I found something during my build this week and thought it was kinda' disturbing, and thought I'd share.
This is on my 71' F-350 2WD with power steering, I'm not sure what other models and years could be affected. But it's definitely worth a few minutes for an inspection on your truck IMO.
Here's where the power steering box looks like bolted up to the frame rail on my 2WD (notice the 3/8" fuel line that runs behind the P.S. box/as well as the two brake lines routed there also):
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff13 ... can090.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff13 ... can085.jpg
I thought something didn't look right, so I unbolted the P.S. box for a better inspection.
Here's what I found!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff13 ... C16080.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff13 ... C16081.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff13 ... C16066.jpg
Granted...I had replaced the box last year and could have done this during the replacement. But the fuel line looked to me like it had been "crushed" for awhile. And this section of steel line is also not protected in no way against vibration there. So I would also suspect it to be a source for a possible fuel line leak as well, considering how old as our trucks are. I feel lucky to have found it, (this area is pretty hard to access with everything bolted in place on a truck that is being driven).
And can't believe that Ford would run the lines behind the steering box like that!
So here's what I'm doing to eliminate any future possibilities of an issue. I've drilled two 3/4" holes, (don't know how you'd ever do it with the engine in place) through my front crossmember. I'll route my new fuel line through these two holes, (after I've protected them from abrasion and chafing with some bushings and rubber line wrapped around the steel line in the areas I've drilled).
Frame rails before drilling:
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff13 ... C16065.jpg
In the below picture, you can see the "recessed" frame area where the lines are originally ran:
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff13 ... C16067.jpg
And the holes I've drilled in the crossmember:
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff13 ... C16068.jpg
I've also removed my brake lines from this area, (as I'm re-locating the brake junction block to a much better location for servicing).
My only guess is that Ford ran the fuel and brake lines in this recessed area, in an effort to prevent vibration issues vs. routing inside the frame rail area? I would also imagine my re-routed lines could be prone to damage during a P.S. box replacement, (when re-installing the bolts that hold the box to the frame rail).
You'd probably never even see this as an issue on a fuel pressure gauge, when troubleshooting.
But if you have a "tire-burning" FE or big block, you'd probably see a big performance difference once the "fix" is complete!
My "fix" might not be right in someone else's book, but I know I feel a lot more confident!
Is your 2WD P.S. bump feeling a little sluggish lately?
Moderators, please feel free to move to another category as necessary?
