rack/pinion steering pump question

S

steve fritz

Well-known member
I put a thunderbird rack and pinion steering set up in my 51 Ford along with 302 and aod trans. The 302 has V-Belt pulleys which are posing a problem for me on mounting a later model power steering pump to drive my rack system. Did Ford ever have rack and pinion steering BEFORE they had the serpentine belt system???? What bracket do I need that would allow me to mount a later model p.s. pump so I can drive the rack and pinion ?
Since I don't have the serpentine system with a tensioner pulley, I need a bracket that allows me to adjust V-Belt tension.
Hope this makes sense. Any help or ideas would be appreciated.
Steve
 
Did you do the early short water pump conversion which has a pass side lower hose? If you did get the pump and brackets from a mid 70's Ford Van with a 302 which kept the short pump and pulleys,if you have the 70' and later long water pump you will want brackets from a '70 and later car with a 302.
 
Jeff.....I have the longer water pump with the hose coming out the drivers side. But, I need to use the later , smaller pump from the 80's in order to drive the rack and pinion, with higher pressure than the old style cylinder and control valve power steering linkage. I'm trying to find out if Ford used this later model pump with a V-belt system before they switched to serpentine belts. That would provide a mounting bracket for this later model pump that would also have a belt adjusting arm to snug up my V-Belt. Remember, I am not running the serpentine belt system.
Maybe there isn't such a set up, I don't know for sure.
 
The P/S pumps with the black plastic backside were used on everything from little cars to medium trucks. The pumps have different springs for pressure regulation. Find a pump that fits and play with springs to get the feel you want, or choose a pump from a vehicle that is near the weight of yours.
 
Check out early 'fox body' cars. They were the first ones to have rack and pinion steering. ( Fairmonts & '79-? Mustangs)
 
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