I know, I'm old and slow but I'm getting there :003: This is everything I have rebuilt over the last month and hopefully if I can convince the old bones to get back under it I will be starting assembly of the suspension this Saturday. Today I will just put the steering column and shift linkage back together.. That's a 58 box I will be using, less horn :003:
Hiball,
Looking good! I will be tackling the front end next winter, so work out all the kinks and be ready for my questions :003:!
Thanks,
Tim :unitedstates:
Quote from: 57 Ford Kustom on 2013-01-30 12:31
Hiball,
Looking good! I will be tackling the front end next winter, so work out all the kinks and be ready for my questions :003:!
Thanks,
Tim :unitedstates:
OK, So Far the only kinks have been me :003: I'll be 66 in March so things aren't getting any easier.
LOL, I am beginning to realize that the difference between being 48 and 18 are night and day! Can't complain though, I am still agile enough to do what I want, just can't see as well! :119:
Tim :unitedstates:
I know what you mean Tim. I locked up the tool box more then a few times claiming never again LOL, but that never lasts long.
Jim
Your parts look nice and clean. I need a refresher course. It seems to me that you can put a 57 steering wheel on a 58 column, but you can't put a 58 wheel on a 57 column. Is that right?
Isn't there something about the 58 column having two flat spots on the splined section, and the 57 has only one? If you get a chance, would you please check your 58 column and let me know?
The reason I'm asking is because I need to replace steering wheel on my car for a custom one and may have to settle for a 58 custom wheel. Thanks Jay
Hi Jay,
I'm sure glad up brought up that point as I didn't even look at that. My 57 box was shot and I had a chance to grab a good 58. I went out and looked and it's just the opposite of what you were thinking. The 57 wheel has one flat, the 58 shaft has none. I don't have a 58 wheel so I will have to machine a flat on the 58 shaft, It never ends :005:. So I think a 58 wheel would go in a 57. And then there is all the differences in the horn set up between the two..
Jim It has been a few years since I did this swap. I knew that there is something different about the two of them when you want to swap steering wheels. I know that the steering shaft on the 57 is hollow and the horn wire goes down through it . The horn wire from 57 to 58 did present a problem. I wonder if the 57 and 58 columns are the same length. I'm pretty sure that I have a 58 box in one of the sheds and i'm going to see if I can find it tomorrow. Jay
Jay, you are not the only one that needs a refresher course, all my work on '57s was between 1966-1972. I started a Ranchero project in 78 but traded for a house and two kids in 79. I'm pretty sure the columns are the same length but I will take a measurement tomorrow morning. The 58 box is some much better then the 57.
Quote from: Ecode70D on 2013-01-30 20:39
Jim It has been a few years since I did this swap. I knew that there is something different about the two of them when you want to swap steering wheels. I know that the steering shaft on the 57 is hollow and the horn wire goes down through it . The horn wire from 57 to 58 did present a problem. I wonder if the 57 and 58 columns are the same length. I'm pretty sure that I have a 58 box in one of the sheds and i'm going to see if I can find it tomorrow. Jay
Jay, my measurement on the column this morning was 32.250 for the 58 and 33.750 for the 57. So now I'm confused, I always thought the two were the same, and changed in 59. Now I'm wondering if the box I took out is even a 57? No way of telling what someone else did over the years. Now I'll have to check the shaft length and see how things will fit together. I hope you have all the 58 parts for yours so you don't have to mix them together like mine. I still would like a base model steering wheel, I don't like the full horn ring model.
A few years ago I had two columns from 57 and they had different lenghts. If I remember right one was for a manual gear and the other an automatic. HR
Quote from: hrsky on 2013-02-02 04:52
A few years ago I had two columns from 57 and they had different lenghts. If I remember right one was for a manual gear and the other an automatic. HR
Well that may be the key to the puzzle. My 57 is a manual and the 58 column was from an automatic. The steering gear shaft is a different length also. At this point I had no choice but to cut the 57 manual column down to fit the 58 box. This all works on the bench but time will tell, I hope to install it today. At one point I was thinking about moving the seat back, I felt too close to the wheel, but if this works out I may not have to.
Thank you for your input on this subject.
Quote from: hiball3985 on 2013-01-31 10:11
Jay, my measurement on the column this morning was 32.250 for the 58 and 33.750 for the 57. So now I'm confused, I always thought the two were the same, and changed in 59. Now I'm wondering if the box I took out is even a 57? No way of telling what someone else did over the years. Now I'll have to check the shaft length and see how things will fit together. I hope you have all the 58 parts for yours so you don't have to mix them together like mine. I still would like a base model steering wheel, I don't like the full horn ring model.
Jim I measured my outer columns yesterday but only used a measuring tape. the 58 column is app.1 1/2 " shorter than the 58. So this is about what you came up with. I can't find my 58 steering box. I thought that I was saving one for an emergency. According to my memory, the 57 steering box will have a hole in bottom plate for the horn wire which is fed down through it and out of the plate so you can activate the horn. The 58 horn wire does not go through the column and is activated through for lack of a better word a commutator thing which is part of the directional signal switch.
Thankfully my 57 column is all back together and everything is working. That includes the directionals,horn and three speed shifter It is nice to know how to do it with the 58 box because I'm told that they are better than the 57. Now that I can't find my extra 58 box, I'm glad that I have an extra 57 box.
So...Have I managed to confuse you? Time seems to be fogging the memory.
I hope that some of the younger guys that have been through this recently will chime in on this and make it clear for us.
Jay
I checked my 57 outer columns, both standard shift and automatic are the same length
Jay
Quote from: hiball3985 on 2013-01-30 16:23
Hi Jay,
I'm sure glad up brought up that point as I didn't even look at that. My 57 box was shot and I had a chance to grab a good 58. I went out and looked and it's just the opposite of what you were thinking. The 57 wheel has one flat, the 58 shaft has none. I don't have a 58 wheel so I will have to machine a flat on the 58 shaft, It never ends :005:. So I think a 58 wheel would go in a 57. And then there is all the differences in the horn set up between the two..
I think that you can use the 57 wheel on the 58 shaft if you just take a dremmel and machine of the flat spot from the 57 wheel. That way you can "clock" it so that it is centered. Both 57 and 58 wheels look the same after they are installed.
I have a decent 57 wheel on mine, but it is wrong because I need a custom wheel with no indentation for the horn ring. My car should have the small horn button and the wheel without the horn ring indentation.
I'll see if I can get all this correct, I'm worn out at this point. I had to cut the 57 column approx 1 3/8 to fit the 58 box. This may be a good thing I won't have to move the seat back as far as I planned. I ground a flt spot on the 58 shaft so the 57 wheel would fit. I want the same type wheel as you, I don't like the big horn ring and hope to find one some day.
The 57 box is a worn and sector set up, these where never the best. The 58 box is a recirculating ball type and far superior.
This morning I installed the box, column and everything as far as wiring works because its the 57 column, except the horn wire, I will just hook up a button somewhere on the column.
Installed the clutch/brake pedal and all the linkage, equalizer bar, shift linkage. Drain the trans.
Tomorrow I will start assembling the front suspension.
You can't confuse me Jay, I can do that on my own :003:
Riball,
Sounds like a good days work! Who said old dogs just lay around and sleep! Lol :003:
Tim :unitedstates:
Quote from: 57 Ford Kustom on 2013-02-02 16:15
Riball,
Sounds like a good days work! Who said old dogs just lay around and sleep! Lol :003:
Tim :unitedstates:
I'll be more then happy to get back to being an old dog again :003: I've been using a lot of body parts that I don't usually use and I ache everywhere :005:
link=topic=3901.msg24777#msg24777 date=1359839597]
I'll see if I can get all this correct, I'm worn out at this point. I had to cut the 57 column approx 1 3/8 to fit the 58 box. This may be a good thing I won't have to move the seat back as far as I planned. I ground a flt spot on the 58 shaft so the 57 wheel would fit. I want the same type wheel as you, I don't like the big horn ring and hope to find one some day.
The 57 box is a worn and sector set up, these where never the best. The 58 box is a recirculating ball type and far superior.
This morning I installed the box, column and everything as far as wiring works because its the 57 column, except the horn wire, I will just hook up a button somewhere on the column.
Installed the clutch/brake pedal and all the linkage, equalizer bar, shift linkage. Drain the trans.
Tomorrow I will start assembling the front suspension.
You can't confuse me Jay, I can do that on my own :003:
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You got a lot of work done for one day. I have a few more years on you and am thankful that I can still lay on my back and pull a transmission and work on my cars. That's some useful information on the difference between the 57 and 58 box. You should get a little more room by cutting the column to fit the 58 box. I wonder if that is the reason that Henry changed it in 58.
Jay, I'm glad you can do these things too. My health isn't the best so that doesn't help either, I tire out easily. I have no idea why they shortened it but the extra room is welcome. I never felt cramped in my Custom 300's but I feel it in the Ranchero. Part of this may be the seats seem to be more padded then the original. I'm 6' 1" so I need all the room I can get..
Speaking of transmissions, I would like to put one of the top loader 4 speeds that have overdrive in it. I have a regular top loader that maybe I can swap with some one.
So close, but not quite. Put the front suspension all back in but the sway bar got the best of me and I had to quit for the day :old:, just the shocks are left to do. I will have to sleep through the Super Bowl this year :sleepy1: :006:
If all goes well today I will be getting new tires. I sure had a hard time finding the size I wanted, not many companies are producing 14" tires anymore that I can afford. So I'm ending up with Korean tires :005: but I least I will be driving it :003: less a dash panel for the time being..
Jim
What size 14" tires did you get and if you have already installed them, how do they look? A side picture would be even better.
Jay
Quote from: Ecode70D on 2013-02-14 11:07
Jim
What size 14" tires did you get and if you have already installed them, how do they look? A side picture would be even better.
Jay
Jay, I ended up with 215 70R 14. It had 205 75R 14 on it but they were 14 years old. I expected a wider tire and was a little worried about clearance. Not to be! todays tire sizes aren't what they use to be, the 215 wasn't any wider then the old 205. Unfortunately there isn't a big choice these days in 14's, not many make them any more. Mine isn't a show car or a racer and for what I use it for I couldn't justify buying new rims. As far as looks, which I'm not overly concerned about, they a round and black :003: nothing fancy. I'll see if I can get a pix later today. The great part was being able to drive it further then around the block, I've already put 50 miles on it. I'm still working on my dash panel so I have no gauges and just guessing at the speed
New tires and back on the road, sort of. The 58 steering gear box makes a world of difference.. Look, the oranges are almost ripe, it's 78 degrees today :003:
Hiball,
That is one sweet ride you have! How does the front end feel now that it is all rebuilt? Love the color combo also!
Tim :unitedstates:
Quote from: 57 Ford Kustom on 2013-02-14 16:24
Hiball,
That is one sweet ride you have! How does the front end feel now that it is all rebuilt? Love the color combo also!
Tim :unitedstates:
Thanks Tim, with all the new suspension and the 58 box she drives like a dream :003: I'm not a fan of red, I would prefer solid black but that is what I will have to live with..
Hiball,
"And that's what makes a horse race" That is what my Dad would always say when two different opinions collided! I was glad to here about the night and day difference in handling. My next winter project is total front suspension overhaul, adding a power brake booster, and power steering. That should eat up my time and money :005: Lol! Agian sweeeet ride!
Thanks,
Tim :unitedstates:
It's funny how things work out. Red has always been my least favorite color, but when I built my panel truck I painted it a red, a mid 70's GM color, Firethorn Red :003: SO now I have two red ones :005:
Hiball,
I like the panel wagon a lot! I could just think of all the trouble I could get into with that! I think it has a lot more fire in that color then red :003:.
Tim :unitedstates:
Quote from: 57 Ford Kustom on 2013-02-14 18:46
Hiball,
I like the panel wagon a lot! I could just think of all the trouble I could get into with that! I think it has a lot more fire in that color then red :003:.
Tim :unitedstates:
You wouldn't believe the stories that truck could tell if it talked :003: :003: :003:
Hiball,
Please don't tell me, let my imagination fill in the blanks :003: :005: :003:!Lol
Thanks,
Tim :unitedstates:
Quote from: 57 Ford Kustom on 2013-02-14 20:03
Hiball,
Please don't tell me, let my imagination fill in the blanks :003: :005: :003:!Lol
Thanks,
Tim :unitedstates:
If you can imagine it, it probably happened :003: But those are all memories now, the last time I was in the back I threw my back out :005:
Lol :003: Hiball!
I went out with a girl who's father wouldn't let me pick his daughter up in a station wagon for a specific reason! As if a 17 year old boy couldn't figure out a way in his Dad's Toronado! :003: Silly Father!
Thanks,
Tim :unitedstates:
LOL, yeah I feel bad for kids that have Hondas etc. They don't know what they are missing..
Hiball,
I bet that don't stop them :sex:
Tim
Jim
That side view of your car looks real nice. Red and black is sharp.
My car temporarily has 205 75 R14 tires on it now, but in my opinion they look too small. I was thinking of installing something just a little bigger.
I like your idea of using the 215 70 R14 tires. Since you did it already.
Did you check the inside of the tires near the upper ball joints for clearance?
Do you have plenty of clearance around the rear tires especially between the quarter panel lip and on the inside near the leaf springs ?
Thanks in advance for checking those for me. Jay
Jay,
As I said in an earlier post, the new 215's aren't any wider then the old 205's that were on it. There is plenty of clearance all the way around front and rear but I don't know what the offset of these Cragar rims are. I wish I could have gone wider but they are harder to find unless you spend big $$ for something like Cokers.
Jim