Manual steering

[DuceAnAHalf]

i picked up my manual steering box today. it is for a 71-73 mustang, it should swap right onto my 85. i need to swap out the mustang pitman arm for the CV arm, also need to get some gear lube to fill the box.

[Nathan in MI]

How many turns is that lock-to-lock? Let us know what you think of it...

[Grand Marquis GT]

Definately let us know how it turns out!

[DuceAnAHalf]

How many turns is that lock-to-lock? Let us know what you think of it...

just turning the input shaft it is about 6.5 lock to lock. it will be much less once it is installed. it is supposed to be a 20:1 box. when i first saw it i spun the input shaft and i had to make sure that it was working. you can turn the pitman with one finger on the input.

this would suck for a daily driver or cars with big or sticky tires

[DuceAnAHalf]

FUCK... apparently the 71-73 mustang uses a much smaller pitman arm splined section compared to the CV. also the CV rag joint uses a different spline section compared to the old box i have. i can fix that wihth a new rag joint.

I cant use the pitman arm that cam on the box because it is flat and cruved, where the CV is straight and dropped.

Mercracer, any ideas? i suppose if it comes down to it i could have my machinist make a new one but i dont want to do that$$$

this is the torino arm that came on it


this is what the CV one looks like.


i guess i could cut them apart and have them welded back together

[Grand Marquis GT]

Ask the parts mang to look at his pitman arm section in the back, lol...

OR

Look in the TRW pictorial catalog at the parts store.

[Mercmarquis]

this would suck for a daily driver or cars with big or sticky tires

Cant be any worse than the stock power steering box with the lines looped.

[DuceAnAHalf]

Cant be any worse than the stock power steering box with the lines looped.

it will be less effort, but more turns lock to lock

[mrltd]

6.5! You gonna get a spinner for the steering wheel?

Don't get sideways....countersteering will be difficult!


Sounds like a cut and weld deal would be the best bet... So the bolt pattern is the same?? Interesting stuff. I'm sick of the whole steering box deal. I want to go Rack and Pinion.

[DuceAnAHalf]

6.5! You gonna get a spinner for the steering wheel?

Don't get sideways....countersteering will be difficult!


Sounds like a cut and weld deal would be the best bet... So the bolt pattern is the same?? Interesting stuff. I'm sick of the whole steering box deal. I want to go Rack and Pinion.

the steering stops on the control arms will limit the turns to much less. and ive tried to get my car sideways before and i cant. too much traction in the rear

[82LTDQS]

Thats way cool mang! I hope you get it to work. I bet that engine bay looks nice without that pump. Good luck bro.

[DuceAnAHalf]

actually, it looks like the 79 pitman arm might work. the 79 uses the old box, but still uses the newer style bend.

[Tiggie]

- 1971-1973 manual boxes used a differently shaped external casting with a 1 1/8" sector and 24:1 ratio. There also used a slightly different frame mounting bolt pattern they won't interchange with 67-70 models.
- The 71-73 worm and rack assembly is identical to the 70-82 Corvette piece. The Corvette sector (GM P/N 7812838) and worm (GM P/N 7812942) will fit in 71-73 1 1/8" boxes if a new groove is scribed into the Ford pitman arm that corresponds with the index on the GM sector and if a Corvette coupler (GM P/N 7806391) is substituted for the Ford rag joint. Provides 16:1 ratio rather 24:1 ratio. Also the flat Ford-style sector shaft cover can be replaced with the 'Vette cover (GM P/N 7806748) which has an integral bushing that lends additional support to the sector shaft. The outer rim of the bushing support must be turned down to fit in the Ford box.

If that's right, sounds like you got the worst box possible as far as fast steering, but you might be able to upgrade it with GM parts!

[DuceAnAHalf]

If that's right, sounds like you got the worst box possible as far as fast steering, but you might be able to upgrade it with GM parts!

dont care about fast steering. im concerned with being able to turn the wheels with no pump

[mrltd]

the steering stops on the control arms will limit the turns to much less. and ive tried to get my car sideways before and i cant. too much traction in the rear

Impressive. Wonder what the installed lock to lock will be.