73 manual to power steering conver.

[tyjoja]

I'm starting to fix up a 73 c10. It has manual steering. I bought a parts trk that has a power steering gear box and tilt wheel. Any tips on the process would be appreciated thanks

[Russell]

I'd imagine it is just a matter of taking your old steering box off the frame, swapping the new one on, then mounting the PS pump on the engine. Should be good to hit the road after that, though, I must say I sympathise with you in your efforts to get the pitman arm off :S

[Slonaker]

Rent, borrow, or buy a pitman arm puller. I tried (and broke) a couple of types of generic pullers trying to get mine off because the local auto parts stores said they didn't rent a pitman arm puller. I was returning a loaned generic puller to the store when I saw one on their list of loaner tools. That popped it right off. It helps to have the right tools.

Are you thinking of the 4WD ones, Russel? I hear they are tough to remove.

Slonaker

[boxrodz]

Depending on how old your parts truck is, you may want to consider replacing the power steering pump and the hoses (at least, the seals) with new parts. I'd 'bably' flush out the unit, too. How's the rag joint? You could check the other steering components to see if they need replacing.

Ditto on what Slonaker suggested. The pitman arm remover makes quick work on removing the pitman arm. Or, you may decide to retain the pitman arm off of the parts truck and use a tie rod end puller.

[tyjoja]

Thank you all for the threads, I had started taking off the old gear box and am down to the pittman arm and i'm stopped till I get a puller. A side track here: I'm trading out the steering column from my parts truck also and it is an automatic with the shifter on the column and my truck is a four on the floor, does anyone know where I can get the piece on the column that doesn't have the bracket for the shifter? Thanks again.

[Slonaker]

This look like it does what you want, but I don't know for sure.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/2049...ift-Cover.html

Slonaker

[tyjoja]

Thanks a lot slonaker this looks like exactly what I need. I'm brand new to this, and don't know where to look for parts. I really appreciate it. tyjoja

[tkeduk8r]

I did this same thing on my 74... real easy... just swap out the box and I did the tie rod removal rather than the pitman arm... ONLY complaint i have had it that my steering wheel is now rotated about 30 degrees clockwise when I am going straight down the road... it is kind of annoying, but im going to wait till spring to try and fix... a crooked wheel was well worth the effort of putting the power steering in!!! between that and power brakes made the truck a total different experience to drive...
--Mike

[84 400]

mike you could barrow a sterring wheel puller and put the wheel on straight and that would slove your problem real quick

[tkeduk8r]

Yeah I was hoping the same thing, and I did pull the wheel back off to try to correct it, but the little slot in the column didnt provide enough adjustment. Good suggestion for others though... Im not usre how things got a little off when i did the swap, but i belivet he parts truck i got the pump off of had the same issue...i think... what ill prolly end up doing is pulling the pitman arm off and moving it over a tooth or two to correct it... who knows it may have been pulled off at one point before... OR if im lazy there are enough of those things (steering box) in the boneyards around here I could try to find a straight one...ohhhhh that leads me to another questiont o post... I know of a 80 Z28 that has its box yet... will that box swap over????
--Mike