gearbox

[72ford390]

i have a 1972 ford f250 390 4 speed 4x4 and i need a gearbox but don't know what it looks like so if you could help me out that'd be great thanks!

[Doug Comer]

Is yours missing?

[72ford390]

yes when i bought the truck it had a one ton gear box on it and it was on the outside of the frame and i want the stock one back on it but i have no clue what it looks like or where i can find one

[1972hiboy]

Gear box is kinda generic term. are you....looking for a transmission, transfer case, or possibly a rear differential? Heres a quik breakdown that may help you help describe what you are looking for.

First you have the motor. Thats under the hood. bolted to the motor directly is the transmission. That is the guy that has the big stick on it that you use to shift gears.

Next up is a small driveshaft that connects the transmission to the transfer case. this tranfer case kinda sits by itself between to the tranmission and the rear differential. The tranfer case is what gives you turning power to the front end. It has a total of three drive shafts going to it. After that is another driveshaft going to the rear end. the read end is what has the back wheels and tires bolted to it. Your going to have to go look under your truck and see which componet is missing. But now you know where everything is. Post back up and tell us what is there and what isnt. hope it helps

[72ford390]

i am looking for a steering gearbox the truck has power steering its a 1972 ford f250 4x4 sport custom

[1972hiboy]

Now we are on to someting,
Your looking for the steering gear?? From the factory most of these trucks had manual steering. power assist steering was a option and utilized a series of hydraulic hoses connected to hydraulic ram. Very crude and it sorta worked. Sounds like sombody did you the FAVOR of converting your truck to a newer steering box that is probably integral power steering. Are there two lines going from your power steering pump to your stering gear? if so, THAT is the setup you want. I would find whatever p/s box the truck had and mount that back in there. included is a tech article that may help shed some light on what you had in there.

http://www.fordification.com/tech/powersteering4wd.htm

[Tpdaniels]

deleted

[averagef250]

Very crude and it sorta worked. Sounds like sombody did you the FAVOR of converting your truck to a newer steering box that is probably integral power steering.

Power assist wasn't really available on bumpside F-250 4x4's. Heard somewhere that late 72's may have had it available.

I can't say that Ford's power assist, in it's factory configuration was a great setup, but I have owned and driven a lot of trucks that have it and I love it, beats an integral power box hands down for steering power, it is a built in steering damper and it takes the majority of steering stress off the frame/steering box.

The concept is a pretty darn good one. Ford's execution could have been better with a higher quality valve, ram and pump, but even with the original 1970's factory parts a few of the trucks I've had still worked great with tons of miles and at most a couple pump replacements. I would go as far as to say the somewhat cheap Ford power assist valve and cylinder would probably have fared better had the Ford PS pumps not been absolute sh!t and sent metal through everything else. If you don't believe it, cut apart a power assist cylinder sometime. The exterior wall is a reservoir. Bet there ain't much space for fluid anymore.

[1972hiboy]

Ive only seen one and honestly for alI i know somebody added it. The few setups ive worked on were in major dis-repair mutiple leaks and not very great but im no expert on that particular system. That sheds some light on the set up for me and gives me a good perspective on it

[72ford390]

could i interchange a 77 steering gearbox to a 72? or would that not work

[sargentrs]

Here's a pic of mine right after media blasting...

[Doug Comer]

Isn't that a two drive box?

[sargentrs]

The pic I put up? IDK. Got it off a '71 F100. What's a two drive box?

[hazelnut]

could i interchange a 77 steering gearbox to a 72? or would that not work

I think ford changed steering boxes in 77. If its a powersteering box than you can put it on yours, You'll have to do a little fab work to mount it.
Look in the project updates at some 4x4 builds and im sure you will see what others have done to mount one on thier truck.

[Doug Comer]

sorry. My brain went faster then my fingers. I meant a two wheel drive power steering box. I assume (I know) that since this is posted in the 4x4 section that we are all talking about four wheel drive trucks?