info guys on the suppliers. I called Lares and I can get the fast ratio box (which they list as 10:1) for $275 US, but they told me I'd have to eat the $75 core charge as the ford box isn't an acceptable core exchange. Is it just me, or does the 10:1 seem crazy fast? They guy told me that it's okay for the street.

PSquare,

what was involved in retrofitting the p/s hoses? Can I still get them from a parts store, if so what year, make, model did you order? DId you have to make any changes to the P/S pump?

GranTorinoMan,

was your fast ratio box from them a Saginaw or a Ford box? I'm also waiting to hear back from Cancraft, I asked if they have the Saginaw SPA-T box. I want to keep the P/S on my car, but I am sure the manual box must still feel better than the stock Ford box.

Edited by 72FordGTS - 08-April-2010 at 6:18AM

GranTorinoMan wrote:  Any other companies sell steering boxes?

[QUOTE
was your fast ratio box from them a Saginaw or a Ford box? I'm also waiting to hear back from Cancraft, I asked if they have the Saginaw SPA-T box. I want to keep the P/S on my car, but I am sure the manual box must still feel better than the stock Ford box.[/QUOTE]

Nice front clip Mike...too bad my Nascar wheels wouldn't work for ya.

It depends what pump you use. Unlike most of you guys I have the 'plastic' pump. 

Cancraft got back to me. The're prices are really good, and they said they can do a 2.5 LTL box (about 10:1) or a 3 turns LTL box (the same as SPA-T). I think I am going to go with a 3 turns LTL box. The 2.5 turns LTL at 10:1 is probably too quick. I know CVPI (late model ones) have 3 turns LTL and I really like the steering on those cars (although they are rack and pinion).

For other Canadians on here, Cancraft seems to be great so far, plus no duty and shipping is reasonable.

cowboyupdjcarl wrote: I would like to see more of that front clip.   Looks like those UCA's are custom built?