The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1961 w/ 7.3 turbo deisel power steering?

hello everyone, i have just finished instaling the power train out of a 1995 7.3 turbo deisel ford into a 1961 chevy c60 viking. everything has gone smoothly but i can't seem to find the information i need on converting to power steering. i have the pump on the 7.3, i know i'll need lines, but what gearbox should i go with? i can build any brackets i need but what box should i use for this big truck, a regular truck box? what about the pitman arm, can i get the corect one or will i need to fab one? any advice would help alot. thanks, rob

ok first of all. . . why did you bother with the power stroke instead of a cummins ? sorry i'm just not a V-8 diesel fan. . .I have swapped out many V-6 and V-8 detriot's for inline 6 cat's and cummins I'm in the process of swapping the 903 V-8 cummins for the KT-cummins I would rather have an 1150CID I-6 than 785CID V-8. . .

the 5.9L/6.7L/8.3L/11.0L Cummins or C-7/C-12 CAT's will fit any C/K-30 to C/K-90 truck's. . .

More than likely you'll have to fab one up. . .

I'm working on the planning stages for building a 5.9L/6.7L Cummins diesel Super duty GMC. . .so i'm sorta blending the big three together my self. . .

just woundering why the power stroke ? not very fast on the interstate my old worn out 351W walk's away from them after 72mph they don't stand a chance. . .

Mike

No comment.....

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

Im still lost for words....Lol !!
just kidding with ya !

No comment on the overall project...

But for the steering, I have used the gear box from a 78 GMC 6500 on a project, and found it to be very adaptable for the sort of truck you are working on.
Proabably use the pitman arm that is on it. The ford pump may work, but the one from the GMC truck that the gear box comes from would be better, a stronger pump, more flow, and you get rid of that terrible ford PS pump whine.

There are pictures of the gear box I am talking about on my link below, in the 61 ford 6V53 Detroit album.

Grigg

Well I'm a big Chevy/GMC/Detroit fan but I think your 7.3 will be pretty cool. It will be different and I like how they sound too. Would like to see a picture of it sometime.

Also have you considered trying an original '61 C-60 Power Steering set-up?

Bill

I like the 7.3 Powerstroke, although I do agree they are slow. I've got one in my 95 F-350 with a 5spd and 4.10 posi in the rear. I haven't found anything I can't pull yet, but I do get passed by the Cummins powered Dodges all the time.Good luck with it.

Well you gotta run what work's for you. . .

Now most of these Guy's like Detroit diesel's, and they work for them so they use'em. . .the power stroke work's for you so go with it man. . . I'm about as Hard core GM as they Come and I didn't even consider the 6.2L/6.5L vortech diesels nor did the 6.6L duramax come to mind. . .i went straight for the cummins 5.9L/6.7L. . .I only came up with the idea of doing a diesel bolt after I saw one at a gas station with a 5.9L 6spd dude was in a hurry didn't offer much for info he just fueled and left Prolly wouldn't even have talked to me if i Hadn't been there with my GMC get gas he seemed like an A$$. . .

Mike

why the power stroke
1) i,m building the truck for a guy who owned the power stroke and wanted to use it.
2) i have never built anything with a cat or cumminss, this is the first big truck i've built. i have built a few mustangs and race cars powered by 351w so i know about 351w but again this is not my truck, the owner wanted the power stroke so i cant do different.
3) he looked for a cat, but he's CHEAP and owned the power stroke.
4) the truck will just be used for parades not driven at 75mph
5) my old man worked for ford and never for cat or cummins and he's the only help i got.
6)i worked for a ford parts distributer so i know ford parts good.
7) the owner has owned the truck since new and i have preformened all work on it so i know the drive train very well.
8) the owner used the power stroke for hauling logs on a 25ft. dump trailer since new, and that truck never had any problem hauling loads that never should have been on the road so it should have enough power to pull a trailer of kids on christmass.
9)swap has been super easy, everythig from the motor mounts, steering colum to the pedals, to the darn seats have been easy to make work in the viking.
10) i kind of think it will be a cool truck when its done.
11) it's not my truck..

as for the gear box i did not know that the c60 came with power steering (i never worked on big trucks before) so if it did i suppose i could use that. as for the 78 gmc 6500 is there a place i could buy that box new? i looked on napa's web site and they dont list anything above a 3500.
i just need a little help, i new this engine combo would ruffel a few feathers but it's what i have to work with.
thanks, rob

I don't know that the 78 GMC box will work for you or not.
Here are some pictures of one still in the original truck:
[IMG]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/60/660/5/0/83/2260500830080251109WUTkZG_th.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/68/68/5/2/77/2908502770080251109spabmp_th.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/69/69/8/64/36/2364864360080251109gLFDqi_th.jpg[/IMG]

I don't have any pictures of it in the 61 ford f350 I put it in, thought I did, but don't after all. I only used it because it was handy, (left over from a truck I scrapped) fit reasonably well, and was about the right size/strength for the job.
If you think one will work then go look in the junk yards, they are plentiful, as all the steering gear boxes from at least 78 into the 90's look about the same (later ones are metric).
I would not buy a new one until you had a used one in hand to be sure it will fit your application.

In short, go shopping at the junk yard for a medium duty truck power steering gear box....

Grigg

Im only joking with ya...It sounds kinda cool

thanks Grigg, at least know i know where to head first in the junkyard. i was just wondering if anyone sold it new so i could mabey find a pic of it and did not see it on the napa site, do they sell stuff for these big trucks or who does? thanks, rob

I believe Napa sells a rebuild kit for the gear box, but I don't know about new or rebuilt ones, never asked.
I feel sure that rebuilt ones can be bought somewhere, but you probably don't want to pay for one. Your best bet is to find one that is in decent shape used.

Grigg

There are some big truck vendors in the Truckers Buyers Guide, but as stated, they probably won't be that cheap.

If you don't have access to one and need a vendor, just let me know.

Bill

Well I got told now didn't I ! ! !

:hammering: ford diesel chevy truck :blat:

:blat: power steering issues :hammering:


give it time but it seems your about to this point !

Mike

thanks for the help everyone. a rebuild kit is most likley the way i'll go but i'll run the price of a new one by the owner, who knows what he'll say, strange fellow.
thanks again, rob

The 7.3 is not a "Ford" engine. It is an international (navistar) engine.

Super lube tech :crazy: BSer from way back

getting caught painting :/ switching out motor and trans chroming suspension :confused: powder coating frame
on someone else's truck.......PRICELESS !!!!!

See ya mikey