Cheapest way to convert to Power Steering?

[Bcarroll0597]

Hey I'm looking for some advice for the cheapest way to convert to power steering from manual steering. And I'm also looking to see what some of you guys have done. Thanks

 

[Broncobowsher]

Cheap does not always mean good. But it can be done with junkyard parts. Which is the cheapest? Depends on which one you get the best deal at the junkyard on.

There are two parts that you really have to contend with. The engine side and the frame side. Engine side comes down to what engine and pulley set you have (or will be switching to). The factory 2-groove crank pulley is rather rare. 3-groove is common but that 3rd groove out front tends to tangle with the cooling fan. Bracket that fits the engine and a pump. There are junkyard options, build your own, and some venders have brackets as well. Good part is most any power steering pump will work with most any steering box. You don't have to be dead set on any pump to match anything else.

The steering gearbox is the other part. Late 70's 4WD Ford truck box fits pretty good but turns the wrong way (turn the wheel left and the truck will turn right), but that can be fixed with the worm gear from an 80's ford truck (just about anything from a Ranger to an F350 in 2WD or 4WD). There is a Toyota steering box that has been adapted. Using a Nissan Xterra steering box is what I did last. Even that has odd options like using a sector shaft from a Jeep that shares common splines with the Bronco so a Bronco pitman arm can be used. The steering shaft usually ends up being an assortment of universal joints and a slip shaft is a very good thing to install.

Depending on how much cutting and welding you are capable of as well also varies what goes in. If you add "no weld" to the requirements that changes a lot.

 

[broncnaz]

Thats kinda subjective. but I would have to say hitting up a junkyard may be your cheapest route. Find a 76up ford F150 4wd or 78/79 bronco with PS grab the steering box. Then you'll need to find another steering box off a gm car or truck. May want to research this as I think some wont work. You will have to swap the internals to get the ford box to turn the proper direction.
Then find you a 302 powered car truck or van and grab the powersteering pump and brackets. a lot of people look for the 1980s up vehicles as you may find a saginaw pump whic is a better bet than the ford pumps.
Next you'll need the crank and water pump pulleys. You should be able to find a water pump pulley no problem but finding a 3 bolt crank pulley can be a little tough so if you can find a 4bolt one thats about the same size as your current pulley you could just redrill the holes to make it work. But you have to keep in mind some pulleys have different spacing and may require you to shim your other pulleys or assesory brackets to get alginment correct.
There are other junkyard swaps as well but this one tends to be a little easier I think. Of course one of the cheapest swaps uses the 70's pickup 2wd box but you must have a 2in or taller lift to use it.

Another option is to watch the classifieds steering seups come up for sale quite often you may still need to scource some parts but the box itself is really the biggest issue.

 

[Bcarroll0597]

Thanks for the quick responses I'm gonna do some more homework on this before I decide to do anything. I have a 351 Windsor motor and there are conversion kits that I could get but I'm not sure if I want to spend the money. I'm currently researching the swap from a late 70's f150 power steering to my bronco. Thanks guys

 

[Bcarroll0597]

Has a anyone done a Toms Bronco Power Steering conversion kit?

 

[Bronco Brian]

Are you in Ireland ?

 

[Bcarroll0597]

No I'm from Limerick, Maine

 

[Pops68]

I did the Tom's delux swap several years ago.....more $$$ now, but what isn't??? Had a neighbor who is more mechanically inclined with better tools help me. Basically, done in a day (while working on power brake conversion at the same time). Next to brakes, steering is the most important thing in my opinion.

No issues what-so-ever. I have a 351 windsor, too.

Pops

 

[treihesse]

Cheapest I've ever done it was with a 87 Nissan pathfinder box Saginaw pump have hoses made. I would get the hoses with the box so you can have it copied

Holes almost match up too. Had it for years in a previous bronco. 200 dollars in all of it

 

[Broncobowsher]

Cheapest I've ever done it was with a 87 Nissan pathfinder box Saginaw pump have hoses made. I would get the hoses with the box so you can have it copied

Holes almost match up too. Had it for years in a previous bronco. 200 dollars in all of it

The Xterra box has the same frame bolt holes. But the '01½-'04 uses standard American thread for the pressure line. Makes getting the pressure line much easier.

 

[treihesse]

Problem with the xterra is they are still expensive. The 87 pathfinder box is a pick and pull cheapo. Plus Parker store doesn't charge anything different for metric on one end and sae on the other. He wants cheap. The 87 pathfinder box is that. I think only 1 hole needs to be drilled too. I bet you could do the whole thing for under 200 at a pick and pull. Get Saginaw from 302 with brackets. Pathfinder box ( Low pressure side hose you can reuse on Saginaw box. Have 1 line made with the Saginaw on one end and the Nissan metric on the other. Done

 

[Broncobowsher]

Pick and pull yards charge the same regardless of how new or old. Newer stuff typically has fresher seals and less mileage. Often scraped due to a wreck instead of scraped due to worn out.

Again, it all depends on what you can find the best deal on. It will be used, that is for sure. But it isn't a garantee that one way will be way cheaper than another. I have had people try and sell me a 2WD F100 steering box that has been left to collect dirt on the side of the house for 5 years, for $500!

 

[vol_bronco_05]

I bought a good used 02 Xterra box and used it with the stock power steering box and Delphi conversion hoses from Bronco Graveyard. Works really well as far as boosting and turns ratio but the indexing is wrong on the pitman shaft so it turns slightly further in one direction than the other. I bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee box that will supposedly correct the indexing problem by a simple pitman shaft swap but I haven't gotten around to changing it out yet so I can't confirm that it will work. If I recall correctly, you also have to drill a new hole in your frame where the box attaches and, if you use the stock non power steering column, you'll have to cut it and weld on a steering u joint to fit the input shaft. I think I got that from speedway.

I'm really happy with it and if you're cheap like me, you can't beat it.

 

[sdugs]

Years ago 1994 I did the toyota box swap and its still going strong. Got the box from the junkyard along with the pump from a big bronco. The shafts were welded together and i used a toyota drop pitman arm and welded on the bronco end. Have never had any issues in 20 years. Back then before internet ECBR had writeups with instructions and part numbers.

Sean
68 Bronco

 

[nvrstuk]

Yeah, the Yoda box write up... I did that back then... : )

IFS, Yoda box, buy a new FJ60 pitman arm (new I think is still 55 bucks- or call contact me as I think I still have two of them) and ream the hole for a Ford tapered rod end, bolt the Yoda box on and drill a couple new holes thru the frame and thru the frame stiffener plate that you just welded on (you need it, EB frames crack from the p/s box stress), use a Ford pump or the Yoda pump, find a cheap Double D tapered strg column shaft, get the one new metric fitting you need for the Yoda box pressure side, re-use the fitting on the low pressure side... I think you're done.

Shouldn't be $150... still have buddies running the IFS box 10 years later. I ran mine 15 yrs with 35"s...

Good luck, you CAN do it cheeeep.