Well yesterday I finished my rebuild of the Power steering system. I put the rebuilt Cardone Pump and gearbox in, two new hoses (best ones I could find and damn the cost so I paid about $37.00 for them.), and a in-line filter also bought from RockAuto. I torqued everything to the specs that came with the power steering gear as well as those given by Ford. Bled the system as per instructions found at TBars post on steering, and took her for a drive. No noises, ZERO leaks, and one happy driver!
While under the car muscling a 37 Lb. power steering gear box out-of and a new one in-to the Ex, flat on my back, holding a drippy gear box while my face was clearly the target of all the PS fluid dripping out, pumping a floor jack with my right foot, pushing, pulling, and cursing the $$%%@@# thing into place, was an experience I do not want to have again.
I did notice that the oil pressure idiot switch was easily reachable from under the Ex so a quick trip to O'Reilly AP allowed for the purchase of a new pressure sender for a Ford Mustang that was an easy fit. Note to self, I'll have to pull the instrument panel to remove the 20 ohm resister to have the gauge read close to accurate ie: in the normal zone.
Finished job, bled system, took maiden trip. Drove about 10 miles on local Foothill Blvd. at 35 MPH. No problems, no leaks, one happy camper. Entered 210 freeway to go home a little faster. As I accelerated and reached 65 MPH, for the first time I remembered my note to self and casual looked at the oil gauge...casually had a second heart attack!!!! It read on the low-end red square!!! Quick check of heat gauge showed normal operating temperature so I must have oil pressure. No clattering from engine or thuds as connecting rods exit the block. QUICK exit of the Freeway and a discreet drive home.
Shutdown engine, check oil (reads full), check for leaks, none! Oh yeah! dash oil gauge still has the 20 ohm resister in it! Duhhh! I'll take it out Saturday and see if that helps.
The moral of this story is do not try to do too many things at once. Good luck with your fix and yes I was at Da Nang in 1966-67 with the Marine airdales across from the Airforce area. After the big rocket attack in 1966, we went to your side of the field and tried to help. Did so for awhile and then drove six bright blue air force jeeps back to our side, gave them a new (Very Quick) coat of Marine Corps Green, and tac markings that said they were ours. The airforce wrote them off as "lost to enemy action". First time I was ever identified as an enemy by my own side <GRIN>.
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I was Air force... I know, I know, and marines laughed at us(AF) at Danang(only one tour). But I could get whisky
