Steering box on outside of frame?

[w2tommy]

I am in the process of dropping a 4.6 cobra motor into a 1996 Ford Ranger, however, I do not to offset the engine to fit it in the bay. Because of this I know that I am going to have to remove the stock steering gear box (which is located on the inside of the frame) from the ranger. I'd like to keep power steering in the truck, but if need be I will accept manual steering. I was wondering if anybody knew of any steering boxes that could potentially be installed on the outside of the frame. From the reading that I've done, the Toyota IFS box could bolt to the outside of the frame, but the pitman arm would face in the wrong direction, which when corrected, would reverse the steering. I know that most Ford models, including their half ton series, used the same box. But is there any box that can bolt to the outside of the frame and maintain it's steering configuration?

 

[Sprag-O]

Could rig a rack n pinion setup off a newer ranger on the truck?

 

[w2tommy]

I do not think that the steering geometry would align with a rack and pinion setup on a 96. The pivots and arcs are at different locations. From what I've been told, putting a rack and pinion setup on that year would significantly increase bump steer.

 

[kris97ranger]

in the spring im planning on a 351 swap into my ranger and i have to move my sterring box as well. is there no one on here that has had to do this b4?
________
YourBettina

 

[NMB2]

70's fullsize fords have the box on th outside of the frame

 

[w2tommy]

late 70's? early 70's? would you happen to know any specific models?

 

[NMB2]

eb's and 75/76-79 F100/F150

 

[w2tommy]

Thanks. The only issue I see with those is that the pitman arm faces backward, whereas in the ranger it faces forward.