powersteering ram

[birdthunder]

Have been on a 700 mile trip and my 56 powersteering is awful , hard , lumpy and not a nice feel . It has been fitted with a 57 ram but has a 56
( early) control valve . I read the 55-56 ram is 2 -1/16 bore and the 57 is 1- 11/16 bore . Could this be my problem ??
Are the new rams listed at T/Bird suppliers good or import junk ?? Thanks

[ward 57]

The parts catalogs show different control valves for the '55-'56 P/S vs '57 rams so that could be your problem. I know next to nothing how that valve works, but I know enough to not try to mix the two systems. They also don't show a difference between the early and later ram controls other than the ram design but the valve appears to be the same.

[Jimntempe]

I never heard the bores were different sizes. I vaguely recall there was some difference in the ends. The size of the connections to the control valve are what I understood to be the differences between the years. The early valves have 3 large ports and 1 small port, while the later valves have 3 small ports and 1 large.

[birdthunder]

The size difference is listed on Hills site , 55 to early 57 2-1/8 and 57 1-11/16.