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Adding Power Steering |
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jglover 
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Joined: 05-June-2024 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 53 |
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 Topic: Adding Power SteeringPosted: 01-November-2024 at 1:38AM |
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1972 GT 12/71 400cid 2bbl No power steering, no power brakes.
I believe the first thing i wish to do is add power steering to my Ranchero. Since I have no power steering, this mean I have a manual steering box. I have been looking online at RockAuto and they offer two boxes for sale. A Saginaw and a Ford power steering box. Which one do I use for my application? Pump and brackets and pulleys are going to come from a 429 engine (which I will rebuild for the vehicle in time) that I have in storage. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Inkara1
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Joined: 17-November-2021 Location: Ridgecrest, CA Status: Offline Points: 515 |
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Posted: 01-November-2024 at 2:23AM |
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Power steering uses a different pitman arm, which you pretty much cannot get at any price.
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1972 Gran Torino station wagon, light blue, 351C 2V, prior owner upgraded to 4V (2V heads), originally had a C4 but prior owner changed to C6 for some reason.
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jglover
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Posted: 01-November-2024 at 4:11AM |
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Thanks for the heads up. Do you know what makes them different? I did a quick random search using the part number which i got from rockauto and found a couple. Doesn't mean that they are correct ones though!
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Inkara1
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Joined: 17-November-2021 Location: Ridgecrest, CA Status: Offline Points: 515 |
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Posted: 01-November-2024 at 5:16AM |
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I'm not sure other than slight dimension differences. But it doesn't have to be off by much to mess up the steering geometry.
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1972 Gran Torino station wagon, light blue, 351C 2V, prior owner upgraded to 4V (2V heads), originally had a C4 but prior owner changed to C6 for some reason.
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72 RS 351
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Joined: 04-September-2014 Location: Knoxville TN Status: Offline Points: 3445 |
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Posted: 01-November-2024 at 9:22AM |
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I swapped PS into my old 72 Gran Torino(Sept 71 car), using 71-73 Mustang parts. My friend/mentor had the wrecked Mustang as spare parts. I don't recall changing the pitman arm, I may not have. I was in high school with little money, my friend started me into car stuff. I only recall changing the PS box and pump from the Mustang, which was also a Cleveland car. If the pitman arm fit into the Mustang PS box, I likely didn't change it unless I got a new one. That was 1980 so I don't recall much detail.
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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aquartlow
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Posted: 02-November-2024 at 5:31AM |
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The differences between the pitman arms, IIRC, is output shaft size and spline count or possibly "blind spline" count. I'd rather have a Saginaw steering pump and gear box, best of both worlds. That said, the Ford steering gear is more readily available as they were used probably 2 or 3 to1 as compared to the Saginaw steering gear installed in our intermediates. You WILL NOT find a replacement factory PS pressure hose for a Saginaw PS pump to Saginaw PS gear, it will be a special built hose from your local hydraulic shop. The Saginaw gear can easily be modded for 12.7 to 1 quick ratio steering, one of the best mods I ever did to my Ranchero. Hope this info is helpful
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www.supermotors.net/22468
Yeah, It's a Hybrid...It burns gas and tires. No matter how good she looks, somebody, somewhere, is tired of her sh*t. Beauty is skin deep, ugliness goes clear to the bone. |
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72FordGTS
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GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 6780 |
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Posted: 03-November-2024 at 2:20AM |
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Todd is correct. The spline count for the manual steering pitman arm is not the same. They will not swap. You best bet is to find a used or NOS pitman arm before you go down the road to do this swap. There is a company that can rebuild a used arm. We have a bunch of info here: As for steering box, I tend to agree with Todd that the Saginaw is the best option. Much easier to modify and build to your taste. Lares does make the 841 quick ratio Ford box if you wish to go that route. However, as I said, step one is to find a pitman arm.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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72 RS 351
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Posted: 04-November-2024 at 2:17AM |
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Is the Mustang pitman arm possibly the same part number, the PS that is? My same friend still has a few items from his old Mustangs, he killed two of them in the mid 70's before I met him. He might still have some odd parts like the pitman arm, which should be saved obviously.
Edited by 72 RS 351 - 04-November-2024 at 2:24AM |
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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jglover
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Posted: 04-November-2024 at 2:20AM |
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Gentleman, Thank you for all the advice. I have been searching the net for a pitman arm. I see that there are different spline counts and shaft sizes. I don't believe I need quick ratio steering since I am just a cruiser. Maybe I should just man up and drive a manual steering car!
P.S If anyone has a lead on a pitman arm this would be very helpful.
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Rockatansky
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Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 6398 |
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Posted: 04-November-2024 at 12:54PM |
i converted to manual steering, brakes & transmission. in process anyway  |
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72 GT Ute
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jglover wrote: