Thread: Ford pickup with 2 way power steering cylinder

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Can anyone tell me what year Ford pickups had power steering and used the 2 way cylinder?

Can't say I remember for sure, Tom..... I'm thinking thru like '66 or '67??? Maybe later, all mine have been manual boxes on the '68-'72's that I've done... I could ask Bart, I'm sure he remembers. (He's young and doesn't have this CRS stuff too bad yet!!!!!)

Hi Tom. I'm not sure what you mean by a 2 way cylinder....are you talking about a slave cylinder type setup like the early Mustangs? If so, I'm not so sure Ford ever offered that from the factory on F100's.

Ford started the twin-i-beam suspension in 1965 but didn't offer power steering until 1966. It was a Bendix integral gearbox that was noted for leaks, etc.
Bendix P/S: 1966/68 F100/250 2WD / 1969 F100/250 2WD before serial number D96,001. After that they changed to an intergral PS gearbox that I think was built by Saginaw.

If you scroll down thru this link you'll find schematics for the Ford F100's offered from '66 thru '79 or so. Since you didn't say what year your truck is, I don't know if this helps or not...
Ford Truck Technical Drawings and Schematics - Section C - Steering Systems and Related Components

I remember junking out a Ford pickup that had that power steering on about two years ago. It was a mud racing 4x4. I'm trying to put a cheap power steering set up on my 1952 Farmall H tractor. Char Lynn or Behlen will cost me between $600 - $900. I figure the Ford truck system from a junk yard should go for $100 - $200. I'm thinking it was a 76 but not sure.

Originally Posted by Tom F

I remember junking out a Ford pickup that had that power steering on about two years ago. It was a mud racing 4x4. I'm trying to put a cheap power steering set up on my 1952 Farmall H tractor. Char Lynn or Behlen will cost me between $600 - $900. I figure the Ford truck system from a junk yard should go for $100 - $200. I'm thinking it was a 76 but not sure.

If it was a racing 4x4, it could have had some additional hydraulic cylinders or something on the steering I suppose. I'm not too familiar with the 4x4s.
Does your tractor have the wide set or narrow set wheels? If they are wide set, it might be interesting to explore hanging a rack & pinion steering on it. There are companies that have developed kits to adapt the racks to fit the straight axle Ford pickups. They often use the rack from the GM J-cars, which are a center steer setup. You can find them in the salvage yards for cheap and play around with some ideas. Since I assume you probably won't be running the tractor at highway speeds, bumpsteer, etc probably won't be that big of an issue. Anyway, here's a pic of one of the kits. Maybe it will spark some ideas....
1955-56 Ford Full Size Rack & Pinion Kit | 1955-1964 Ford Rack and Pinion | Ford Steering | Seach By Vehicle | Unisteer Performance

Tom, here's a link with pics of the '67-79 Ford pickup power steering setup so you can see if you can make it work for you. How to Install Power Steering in a 2WD F100/250/350 - FORDification.com

I found a guy with a 76 F250 4x4 on Craigslist selling the power steering but didn't have the parts I'm looking for. He did say that it did have them parts but he didn't have them. Guess I'll call up some junks yards around here.
Thanks for your help though.

I did some researching and found out what I'm looking for is a Hydraulic steering assisted cylinder. Looks like more than what I want to get into at this time unless I get the whole system Really cheap.http://PS_linkage2

Originally Posted by Tom F

I did some researching and found out what I'm looking for is a Hydraulic steering assisted cylinder. Looks like more than what I want to get into at this time unless I get the whole system Really cheap.http://PS_linkage2

Those are more common on 4x4's when running big meats, like bigger than 40's to help with steering in the rocks, and to help eliminate road force influences to the steering, to an extent. There are articles on tapping into the steering box for line pressure. If you've got a good 4x4 shop that sets up and maintains Jeeps, buggies & trucks they might be able to help you out - like this one, maybe http://www.4x4wire.com/news/rocklogic/steer03/

Wow!!! Good thing Randy still has a functional memory and is here to correct me, I'd of had you out looking for stuff that doesn't exist!!!!!

Your H doesn't need power steering, just put a spinner knob on it---------also why would you want to change a classic tractor to something that will cost you more than the tractor was new and totally kill the value of it?????????????Also You didn't say if you had a wide or narrow front end.

Earlier tractors were convertted to ps with a unit mounted in the steering shaft---units were similar to some of the dirt track race cars----------

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Wow!!! Good thing Randy still has a functional memory and is here to correct me, I'd of had you out looking for stuff that doesn't exist!!!!!

LOL, Dave, the biggest reason I remember this stuff is that I own a '66 F100 that I converted to power steering 3 or 4 years ago and I participate on a couple of Ford truck forums where this question gets asked all the time.

[QUOTE=jerry clayton;481613]Your H doesn't need power steering, just put a spinner knob on it---------also why would you want to change a classic tractor to something that will cost you more than the tractor was new and totally kill the value of it?????????????Also You didn't say if you had a wide or narrow front end.

My old 1939 H had the spinner knob but it had the narrow front, this "New" 1952 H has a wide front end and has been welded which makes it even harder to turn, it's OK when moving but standing still is a bearcat. One with a narrow front you can use the brakes to help turn it but for some reason it doesn't help with the wide front. I don't care about it being a classic tractor I just want it to plow and lift snow and for pulling junked engines. http://H ps pump I hope this picture shows up, it's the proper way to do it but "they" want $900 for it.

Do you mean that its not an IH front end??? can you post some pics???what has been welded???

if you want power steering with the control cylinder, look into ps on 60s cars------I'm assuming that you just want to use the hydraulic cylinder because there ism't any practical way to mount an automotive type steering box on that tractor.

You couls possibly adapt a center steer box for a dirt tract sprint car??????????????

Check out this EBay item--Sweet Power steering servo

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