original steering box oil/grease?

[hiball3985]

And for Hiball , Jim, can`t say for sure on a 58, but I would assume that Ford would have used some form of seal to prevent dust and water from migrating into the steering box, possibly your column had such a seal but over time disintegrated. I have parted out several 59s, and on some of them, the seal was mostly missing, and the remainder fell apart when the column was removed.

I'm sure that is probably what happened if there was one originally.

[KULTULZ]

This is all interesting and confusing. I put in a 58 box and there was no seal. It must have been a later design change in 59 or 60.

You are correct. It seems the 1958 did not receive a seal of any type.

It is hard to believe ENGINEERING overlooked this for the 1958 model run. It was corrected in the 1959 model run?

It seems I am the one causing confusion.

[KULTULZ]

Find below the 58 and 59 steering box illustrations from the 1949-1959 FORD CAR MPC (MASTER PARTS CATALOG) Info. Hopefully it will straighten up the confusion I created.

[hiball3985]

You didn't create the confusion FORD did And I get confused easily

[KULTULZ]

Nah, sometimes I do not fully explain what it is I an trying to convey. It is called a$$-u-me(ing).

I still cannot believe FORD allowed the 58 box to be open. Can you imagine just the road dust/spray?

[59meteor]

Thats interesting, but I did notice the Ford diagram shows a clamp around the bottom of the steering column tube, where it slips over the tower, the 59 has the seal, but has no clamp, so maybe (?), if the clamp is tightened enough, it doesn`t need the seal ?

[KULTULZ]

Thats interesting, but I did notice the Ford diagram shows a clamp around the bottom of the steering column tube, where it slips over the tower, the 59 has the seal, but has no clamp, so maybe (?), if the clamp is tightened enough, it doesn`t need the seal ?

You're describing 3506 shown on the 1958 Ill?

This is another puzzle. The 3506 is shown only on the 1958 Ill but 1949-59 MPC TEXT shows it used from 1949-1960.

We need a clear photograph of an unmolested early production 1958 steering column or this may be covered in a PRODUCTION SERVICE LETTER of the period. The MPC contradicts itself numerous times but this is not unusual.

[hiball3985]

When I put in the 58 box I didn't use the 58 column because it was beat up on the turn signal end and was for an auto trans and I can't recall if it had clamp. I used the 57 standard shift column that has the clamp.

[KULTULZ]

When I put in the 58 box I didn't use the 58 column because it was beat up on the turn signal end and was for an auto trans and I can't recall if it had clamp. I used the 57 standard shift column that has the clamp.

... hmmpf ...

So you used the 58 box/shaft in a 57 column? That took care of the horn wiring change didn't it?

Thanks for sharing that as every detail helps.

[hiball3985]

... hmmpf ...

So you used the 58 box/shaft in a 57 column? That took care of the horn wiring change didn't it?

Thanks for sharing that as every detail helps.

I have all the instructions on how to convert the horn but haven't done it, to old and lazy these days. I have it wired to a push button on the dash for now..

[59meteor]

You're describing 3506 shown on the 1958 Ill?

This is another puzzle. The 3506 is shown only on the 1958 Ill but 1949-59 MPC TEXT shows it used from 1949-1960.

We need a clear photograph of an unmolested early production 1958 steering column or this may be covered in a PRODUCTION SERVICE LETTER of the period. The MPC contradicts itself numerous times but this is not unusual.

Yes, 3506 shows a clamp on the 58, that is not present on the 59 picture. At first I thought maybe 3509 was shown to be some type of sleeve or seal on the 58, but I believe that it`s just a cutaway look of the rest of the steering column tube, which carries the same number higher up in the 58 diagram.

[hiball3985]

  Yes, 3506 shows a clamp on the 58, that is not present on the 59 picture. At first I thought maybe 3509 was shown to be some type of sleeve or seal on the 58, but I believe that it`s just a cutaway look of the rest of the steering column tube, which carries the same number higher up in the 58 diagram.

That is interesting, I don't remember a clamp on my 58, or possibly it's not a 58 and I have a 59?

[OUTLAW]

My 58 column has a clamp...

[brushwolf]

I have a complete 58 automatic column and a complete 58 stick column in the building and they both have clamps. I have 4 more 58 columns still in cars outside, but too much snow to check them presently. I thought all the late 50's Fords had the clamps, but maybe cuz I am not really fond of 59's I just have not seen one. Live and learn...

The theory that the clamp supplanted the need for a seal makes sense to me. The column sleeve is a pretty snug fit and with a clamp on a non-pressurized steering box (and gravity) it doesn't appear to be at much risk of leaking upwards.   

But, how were 59 column sleeves affixed to the steering gear if they did not have a clamp?

[djfordmanjack]

now I cannot sepeak about the 57/8/9 differences, but there are many other steering gearboxes of that era, that do not have a seal on top and columns have clamps or not. German Ford also had the clamp, but no seal whatsoever. Unless the car got in a flood, no water or dust could get in there.