1952-59 Ford Power Steering on 52-56 Ford?

Who has put Power Steering on their 52 to 56 Ford?
What did you use for a Gear Box?
What Kind of Modifications were Required to get a
Tilt Wheel Style Column Shift to Work?

 

Lots of discussion in our archives:http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php The Jeep box has been used one member even can hook you up with the adapter plate.

 

I don't know about that link Jeff, it takes me to the social group page.

Borgeson makes a bolt in box. There is instructions on the link below. I have this box but have not installed it yet.

http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/product.php?productid=1686&cat=117&page=1

You can also use a Jeep box with an adapter. It has been covered in other threads. Use the search feature (upper right) and just search Jeep. It will bring up plenty of reading.

 

Weird! How our site works sometimes Anyway if you put "power steering" in the search box option a bunch of info will come up which is what I did,why it goes to Group darn if I know.

 

If you were referring to me about the adapter plates i'm all out of them and probably won't have anymore. i have the template with dimensions on it.. maybe i'll upload it to the sticky page one of these days.

 

Check out Butch's Cool Stuff, they have adapter plates that fit a late 70's F150 gear box, not sure if you will have clearance with the manifolds. Give Terry a call he is a real nice guy.

 

There is a Lot of talk about the Jeep Gear box. Have read all the info from past posts on the HAMB. We picked the one they talk about at a Junk Yard and its not a bolt on like every one says. Might work if you cut up the Frame, but not Sure. I Know about the high priced kits, but Looking to save some money. Looking for someone that has actually done this Upgrade to a Working Power Steering on a 52-56. Without the Big Price tag.
The F150 Gear Box is Twice as big as the Jeep Box. Must be a cleaner looking unit that will work?

 

Hi, I have a 54 ford wagon with ford granada power steering. I have had it for a couple of years and it works fine, I am using my stock steering box and the granada bolts up to it, I have a friend that has a 54 ford sedan delivery, with the same power steering for over 10 years. The granada steering is very similar to the 54 ford power steering. The granada is 20 yrs. newer. I have directions if any one wants them, just e mail me. Dave
daverace@sbcglobal.net

 

I have done the jeep dephi box on my 54 coupe Chevy 350,55 ford 302. Yes you do have to cut a notch in the frame, And yes you do need to use a adapter plate to mount the box to the frame. The original pitman arm needs to be modified to work with the dephi box. I have done some on a exchange. I did one for you Rocky. The sig had help me post a how to pictorial but it some how disapeared. The original pictures were on my old computor so they are gone.
Borgson uses the Isuzu steering box for there kit. Borgson was at GG this past weekend . I asked how much complete kit is, 980.00 plus tax. OUCH!!!!!
My 2 Cents

 

Risky, I found these pics on a thread you commented on. I couldn't find any others. Maybe you can tell us about them.
Here's a link to the thread, your's is the 18th comment. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7238074#post7238074

 

Does that include the pump and brackets as well? I think the box itself is around $600. The other stuff could be had for less from your local auto wrecker.

 

The Best Deal is the Borgeson Unit From Summit Racing. Still Pricy. Has anyone Installed one of these? Is it just a bolt on with no Cutting? Any problems with the Steering Column connection & mounting?

 

I used a Wuth It rack & pinion and an I Did It tilt in my '55. I probably have over $ 800 tied up in it.

 

55brodie, how much did the wurthit rack cost? They don't have any prices on their website.

 

I think it was $ 500 or so, but that was 8 years ago. Probably on of his first 55/56 kits for Y-block.

 

Fordsbyjay, Borgson kit had modified Isuzu box with pitman arm,730.80
power steering pump with bracket (bracket is for 272-312 use)and pulley 412.80
hoses,90.00
steering box to column joint for use with original modified column.133.54
These were from there retail price sheet
Borgson Rep said I could save a few bucks if I order it thru Summit.
The-Sig the picture of the Delphi box mounted on frame is when I did my 54 ford.
The first picture is of a kit a guy out of texas (I think) was selling on e-bay. The square plate in that picture will not work on 54-56 ford. It would put box at wrong angle. It might work on a T-bird but not sure.

 

I bought mine from Summit on their scratch and dent sale. I think I paid $100 bucks or something. They are $578.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/brg-800115?seid=srese1&gclid=COLMmI7nqrkCFWZk7AodaHAAog

I was hoping to have mine done before May. Super fail.....

 

55Brodie, which I DID IT column did you use?

 

Column shift tilt, bare steel, 27" long.

 

Wurthit Design posted up new Pix on the website with 3 different engine options you may want to check out:http://wurthitdesigns.com/54-56FORD&MERC.html But if you keep your old steering look at all the exercise you'll get and save $$$ on a gym membership

 

I dont know how to make a link, but here is ***le to a thread about my install: "Borgeson power steering conversion in a 56 victoria"

 

A little info on the Wurthitdesigns rack kit. I am going to try and be fair but as Rick Wurth most likely has old friends on this site I don't expect everyone will take it objectively. I bought a rack and pinion setup from Wurthitdesigns over a year ago. The website that shows his kit and installation kind of sold me on the rack steering. It looked very doable and with my not being more than a fair mechanic it looked like something I could accomplish if my shop guy was too backed up to get to it. Sent Rick an email inquiry to which he responded back by phone. We discussed the rack kit and the options. I don't exactly make a lot of money at my job but manage to save as I go for the stuff I put on my car. The kit was pricey! I know that the price includes the skill, knowledge and engineering time to figure out all the details. Rick quoted me a price of $2200.00 (ballpark) and promised that it would have everything needed to do the job. All the parts were new with no salvage yard scavenger hunt for brackets, hoses etc. To be fair Rick did mention that he was having some logistics problems with his shop and was, if memory serves, having to overcome transitioning from one shop to another. He did however say that as soon as he got the money for the kit he would order what was needed (rack, pump whatever not in stock), include the parts that he normally provides from his own resources (bolts, fittings, hoses), box it all up along with instructions and send it out as soon as he gathered it all together. Again to be fair to Rick I will say that he related to me that he was overcoming some issues about health, which were related to me in a personal manner and I will not relate to you here as it is his personal business, but that he was confident that he could get me the kit in a timely fashion. Payment of course, as with any parts you buy from a vendor, was to be up front in total. Rick promised to hold the check until he had gathered the parts and had the kit ready to go. On the point of holding and not cashing the check, he was as good as his word. The check did not clear as cashed or deposited.....for weeks! He finally called and told me he was ready to cash the check and start the process. I gave him the go ahead and figured it would be to me in a couple of weeks. I set up a date with my shop guy, who is very busy and likes to schedule his work so as to not have a client with his car in the shop over an extended period of time. He scheduled me in and I waited for the kit. As for those of you that made note of the $2200.00 price as being too much I'll just say this, his kit appeared well thought out, it was tried and installed in several cars both locally to his shop and from shipped kits, it was complete from soup to nuts and it was according to him not going to cause any bump steer problems or other issues as it was geometrically neutral and did away with all the ***orted steering rods. It wasn't a bargain but it was going to make the car much better to maintain and steer. I don't have the notes I made of the resulting phone calls between he and I or the dates of the emails or phone calls, and again, to be fair any time frames would be approximates but after a month or so with no call and no shipment I began to get concerned. Previous to my buying the kit I saw on this site a thread where he was mentioned (and not in a negative way either) and that he was one of the few folks making steering applications for our cars. As you all know, 52 through 56 Ford parts, any parts other that stock, are few and far between and mostly pricey. Nothing fits, everything is adapted and this site has been a big help. Since there was no negative threads on Rick I ordered the stuff from what I saw on his website. Not researching any further is on me. After not getting my parts I began to call, phone tag ensued for a couple of calls and he finally got back to me. His word to me was that he was still trying to overcome some personal issues with health and finance and that he was just getting back on his feet and it was taking longer than he anticipated. Fine, I am a pretty understanding sort so we exchanged some ideas about what I expected of him and what he expected to happen on his end. Months, no parts. Few more emails, phone calls and by this time I am getting that uh-oh feeling. Belatedly did due research. Several different web sites are out there, which anyone can find if you look long enough, that had some real horror stories as to parts not delivered promptly, incorrect or never shipped with no refunds and a few refund stories where the blogger said they got some money or all the money back and a story or two about having bought his kit and it was great. After that discovery I began to put pressure on Rick to deliver. Rick claimed to having lost a vendor and having to find another for some sourced parts and that he was still trying to get back on track and that he was ordering some parts that week (which he had told me had already ordered previous) and that he was still dealing with family health issues. Another long period of time no parts. Finally got the call that he was doing a partial shipment and was awaiting other vendors to send parts. Got part of the kit a couple of weeks later and the rest of it a long period of time after that. Stuff looked great, nothing exotic, all over the counter stuff with exception of a bent plate that was most likely sourced from either Rick's shop or a machine shop. Could I have spent the time and money to source the parts and compare what fit and what did not any cheaper. Probably not. So the kit looked complete and ready to go. In the meantime my shop guy, with whom I was on a social basis as well as a business one, pretty much told me not to bring the car as he had put off work to schedule me and since my schedule slid due to no parts his schedule was hosed as well. A relationship since repaired but one that suffered due to not delivering what you promise. Once we went to install the kit, issues developed. The hoses for the rack to the pump pump supplied by Rick have the wrong fitting (an 6 versus an 8 hydraulic hose end fitting) on the pump end. The other hose (clamp fitting low pressure side) is bigger that the hose barb on the pump so the fit relies on the clamp squeezing down a bigger hose to a smaller barb, which I am sure all know causes issues at some point. The universals (Borgeson joints) which are double "D" for the supplied shaft were in the kit. One is a double which requires a support bearing which is not supposed to be needed in this install and the other is wrong sized on one end if using an aftermarket column (which I am and Rick knew) and will have to be replaced. No dip stick in the Ford style pump supplied and the supplied bolts, which are grade eights, are not the correct length for the end plates to fasten onto the frame if using locking washers supplied. Those are just a few of the things we have encountered so far. Why you may ask if I received the kit back during the first of the year am I just now installing? Remember the shop schedule dilemma? Just now able to get the car back into the schedule at the shop I use. And if you guys that are in the same boat as I when it comes to mechanic skills, rely on rod shop owners that are proven to be honest and not ripoff artists as so many shops prove to be, you understand that it pays to wait until you get a spot as opposed to paying to get it redone after you paid someone else to do it. Look, I think Rick is a nice guy. And I don't think him to be dishonest on purpose. I do think he has an overabundance of problems that he struggles to overcome. And I do think he has a good concept. I don't even hold a grudge about this whole thing and wish him well in trying to get his business back to order and prospering. But I would not order another kit from him nor would I recommend anyone else do so unless it can be shown he has recovered from the cloud he has been under. If this causes me to be flamed, well have at it. The moderator may pull the post, it's there site so what can I do about it. But I felt that since most of us here are trying to help one another it needed to be told. Rick, if you are reading this I hope you the best and still think that you did a good job creating this kit; however, maybe you need to go back to wrenching and hire a business nerd to handle the parts sourcing and stocking and shipping of your kits. Best of luck to you sir.

 

Mojo, thanks for your thoughts on the Wurth it rack. As I had thought, they are pricey and with the problems you had, I think I will go the junkyard route if I upgrade my power steering.

 

Hi! I innstaled a Borgeson steering box and i love it! See album for picture!

 

Sounds like Rick has the same issues that plagued JAMCO I have zero problems with anyone posting their experiences with a Vendor in fact I encourage it,anytime you can reach out and save someone else from a bunch of grief I applaud you for doing it.We all want to get the most "bang for the buck" so a big thanks for sharing

 

I am new into the process of the Borgeson box myself currently. I have made it as far as mounting the box, but that is all so far. I just bought the box only right now. I plan to run a saginaw pump (gm) after much research and talking to borgeson, due to the lower pressures ford pumps have and possibly having not enough pressure at idle. Have so many different irons in the fire, I will get it done one of these days. Cost will be a little more in the long run but plug n play fits my abilities at this point so I saved up and bought it.

 

Ctfortner,
What type of Steering Column are you planning to Use? Floor Shift or Column Shift?
Will it be a Tilt Wheel?
Fill us in on the length you use. If Modification were Required?
Very interested in finding out how it works out for you.

 

Hi! If you se at my albums i have already done this swap! Borgeson Steering box and GM pump. and orginal shaft shortned a litle bit! Great and easy job! Nice powerstering function!

 

Vicky - How's the "road feel" with the Borgenson box once you get cruising down the road?

 

Hi Dos Cincos! Orginal power steering is a kind of loos feeling and this is more like stiff if you understand what i mean..Down the highway it feel like a modern car!