The comments below are about retrofiting the later 1997-2002 steering
gear into an earlier 1979-1989 panther platform vehicle.
-The linkage that connects the steering column to the steering gear has
to be custom fabricated because ford never combined the 97'-02' gear
with 79'-89' crown vics
-The hydraulic lines for the box will have to be custom fabricated.
-However, a later 97'-02' box will bolt onto the front frame rail of a
79'-89' crown vic without any modification
This project involves major changes to your vehicles front suspension.
The person considering this upgrade should have lots of expierence
repairing and diagnosing the front suspension & steering setups in
a wide range of motor vehicles. Incorrectly doing this upgrade could
result in serious injury or death.
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gadget73 from www.lincolnsonline.com
>I have a couple questions about installing the 2002 steering gear
into
your 1986 town car.
>
>what did you use for a linkage from the steering column to the
steering
gear?
>
>also where did you acquire the fluid hoses from?
For the steering shaft, we coupled the 86 shaft with the 02 one. We cut
the rag joint apart on both, and kept the 02 steering box side and the
86 steering shaft. The rag joint was put back together with one of
those rag joint repair kits from the auto parts store. The 02 return
line happens to match perfectly with my original 86 return line, since
I have a power steering cooler. The pressure line has a coupler in it.
The line from the pump is 86, and we cut the end off and did a double
flare and coupler to the 02 line. Its not the prettiest arrangement but
its OK and works fine. I'll try and get you pics sometime.
Actually I wanted to thank you for the information in the first place,
since much of it came from your site. Lincolmania came up with the
arrangement for the steering shaft and lines, so I can't take credit
for it.
-
86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica) HO swap, Explorer cam, Explorer intake,
ASP underdrive pulley, 98+ big front brakes, 91+ rear disc brakes, 2002
CVPI steering box, all poly bushings, fully functional ATC and AC
systems
-----------------------
Pictures, as promised.
The coupler:
http://lunar.gadget73.com/images/galactica/20060515_exhaust_steering/P1010004.JPG
Upper shaft is original 1986, rag joint is standard Help! section
repair kit, lower coupler is from the 02 box. Essentially we hacked
apart 2 steering shafts and made one out of them. The hole spacing for
the lower coupler doesn't line up perfectly with the pre-punched holes
in the rag joint center, but its nothing a drill to ream out the rubber
can't fix. Its not the prettiest solution, but it works.
The line:
http://lunar.gadget73.com/images/galactica/20060515_exhaust_steering/P1010005.JPG
Standard double flare and a union.
-
86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica) HO swap, Explorer cam, Explorer intake,
ASP underdrive pulley, 98+ big front brakes, 91+ rear disc brakes, 2002
CVPI steering box, all poly bushings, fully functional ATC and AC
systems
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lincolnmania from grandmarq.net
1986 lincoln towncar signature series. 5.0 HO with thumper performance
ported e7 heads, 1.7 roller rockers, warm air intake, 65mm throttle
body, 1/2" intake spacer, ported intakes, 3.73 rear with trac lock,
98-02 front brake conversion, 92-97 rear disc conversion, 1" rear
swaybar, 1 3/16" front swaybar, 16" wheels and tires, loud stereo
system, cb radio, best time to date 15.94 at 87 mph. lots of mods in
the works 221.8 rwhp 278 rwt
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Note that upgrading a 1992-1996 crown vic to the later style steering
box is considerably easier as the hoses you need were factory installed
in model year 1997 crown victorias. And the 1992-1996 crown vics have a
lower steering shaft that will mate to the 1997-2002 steering gear
without modification
http://www.p71interceptor.com/steering/hoses/partnumbers.html
http://www.p71interceptor.com/steering/column/linkage/partnumbers.html
http://www.p71interceptor.com/steering/column/linkage/pictures/index.html