XT steering box swap

[2nd.gunman]

I want to fit a collapsabile steering column to my XT. anyone know if a XW 16:1 box and column is a straight bolt-in?

 

[2nd.gunman]

Anyone?

 

[addo]

Chassis holes will match. You probably want the XW saddle bracket that goes under the dash, and drag link/idler. Tie rod ends may vary - depends on how original the XT is. Could end up needing adaptors with your XW drag link (keep XT tie rod pairs, just sleeve into larger tapers of new drag link).

Just curious - what's a 16:1 box worth now? I paid $80 years ago for a decent one (16P).

 

[xdee]

Absolutely, straight bolt in. I did the same thing 20 years ago and I seem to remember the hardest part was grafting the electrical plugs. All early (XR-XY) manual pitman arms are the same so it will bolt up to any drag link
Addo, good 16:1 worms are worth $100 to $200. I've kept one NOS aside for about 15 years (for a rainy day). I'm definately a power steering convert now so even if I do get another car that would ever need it, I'd probably not use it and go power.You can still pick up good second hand 16p's around and they're the ones you would use. The worm and nut is exactly the same as 16m but they are far less likely to have damaged bearing journals.

 

[Fingers]

Just curious - what's a 16:1 box worth now? I paid $80 years ago for a decent one (16P).

I sold one on Ebay a while ago (XB GT) for $305.

 

[addo]

Your shout! That box would've been a good condition 16M, though?

 

[Fingers]

Yes Adam, had new internals. I had it rebuilt when I did up an XB GT in about '87 and unded up not installing it as I put P/steer on it instead.

 

[MRJLB84D]

with the new internals, are there 16;1 kits that you can buy to put into a 20m box or just keep looking for a genuine 16:1

 

[addo]

The Argentinian bits might fit in. Don't know who's tried it!

 

[2nd.gunman]

That's what i was hoping. What the difference between 16P and 16M is it just different bearings?

 

[addo]

Two letters. N and then O

 

[xdee]

The ONLY difference is the worm and nut.

 

[addo]

Between a 16M and 16P? I can't believe that (but have heard it before). Why would Ford bother making different parts?

 

[xdee]

No difference at all between a 16M and 16P. I don't even know why Ford tagged them differently. Only thing I can think of is that they came with the pitman arm installed, and the guys on the production line wouldn't have to "think".