Power steering like 1976?

[Macrobb]

So, I recently picked up an (abused) 1976 F350 CC truck with a 360 motor in it.
Of course, it was really low on PS fluid, so I added some and... the steering wheel spins with one finger. On pavement, I can turn the wheels left to right with very very little effort.
This old truck has the same crummy Ford C2 PS pump in it as well(with characteristic whine). No Saginaw or anything like that.

How come my IDIs never work that way? What's the difference - Pump pressure? Steering box?
(Heck, for that matter - my mom's '02 still requires a lot more force than this 1976 does)

If it's the steering box, does anyone know if you can use one of those older-model boxes in a OBS or Bricknose?

 

[Thewespaul]

Lot lighter cab, front end, frame and engine

 

[Macrobb]

Lot lighter cab, front end, frame and engine

Is that really all it is? Just thinking about it:
1. This is a 2x4 F-350. Yes, lighter than my 4x4 F-250s, due to the TIB... But I've got a '87 F-350 4x4 single-cab CC (diesel) that does the same thing(much more force steering).
2. Engine weight: IDI is apparently 860 lbs vs 650. 200lbs difference.
3. '76 has the gas tank behind the seat, inside the cab, IDIs have it much further back. 20 gallons of gas is around 120lbs.
4. Cab weight itself - not sure. In sheet metal, it's around the same size. Might be more plastic in the dash of my '87.
5. The 1976 has an all-steel 12x8 flatbed(with foot-high sides) The '87 has a 12x8 flatbed with metal frame and wood plank, stake sides.

It's also that going over bumps and rocks and such, all my IDIs steering will tend to 'jump' as some of the force gets transmitted back to the steering wheel. My 1976 doesn't do nearly as much of that.

 

[Runningaford]

I think it's something with Federal standard crap impacting such things with slight design modifcations; I think a lot of those 70's cars, had 1 finger steering. It seems like these Federal standards impact many aspects of cars anymore.

A new cheap car, has ****** seats that make you think your ass may never be the same after an hour.... You gotta pay for the top of the line car to get seats that you can sit in; yet, my brand new 'hoss', my 1995 Geo Metro, getting 42mpgs, has seats that are actually comfortable.

So cheap bottom of the barrel car for the 90's, okay seats, compared to new bottom end cars.

 

[snicklas]

King Pins vs Ball Joints?

Tire size?

Of all my vehicles, I think the IDI steers fairly easily compared to the others.... even when it was low on fluid.

The comparisons:

1988 F-250 Dually (has been converted and has a dually rear axle and dually front hubs. Unknown mileage ball joints, 2wd, 225 tires, steering gear box steering.

2003 Excursion - 4x4, 6.0 all new front end components, steering gear box steering, 265 tires

2007 P71 Crown Vic, all new ball joints, 2wd, 215 tires, rack and pinion

2007 Infiniti QX56, factory front end (91000 mi), AWD, 265 tires, rack and pinion...

I know the older Ford's had "pinky steering". Not sure what the difference was.... but always heard it was because of the Saginaw pump.....

 

[nj_m715]

shim the spring in the high pressure fitting with washer or 2
I saw a noticeable difference with just one

 

[chillman88]

shim the spring in the high pressure fitting with washer or 2
I saw a noticeable difference with just one

I'll be trying this too. Thanks.

 

[compressionignitionrules]

look where the steering box and linkage are located.
they make great offroad 2wd trucks too, hard to smack that steering linkage hidden behind the twin I beam. . 1965-1979 they all steered like that with PS, weird they never brought out the smaller steering wheel until 1978.