Steering box question??

I am thinking about steering boxes and sometime in the future going to update mine on my Fairlane.
This may be a naive question but I am noticing the steering box on my 99 Jeep looks like it may work on my Fairlane, of course with some minor mods.
Am I way out of line here. Or could this be a kinda easy swap for some power steering. They both have pitman arms, similar drag link, tie rods etc? Remember I am a noobie and am kinda thinking out loud on this one.
Thanks

 

Why the need for an "update"?

 

Look at Borgeson, they have a bolt in power box.

 

My current set up stinks. I haven't done any investigating yet, but I am thinking ahead if in case I need an overhaul.
Right now I have to swerve it into a parking spot, and usually am left at an angle. I just can't do any sharper turning, and a U turn would be out of the question.
I have to admit this is the first bigger older auto I have ever owned and maybe I am just too use to modern steering. So I was thinking hey maybe I can modernize to the Jeep steering and not go broke doing it.

 

The Jeep box is a Delpih/Saginaw 670-series box. It's a very good piece of hardware.

But...

There's a bunch of issues to deal with here.

First off, if what you care about is the turning circle, the box does not determine the turning-circle diameter on that Fairlane, that's limited by the front suspension configuration - how far the wheels will turn before they hit the frame, the front strut rods and sway bar, etc. All those Falcon-derived front suspensions had ****py turning circles.

Secondly, are you up for the fabrication work involved in adapting that Jeep box to the Fairlane? The Jeep output shaft is 1 1/4in 36-spline tapered, it won't be easy to make the Ford 1" or 1 1/8"-hole Pitman arm fit. The frame mountings are different, I'm not quite sure how the output shaft length on the Jeep box matches up to the Ford (I *think* they're fairly close, so it might actually fit...) but you'll be fabricating a new steering column and the Jeep box input shaft and valve are long enough that it's probably going to stick through the firewall. It's bigger than the stock Ford box (or the Borgeson-modified Aisin box) in other dimensions too, so you might have engine/exhaust clearance issues (and if you've got a manual transmission with a linkage-type clutch you certainly WILL have problems there.)

The old Ford Eaton power steering pumps don't make enough pressure to run that Delphi box so you'll need to change that too.

Just be aware of everything you might have to deal with.

 

It's most likely just a getting used to the car problem as many of us think of that car as a small or midsize car rather than a "big" car.

You may have to work a bit on planning what you are going to do when it comes to parking or maneuvering in tight places. Swing a bit wider or what ever it takes. Or park out further where there is no car on either side and walk a few more feet to the door of the store. I'll walk every time rather than trying to horse my 71 GMC long bed into a parking spot.

On the gear boxes. The best I can offer is to lay both on the bench side by side and compare.
JEM wrote a pretty good commentary on the whole thing in his post above.

Compare the bolt patterns for mounting and see what you would have to do there. Then compare the length of the pitman shaft and see if it is going to put the pitman arm in the right spot and do the same with the shaft that will connect to the steering column. You will have to modify or change the steering column as the shaft in the Fairlane is a one piece unit.

 

First I'd get the opinion of a KNOWLEDGEABLE person who is familiar with Fords of the era... as mentioned this is pretty much a larger Ford Falcon and Mustangs, as well as others, used the same design steering and suspension. It may well be something is amiss... or it may just be that you are not used to driving a 50 year old automobile.

You may have several worn parts which would contribute to your problems...

 

If your jeep is 2wd it may work but 4x4 boxes usually turn opposite direction you need.

 

New tie rod ends, idler arm, possibly ball joints and an adjustment of the steering box may be all you need. Take it to an old guy that still knows how to fix old iron and you should be good. If it's that sloppy then you need it repaired before it causes you more serious trouble.