I ordered a steering box from buy auto parts a couple of weeks ago. Here's the direct link to the box I purchased.
http://www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/1958/Ford/Fairlane/Manual_Steering_Gear_Box/82-70204.html
It claims its for a 58 Fairlane, however, it did NOT come with a pitman arm as it is pictured on their site. I tracked down a pitman arm and had it shipped, however, it has 4 keyways on the spline of the pitman arm. On the steering box itself where the pitman arm bolts, it only has 2 keyways 180 deg. apart. So my question is, is this the correct box that I needed in the first place? It has "B9AR 3580-B" on the Housing of the box. No-one that I have talked to has ever heard of a 58' box only having 2 keyways, nor a pitman arm that will fit it. The box seems about the same size as my 57, and the holes that bolt it to the frame seem to match. Do I just line it up with 2 of the keyways and tighten it up regardless? Any help is appreciated guys. This has become so frustrating with my 57 box never getting rebuilt, new steering box has no pitman arm, and now it's still looking like something is wrong. Just want to get my 57' back on the road so I can take it out and enjoy it before summers over!
59 box? ( B9AR---)
This is a pic of a 58 box and they do have 4 master splines and are the same up to 64 .mine has no marks like a b8 but a b9 would suggest a 59 box witch is the same box. I to have never seen a late 50s early 60s ford pass car box with only 2 master splines.
Well this keeps getting more and more confusing! Looks like I.need to get ahold of this place on Monday and try to return it. Seems odd though that its basically the same size as the 57 box, mounting holes are the same, and everything else lines up except for the putman ARM. I wonder if the splines line up, if I could force it on there??
The appearance of 57 and newer boxes is the same . See if the wire for the horn goes through the center of the column and exits through the box just behind the upper control arm. THAT is a 57 box, and not an upgrade . If memory serves me right the 59 does not have a hollow shaft where the nut holding the steering wheel on is. Someone help me out here , it's been a long time since I messed with a 58 or 59. They are direct bolt ons, for sure.
Yes they are direct bolt ins. 58 and 59 boxes do not have the horn wire in the shaft.
Quote from: Ford Blue blood on 2013-10-03 17:58
Yes they are direct bolt ins. 58 and 59 boxes do not have the horn wire in the shaft.
It's kinda weird...in the other thread you mentioned that the 60-64 box is a bolt in also. That same company the original poster bought from has the 60's box for considerably cheaper....although the pic must be wrong:
http://www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/1963/Ford/Fairlane/Manual_Steering_Gear_Box/82-70151_R.html
It says it's a generic picture but your link is for a Fairlane, those were midsize cars in the 60's, you want one from a full size like a Galaxie.
Quote from: hiball3985 on 2013-10-04 10:31
It says it's a generic picture but your link is for a Fairlane, those were midsize cars in the 60's, you want one from a full size like a Galaxie.
http://www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/1963/Ford/Galaxie/Manual_Steering_Gear_Box/82-70146_R.html
$351 for that one.
I just have been looking at Borgeson, Unisteer, electric options and I just saw your post. I have a 1957 Custom and I replaced the '57 box with a '58. I also have an '59 Edsel Box/column. It looks like the box you bought is similar to, if not exactly the same, as the Edsel. I have the pitman arm for the Edsel box if you still need it. The Edsel box is larger than either Ford box but it looks like it may fit especially if you have an automatic. Clutch linkage may not clear. I will look closer if you need help.
I have been reading the former posts about changing the 57 manual steering box over to a 58 or 59 Galaxie box. It was mentioned that in so doing this, the steering column would have to be modified. What modifications would need to be done? In the future I may just want to do the upgrade. Thanks in advance.
I always thought that a 58 box gave you a little more clearance on the exhaust manifolds than the 57, in fact someone recently posted about this. When I swapped boxes , I photographed them side by side, so far I can't find it.
Quote from: 05gt on 2013-06-28 22:08
I ordered a steering box from buy auto parts a couple of weeks ago. Here's the direct link to the box I purchased.
http://www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/1958/Ford/Fairlane/Manual_Steering_Gear_Box/82-70204.html
It claims its for a 58 Fairlane, however, it did NOT come with a pitman arm as it is pictured on their site. I tracked down a pitman arm and had it shipped, however, it has 4 keyways on the spline of the pitman arm. On the steering box itself where the pitman arm bolts, it only has 2 keyways 180 deg. apart. So my question is, is this the correct box that I needed in the first place? It has "B9AR 3580-B" on the Housing of the box. No-one that I have talked to has ever heard of a 58' box only having 2 keyways, nor a pitman arm that will fit it. The box seems about the same size as my 57, and the holes that bolt it to the frame seem to match. Do I just line it up with 2 of the keyways and tighten it up regardless? Any help is appreciated guys. This has become so frustrating with my 57 box never getting rebuilt, new steering box has no pitman arm, and now it's still looking like something is wrong. Just want to get my 57' back on the road so I can take it out and enjoy it before summers over!
Did you get this installed and working yet? Do you have pics if so?
Thanks!
Quote from: clusterbuster on 2013-11-11 20:19
I have been reading the former posts about changing the 57 manual steering box over to a 58 or 59 Galaxie box. It was mentioned that in so doing this, the steering column would have to be modified. What modifications would need to be done? In the future I may just want to do the upgrade. Thanks in advance.
I put a 58 in mine and I actually miscalculated the length and cut about 1" off. I think this was due to the fact that the 58 had an auto trans column and my 57 is a stick. So it may have not needed trimming or very little. The 58 box is a little bigger but no clearance problem. You will loose the horn as the 57 wire comes through the center of the shaft and the 58 doesn't. If you get a 58 box be sure it has the pitman arm the 57 won't fit it has a different spine..
Thanks hiball. Will keep these things in mind. I was wondering about the horn. I suppose you put a button on the side of the column.
I haven't put a horn button in yet, It's only been a year :003: but it's still on the list..
I had an old beater pickup with rusted cab mounts. As the cab settled, the flex coupler became more and more distressed due to the lack of alignment. Finally, the little ground strap in the coupler broke and no horn. I ran a wire up the outside of the column and taped it to the shifter. With the end of the wire bare, I used my little finger to press the bare wire to the shifter whenever I needed the horn. Worked great.
The old truck was pretty rusty. One night I heard something dragging. I stopped and found my headlight dimmer switch dragging by the wire harness. The floor was rusted so bad that the last time in dimmed the headlights, it broke through the floor. Rust was so bad that I relocated the dimmer switch up the 'A' pillar. When I needed to dim the headlights, I just hit the dimmer switch with my knee.
I like the idea of putting it on the shifter, that gives me an idea to think about. Mine doesn't have the stock horns and I don't know what they are off of but these things will blow you over.
Quote from: hiball3985 on 2013-11-12 18:51
I like the idea of putting it on the shifter, that gives me an idea to think about. Mine doesn't have the stock horns and I don't know what they are off of but these things will blow you over.
Ford Fairmonts had it on the turn signal stalk. Might be one or two of those left in a wrecking yard.
Zap- :unitedstates:
Why not just put the whole 58 column in it?
Ron.
Quote from: SkylinerRon on 2013-12-25 23:28
Why not just put the whole 58 column in it?
Ron.
If I could have found a good column for a 3 spd and a good steering wheel at the time I would have. I just happy having good steering and the horn is a minor issue..