Wow, I'm really ashamed of how I didn't think of that! . I did not think of moving the steering wheel because it rotates so freely right now, but I'm sure hoping and think that this will fix my problem. I'll keep you posted after giving it a shot tomorrow.
Be Careful!!! The steering gear box needs to be centered and then hooked up to the control valve when the steering is centered. Otherwise, you will end up doing what I did.....having about 3 1/2 turns in one direction and only 1 1/2 turns in the other direction.
Today I gave it a go (moving the steering wheel) and it worked. When I moved it a bit towards the right (it was all the way left) it moved so I was able to rehook up the ball stud with the pitman arm hole, I put the nut and the pin back in too with little effort. How do I know if I did it correctly, as in, how do I know if the steering gear box is centered?
Wait a minute??? AFAIK, unless the pitman arm was removed from steering box, it's impossible to reassemble the valve to pitman arm incorrectly... If steering wheel is fully to one direction, the wheels will have to be positioned accordingly, any other position and it isn't going to line up...
Hey guys sorry for the contious questions but I ran into two more problems. 1. I bought two hoses which according to two auto parts store say is the size I need but they are just short compared to my old ones. Anyone know which year or model I can say to get a little longer hose? Maybe an adapter or some sort? 2. I'm also in the process of installing a pulley on to the p/s pump but can't seem to get it all the way. I have got maybe 1/3 to a 1/2 of getting the pulley on to the pump but it just won't budge anymore. I wiped some grease to help slide but not helping much anymore. I don't currently have a workbench vise to help hold it (apartment struggles). I'm currently using the autozone rent tool which is a screw and a sliding bolt type thing. Any tips? I think I'm too far in to try and remove the pulley because the first tool won't work since it can't hook on to the lip.
I double checked my info which only goes to '72 and hoses are same back to the '66 Fairlane/'67 Mustang... There are 10" hoses listed for '65 Mustang, Falcon, etc but I dunno if the fittings are same size... In the meantime I'll look on Rockauto to see if possibly the '74 hoses are different... I have a '77 center link on my Comet so I don't think so... I believe correct hose part numbers should be C6OZ-3A714-a @ 9½" C6OZ-3A717-A @ 9¾" Unless you order from one of the resto parts houses, both hoses are replaced by the longer one... I have these generic replacements on both my Comet & Fairlane... The pulley can be a real PITA, you'll likely have to come up with a vice so you'll have something to hold the bolt while you tighten the nut that pushes pulley back onto shaft... Sorry bout that... EDIT Rock shows same hose(s) for '74, Edelmann number 70640, listed as being 10 3/8"...
So I measured the hoses I bought and there were about 9 1/2" compared to the old ones which were a little over 10". I checked Rockauto and ordered some because they were described as 10.375 in length so hoping that they are. My only concern is that they have the same part number, 70640, as the ones I bought that were too short. Hoping the autoparts store just mislabeled Okay, I'll check out my school, see if one of the shops can let me borrow a vice. Keep you posted.
Hey guys an update. So when it comes to the pulley and the pump, long story short, autozone sold me a pulley that doesn't fit onto the Ford power steering pump (even though the website said it would...). Anyways, guy at a shop helped me straighten my old pulley so it is reusable. I hooked my old hoses back to the control valve to try the pump out and see that it turns correctly, BUT now my car won't start. It won't even crank, any thoughts? When I turn the key the oil and the temp button come on the dash brightly (I don't think its my battery, and the oil light is nothing new in my car, but I can't recall if the temp button used to come on before). Thanks again for helping me this far. Really appreciate all your responses.
Check to see if it'll crank in neutral, sometimes there are issues with switch... Also '74 had the seat belt interlock to prevent engine from cranking unless belt is fastened, there's generally a splice in wiring near solenoid that bypasses this function... If nothing else, use a jumper on solenoid from battery to small post that should have the blue/red wire(or is it red/blue?), this bypasses everything, activates solenoid directly from battery... If it doesn't crank then probably either the solenoid is bad/loose or maybe starter has a issue...
You're spot on!!!!!!!! I'm guess my wiring came undone when I was installing the power steering pump. I really need to learn to check the basics. Well I finished for the night but dam it feels good to have come this far. Everything is installed and looking good! Belt is spinning really straight. I realized today I have one last leak which is on the power steering line which screws to the middle of the pump so I'm gonna hopefully get that tomorrow if not order but I know I can do that easily. My pump also groans just a tad bit more but I think I just need a little more power steering fluid. Thank you all once again!
Congrats!! Pump groan can be aggravated by low fluid that aerates the fluid... Also it's said to use only type F trans fluid as it's slightly thicker than the "late" transmission fluids...
Well.....if one installs all new tie rods ends at the same time as the entire steering system is replaced....it can happen. My steering box was off one revolution...so the problem was continued when the rest of the new parts were installed.
I can see that being a issue, in this case was just disconnect and reconnect... When I rebuilt systems for my Comet & Fairlane both got different center links('77 for Comet, added P/S to Fairlane), so I measured tie rod to tie rod of originals and adjusted replacements accordingly, went back together without issue... Pitman arm has never been off Comet box, but I had to be sure the P/S arm was indexed correctly for Fairlane... That arm is now back on box it originated, I'd installed the quicker ratio box without P/S back in '90s...
