[archifx]

Hey guys, I am attaching my illustration of parts I think I will need to successfully convert my 72 fastback to power steering. Please correct me if I am wrong or if you think I need other parts. I know I will need a pulley and reservoir for the PS pump.

I have listed in the illustration:

• Pressure Hose
• Return hose
• PS Pump
• PS Gear Box
• New Pitman Arm
• Steering coupler (mine is disintegrated)

 

[rmodel65]

id keep the manual steering....

 

[archifx]

Can I ask why? The car is a bitch to turn with no power steering, it makes it less fun to drive when you have to fight the steering wheel. Any particular reason?

 

[JEM]

Can I ask why? The car is a bitch to turn with no power steering, it makes it less fun to drive when you have to fight the steering wheel. Any particular reason?

There's no reason whatsoever to have manual steering on a '71-73 unless you're absolutely dedicated to keeping the thing completely original. They do not have the linkage-assist junk like the earlier cars.

Those cars use the Saginaw integral-assist steering box. The factory valving was pretty light, so you get pinkie-finger steering out of it. If you care about road behavior and steering feel, I'd call Tom Lee at Lee Mfg (Lee Manufacturing Company Sun valley, CA 91352 Steering gears Pumps Reservoirs) - they might need you to send them a core box, but I'd be looking to have something with a 14:1 straight ratio and 35oz spool valve.

Don't forget the appropriate bracketry, pulleys, etc. for the pump. Might be easier to find a kit to install a Saginaw ham-can pump.

 

[archifx]

There's no reason whatsoever to have manual steering on a '71-73 unless you're absolutely dedicated to keeping the thing completely original. They do not have the linkage-assist junk like the earlier cars.

Those cars use the Saginaw integral-assist steering box. The factory valving was pretty light, so you get pinkie-finger steering out of it. If you care about road behavior and steering feel, I'd call Tom Lee at Lee Mfg (Lee Manufacturing Company Sun valley, CA 91352 Steering gears Pumps Reservoirs) - they might need you to send them a core box, but I'd be looking to have something with a 14:1 straight ratio and 35oz spool valve.

Don't forget the appropriate bracketry, pulleys, etc. for the pump. Might be easier to find a kit to install a Saginaw ham-can pump.

Hmm... So you're saying that if I put the parts on the car that I have shown in my illustration I will have pinky finger like steering ease? That sounds good and bad. I suppose I would not feel the road if it was that easy. On the other hand, it would be a major improvement.

Thus Saginaw "ham canned pump" you speak of... It is different than the duralast pump I have shown? What is the difference?

 

[f150tilt]

I looked into it at one point and decided to keep the manual steering. Good condition manual boxes are hard to come by in the quick ratio.

http://www.stangerssite.com/steeringsysteminfo.html
Mercury Cougar Brake Parts Disc Brake Conversion Power Steering Conversion Categories: Steering Systems
Mustang Brake Conversion Kits Mustang Power Steering Kits: Steering Systems

 

[22GT]

The PS pump you show is the correct Ford/Thompson pump as per 71-73. You'll also need the pulleys and pump brackets. You'll also need the bracket and insulator to attach that pressure hose to the LH cowl brace (betcha always wondered what those holes were for). Those are available new, but the pump brackets and pulleys are not.

 

[79cobraII]

well you mentioned the pulley.

the reservoir for the PS pump is part of the pump itself so there is nothing external.
you will need the brackets.

i think you will need a new crankshaft pulley. I'm not sure what a manual steer car came with down there, i have a a/c car with power so my crank pulley has 3 channels if i'm remembering correctly its been a few years since i was down in that area of the car.

to be correct there is also a clip that holds the power steering hoses parallel to each other down by the box. this helps when your trying to tighten down the fittings into the power steering box but its not a must.

i believe the idler arm is the same for manual and power so you should be ok.

 

[79cobraII]

The PS pump you show is the correct Ford/Thompson pump as per 71-73. You'll also need the pulleys and pump brackets. You'll also need the bracket and insulator to attach that pressure hose to the LH cowl brace (betcha always wondered what those holes were for). Those are available new, but the pump brackets and pulleys are not.

interesting thing i noticed, i've seen some 72 cars that claim to be original and they do not have the loop of hose for the power steering attached to the driver's cowl shock tower brace.

when i ordered new hoses for my 72 they came short for i think its the high pressure side? so i had 2 short hoses. i also had no hardware on my 72 when i got the car for mounting the hose that way. So i'm not sure if every 71-73 was like that, i know i've seen 71s at car shows like that but i'm not sure about 72s my osborn book for 72 does show both mounting methods, i know if you had a power steering cooler and an A/C it changed things up also.

right now i'm running 2 short hoses on my power steering with both running under the cowl/shock tower braces have not had an issue with heat(knock on wood).

 

[22GT]

The longer hose was used in a loop to reduce pump vibration in the steering.

 

[79cobraII]

learn something new every time i come here

one guy said it was for heat build up in the power steering that the longer hose just made the fluid cooler without a power steering cooler.

maybe one day i'll try out a longer hose on mine

 

[Daves72]

I did this very conversion in August of last year. I had a little more difficulty as I have a late 80's 5.0HO with Serpentine, so I had to use the pump from a 93, and the bracket from a 93. The hoses didn't match so I used brass couplers to mate the 93 hoses to the 72 hoses attached to the steering box. My wife still laughs at me when I start the car and show her I can turn the wheels with one finger. Definitely worth the effort!

Edit: I found that by using a larger pulley I could slow the pump and adjust the steering effort to where I had the feel I wanted and still ease of steering.