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Technical Can I run a f100 box upside down.

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by bootie, Jan 20, 2024.

  1. bootie
    Joined: Jul 31, 2004
    Posts: 194

    bootie
    Member

    I picked up a 53 f100 box yesterday and it wasn't until I got it home that I realised it was LHD ( I need RHD)
    Can I flip the box over and drill and tap a fill plug into it ? that way it would look similar to the F1 box - I realise I will need to put the pitman up rather than down to get the steering to go the right way

    look forward to any advice
     
  2. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 21,607

    alchemy
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    I think all the gravel would fall out.








    Yes I’ve seen guys turn boxes on their side, so would think upside down would be ok too. I recommend John Deere cornhead grease as it will lube perfectly but not leak out like looser stuff.
     
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  3. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 13,909

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    ^^^^Pretty damn funny @alchemy, pretty damn funny
     
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  4. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,018

    Mr48chev
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    Flip the box upside down on the bench and turn the shaft and see if pitman arm moves in the right direction to turn the wheels in the right direction.
    I'm sitting here trying to visualize and without the box in front of me am not getting a clear picture.
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2024
  5. GordonC
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,350

    GordonC
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    A normal F1 box has the pitman arm down and to the outside left of the left (DS) frame rail. If an overseas right hand box has it down and to the outside of the right hand frame rail, tipped upside down and mounted on the left frame rail would put the arm on the left side of the (DS) frame pointing up in the air. Now as to if it steers in the correct direction in relationship to how you turn the steering wheel that is another whole issue.
     
  6. Kiwi 4d
    Joined: Sep 16, 2006
    Posts: 3,707

    Kiwi 4d
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    Ahh the joys of kumeu swap meet. If in fact it does work with the arm pointing, sadly I fear you will have bump steer , not a desirable outcome. The f100 steering box has the pitman arm only goes on one place due to the big through bolt. Where as I believe F1 can be reversed to RHD and inverted due to the design of the master splines. Do you want a spare LHD f100 automatic column ? The internals are also LHD specific I believe.
     
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  7. bct
    Joined: Apr 4, 2005
    Posts: 3,173

    bct
    Member

    I deleted this once already second guessing myself . Lol . Love these challenges. I'm going to say no . Edit. I should add perspective is looking at wheel in drivers position and pitman from side 20240120_212557.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2024
  8. Don't know about upside down, but inside out is okay.
     
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  9. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,018

    Mr48chev
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    It can be done. Plus the pitman arm will point down.
    WOOPS! you can't just take the F100 pitman arm off and rotate it 180 degrees and put it back on.

    If you just flipped the box and put it on the other side with the arm pointing up the arm will still go forward when you turn left but when you flip the pitman arm it will pull back when you turn left and that is what you want.

    IMG_1641.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2024
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  10. brading
    Joined: Sep 9, 2019
    Posts: 754

    brading
    Member

    This is another another way of doing it.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. bct
    Joined: Apr 4, 2005
    Posts: 3,173

    bct
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    F100 is worst choice to move pitman
     
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  12. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 10,589

    BJR
    Member

    CAN I RUN A F100 BOX UPSIDE DOWN.
    Only in Australia! :D
     
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  13. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,018

    Mr48chev
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    Thinking on it this morning it is the same concept as mounting a cross steer box in front or beind the axle center line. when you switch positions you swap the pitman arm 180 degrees to get the right push-pull to turn in the direction you want to.

    In case it was missed in my other post this won't work with the F100 pitman arm.

    Left hand steering the pitman arm has to push forward to turn to move the steering arm on the left spindle forward to turn left and pull back to turn right.

    Right hand steering it has to pull the steering arm on the right spindle back to make a left hand turn and push it forward to make a right hand turn.
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2024
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  14. Acording to alchemy, you probably have to use left-hand gravel. :eek:
     
  15. Wut?!
    Now my head hurts. :oops:
     
  16. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 19,360

    49ratfink
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    from California

    if you mount the box upside down the steering wheel will be below the floor.
     
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  17. bootie
    Joined: Jul 31, 2004
    Posts: 194

    bootie
    Member

    at least the ran buggered off on saturday the pitman pointing up will allow me to run the rod parallel with the 4 bars so shouldn't be any issues with bump steer.
    Could be interested in the column can never have too much
     
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  18. bootie
    Joined: Jul 31, 2004
    Posts: 194

    bootie
    Member

    thanks for all the replies - I think it should work - I went out and played around last night - it turns in all the right directions
    I think the only issue may be trying to get the pitman in the right position. perhaps I can swap the sector shaft for an earlier one
     
  19. Frames
    Joined: Apr 24, 2012
    Posts: 5,180

    Frames
    Member

    Check again. You are in luck. Pittman arm DOWN. Guys use the Mopar box for left steer. Pittman arm down. I use it for right steer. Pittman arm down. NO changes to the box needed. Believe me it works. Turn the wheel right the car goes right. Sorry. I'm late. Already answered.
     
  20. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,018

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    I forgot about that blooming pinch bolt. An F-1 box would make things a lot easier.
     
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  21. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 3,333

    Kerrynzl
    Member

    Use a Landcruiser FJ40 power steering box
     
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  22. Corn Fed
    Joined: May 16, 2002
    Posts: 3,344

    Corn Fed
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    Before you get too far, you should pull that box apart and see what condition the internals are in. Most have bad races and gear surfaces. If those are junk, you should probably just look for a correct RHD box to use.
     
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  23. noboD
    Joined: Jan 29, 2004
    Posts: 8,685

    noboD
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    If it steers backward it would sure stop a thief in his tracks.
     
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  24. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 3,333

    Kerrynzl
    Member

    It Doesn't......

    If the pitman arm pushes forward at the bottom , it would pull rearward at the top [if the pitman arm was clocked]

    When you Flip the box 180° [along the column] and it does the opposite on the other side of the vehicle
    now the pitman arm pulls rearward at the bottom , it would push forward at the top.

    But this is corrected by the Steering arm on the axle being on opposite sides

    Pushing the drag link forward on the L/H side will turn left.
    Whereas pulling the drag link rearward on the R/H side will turn left.

    @Mr48chev is correct [look at his diagram]
    And don't laugh at his artistic flair :D [I have built complete cars using similar diagrams]
     
  25. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 9,216

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    Not familiar with the F100 pitman arm? Why can't it be reversed? Most pitman arms are indexed, so when flipping them I just file the index point off the arm and then they'll mount any direction.
     
  26. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 21,607

    alchemy
    Member

    These pitman arms have a few splines on one side of the shaft and a pinch bolt. Can’t be rotated.
     
  27. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 34,145

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    I may be talking out of turn here , but if you flip the box upside down and put it on the other side wont the worm gear then be above the sector gear and run the risk of not getting proper lubrication because it is too high???
     
  28. bootie
    Joined: Jul 31, 2004
    Posts: 194

    bootie
    Member

    I thought that, initially but when i look at the f1 box it basically looks the same as the f100 box only the other way up. I would definitely need to put a new fill plug in it and probably overfill it with steering grease to make sure it is lubed. I will also be running it in a more vertical position than it is would have been originally
     
  29. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,018

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  30. bct
    Joined: Apr 4, 2005
    Posts: 3,173

    bct
    Member

    I opened up mine and it look like a rat had chewed half the teeth off the steering shaft . I researched and seennit was a common problem . I'm mystified.
     

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