The Ford Barn

Pamlico · 10-15-2024, 02:27 PM

Well, the manual steering box just gave up on my Ranchero. It was the roller bearings on the long shaft. Luckily, and I truly mean luckily, it gave out right in front of my garage upon returning from a cruise-in. It had been acting up and had a lot of play for a while and I had adjusted the pitman shaft all I could. In anticipation of this impending failure, I found a used 58 steering box at Carlisle in June. Fast forward to today and I am in the throws of making the swap. I noticed the pitman arm on the replacement box is about a half inch longer than the original one. I could easily use my old one but I am wondering, while I'm there, is there an advantage to using the slightly longer one? Better ratio(or not). And would that require a front end alignment, etc? Thanks!

KULTULZ · 10-15-2024, 05:05 PM

If you can, I would use the original steering arm.

Pamlico · 10-15-2024, 05:16 PM

KULTULZ, I was hoping you would chime in. I agree, that would certainly simplify the whole deal. I'm just curious about there being 2 different ones (maybe more). The Ranchero was built on a Custom 300, Courier, Sedan Delivery frame. Maybe the column I scored was from a Fairlane 500 or something similar. Thanks for the advice. I'll probably use the original.

KULTULZ · 10-15-2024, 05:28 PM

The steering box is unique to each model year (1957 - 58 -
59).

The box is definitely off a 1958?

The difference between MS and PS is within the steering arm.

OH!

Hold on to that take-off box as it can be rebuilt.

craig · 10-15-2024, 06:11 PM

As KULTUZ mentioned the difference between manual and power steering is the reason for the length difference. If you do decide to use the long arm, you must use the matching idler arm too or the steering geometry goes out the window.

Pamlico · 10-15-2024, 09:52 PM

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I was told it was a 58 box. It does have the recirculating balls and does NOT have the hole in the end for the horn wire (57). I don't want to play around with the geometry, so I'll use the original pitman arm. Good info about the MS vs PS difference. Thank you, guys!

10-15-2024, 02:27 PM	#1
Pamlico Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern North Carolina Posts: 64	58 Ford Ranchero manual steering box pitman arm Well, the manual steering box just gave up on my Ranchero. It was the roller bearings on the long shaft. Luckily, and I truly mean luckily, it gave out right in front of my garage upon returning from a cruise-in. It had been acting up and had a lot of play for a while and I had adjusted the pitman shaft all I could. In anticipation of this impending failure, I found a used 58 steering box at Carlisle in June. Fast forward to today and I am in the throws of making the swap. I noticed the pitman arm on the replacement box is about a half inch longer than the original one. I could easily use my old one but I am wondering, while I'm there, is there an advantage to using the slightly longer one? Better ratio(or not). And would that require a front end alignment, etc? Thanks! Last edited by Pamlico; 10-15-2024 at 05:18 PM.

10-15-2024, 05:05 PM	#2
KULTULZ Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: IN A GALAXIE FAR, FAR AWAY Posts: 7,386	Re: 58 Ford Ranchero manual steering box pitman arm If you can, I would use the original steering arm. __________________ ***** "Last Sunday, I caught him makin' eyes at Idell Bushey durin' preachin'. And I know what they do up there in the hills when they say they're possum huntin'. They're just sittin' around the campfire, drinkin' hard cider, hittin' each other on the shoulder and hollerin' 'flinch!'." ― Charlene Darling (Daughter of Briscoe Darling)

10-15-2024, 05:16 PM	#3
Pamlico Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern North Carolina Posts: 64	Re: 58 Ford Ranchero manual steering box pitman arm KULTULZ, I was hoping you would chime in. I agree, that would certainly simplify the whole deal. I'm just curious about there being 2 different ones (maybe more). The Ranchero was built on a Custom 300, Courier, Sedan Delivery frame. Maybe the column I scored was from a Fairlane 500 or something similar. Thanks for the advice. I'll probably use the original.

10-15-2024, 05:28 PM	#4
KULTULZ Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: IN A GALAXIE FAR, FAR AWAY Posts: 7,386	Re: 58 Ford Ranchero manual steering box pitman arm The steering box is unique to each model year (1957 - 58 - 59). The box is definitely off a 1958? The difference between MS and PS is within the steering arm. OH! Hold on to that take-off box as it can be rebuilt.

10-15-2024, 06:11 PM	#5
craig Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: The Inland Empire of Washington State Posts: 373	Re: 58 Ford Ranchero manual steering box pitman arm As KULTUZ mentioned the difference between manual and power steering is the reason for the length difference. If you do decide to use the long arm, you must use the matching idler arm too or the steering geometry goes out the window.

10-15-2024, 09:52 PM	#6
Pamlico Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern North Carolina Posts: 64	Re: 58 Ford Ranchero manual steering box pitman arm Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I was told it was a 58 box. It does have the recirculating balls and does NOT have the hole in the end for the horn wire (57). I don't want to play around with the geometry, so I'll use the original pitman arm. Good info about the MS vs PS difference. Thank you, guys!