My 57 Ford has manual steering and came with a mid-70's chrysler tilt/telescoping steering column and wheel in it.
The steering box is whipped. We pulled the box last night, and I can't tell if it's a modified original box, or if it's from something else. I found documentation on the car that suggested it night have been something else.
If it's a Ford box, they cut the shaft down and welded a rag joint so that it would work with the Chrysler column.
(http://www.detroitracing.net/forums/imagehosting/197527e362820538.jpg)
(http://www.detroitracing.net/forums/imagehosting/197527e3628bbd7e.jpg)
(http://www.detroitracing.net/forums/imagehosting/197527e36295161b.jpg)
I want to stay with manual steering on this car. I tried to contact "wurthit" for a rack conversion kit, but they are obviously out of business or no longer selling the kit. I did contact JTFabrication and they will sell me a kit with a manual rack for under $1k.
It appears my options are to either:
1. Find out what this box is, buy a rebuilt version and modify it to work with the rag joint.
2. Buy the JTFabrication rack conversion kit which utilizes a cavalier rack.
I was thinking if option 1 is $500 or less, I will do that, but if it's more, I may as well spend a bit more and get the rack kit. Anyone have any input on what this box is, or any opinions on what I should do?
Thanks for any info you can offer.
We all got opinions... :003:...looks like a 57 box, can't tell for sure but it looks like the shaft is hollow coming out of the front of the box. That being said it is a worm/sector and will always be "power steering by armstrong" unless you have the linkage assist Ford used up through 1964 in full size and 1970 in Mustangs and their other mid sized cars.
I like the Borgeson box and kit, direct bolt in for under 1K. Has none of the steering linkage issues the rack kits have, does not reduce turning radius that the racks do and is a brand new box.
Just my $.02 worth.
Quote from: Ford Blue blood on 2013-11-09 09:14
We all got opinions... :003:...looks like a 57 box, can't tell for sure but it looks like the shaft is hollow coming out of the front of the box. That being said it is a worm/sector and will always be "power steering by armstrong" unless you have the linkage assist Ford used up through 1964 in full size and 1970 in Mustangs and their other mid sized cars.
I like the Borgeson box and kit, direct bolt in for under 1K. Has none of the steering linkage issues the rack kits have, does not reduce turning radius that the racks do and is a brand new box.
Just my $.02 worth.
But is there a manual version of the Borgeson box? I really prefer manual steering on this car. I would pay more to keep it manual if I had to.
A 64 galaxie box bolts in using the same holes on the frame and is set up for a rag joint. The power and manual used the same box the only difference was the ram underneath .I have one that was all hooked up in my ranchero than I decided to go with the borgeson set up. I never drove it but it felt pretty good it may need to be rebuilt, if you want to try it you can have it for $45 plus shipping I'm in Oregon so it might be a little expensive ( kind of heavy).
Quote from: 57chero on 2013-11-09 18:23
A 64 galaxie box bolts in using the same holes on the frame and is set up for a rag joint. The power and manual used the same box the only difference was the ram underneath .I have one that was all hooked up in my ranchero than I decided to go with the borgeson set up. I never drove it but it felt pretty good it may need to be rebuilt, if you want to try it you can have it for $45 plus shipping I'm in Oregon so it might be a little expensive ( kind of heavy).
Thanks for the offer. I do want a fresh one, so I will see what the core charge is, maybe it would save me some cash to buy yours and use it as a core. I am doubting they will let me use a hacked 57 box as a core for a 58-64 box.
Fryguy302 . . . Do you still have the 64 Galaxy box for sale? Is it a self-contained power steering box or the linkage assist power steering box? I'm in the Eugene area. Where in Oregon are you?
Just in case you had sent a pm, it looks like it was 57chero that had the box, not Fryguy. :003:
I had the 64 galaxie box and sold it to fryguy302.
(http://www.detroitracing.net/forums/imagehosting/19752a0c33bc04f8.jpg)
Here is how they compare. We're going to get a sleeve that matches the splines and then use it to fabricate at adapter that will bolt to the existing chrysler rag joint. I will let you guys know how it works.
It ended up bolting right in and clearing the 460 just fine. We had to fab up a solid adapter splined on both sides to adapt it to the column.