Wurth-it vs. Gearheads 605 Steering Box

[redshoes57]

IM BUILDING A CUSTOM 300 2 DR. I DECIDED AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL PEOPLE ABOUT STEERING. I CHOSE WURTH IT DESIGNS SYSTEM. I GOT THE POWER RACK  AND THE IDIDIT COLOUM. I TOOK THE IDIDIT COLOUM TO IDIDIT AND HAD THEM REGATE IT TO WORK WITH THE AOD AND CABLE SHIFT IM USING. THE MAIN REASON I CHOSE WURTH IT BECAUSE I TALKED TO A FELLOW AT THE DUCKTAIL RUN IN INDIANA. HE HAD A BEUTIFUL 57 RANCH WAGON BLUE WITH FLAMES, HE WAS RUNNING A 429 WITH A C6. HE SAID HE HAD WURTH IT RAC AND IT WORKED GREAT EVEN WITH A MANUEL RAC HE SAID IF HE DID IT OVER AGAIN HE WOULD PROBABLY PUT A POWER RAC IN. I HAV INSTALLED MINE, BUT I'M STILL BUILDING. PUTTING A 351 W WITH AOD AND 350REAR GEAR.

[KULTULZ]

Gentlemen,

I am new here and while Carousing With My Browser, came across this topic. I wish everyone would take the time to read -THIS THREAD- concerning the modified Saginaw steering box.

[briney]

Kultulz,

Thanks for the post; it's a little late for me since the parts I ordered from Gearheads and in the process of being installed.  I read the posts and see that these two individuals have apparently had a very bad experience with Gearheads Cruiser products and I find that troubling.   

As I had stated in my earlier post, I plan to document the installation of this product on this forum and openly evaluate and rate this product for quality, ease of installation and manufacturer support.  I may very well find myself in the same boat as the others, time will tell.  On the other hand the box I put in may be trouble free and I may never need the manufacturer support, and therefore be unable to address the issues faced by the people in the other forum.   I think if I were armed with knowledge of this other post prior to my ordering, I would have directed my concerns to Frank at Gearheads and let him respond to them. 

I do know before purchasing the box I talked to 5 different people who have installed the product and not had any issues. Additionally, I find it somewhat unbelievable, that a company like Gearheads that has been in business 20 years would  knowing produce an inferior and potentially deadly product as described in the posts you linked us to.  I know they have produced several thousand units over the last several years and if they were all as bad as the linked post indicated than I think we would have certainly heard of more horror stories than just those, and further the company would probably not be in business very long. I do believe they are pretty much like every other company and crank their product out the door in a hurry and am sure they have their quality control issues.  How that is addressed is critical.

The bottom line is that if the events happened in linked posts are true; it is hard to get around the lack support issue.  However without having both sides of the conversation between the customers and the vendor I don't think we will ever know exactly what transpired.

Time will tell all for me.

Patrick 
Dallas TX

[KULTULZ]

Kultulz,

Thanks for the post; it's a little late for me since the parts I ordered from Gearheads and in the process of being installed.  I read the posts and see that these two individuals have apparently had a very bad experience with Gearheads Cruiser products and I find that troubling.   

As I had stated in my earlier post, I plan to document the installation of this product on this forum and openly evaluate and rate this product for quality, ease of installation and manufacturer support.  I may very well find myself in the same boat as the others, time will tell.  On the other hand the box I put in may be trouble free and I may never need the manufacturer support, and therefore be unable to address the issues faced by the people in the other forum.   I think if I were armed with knowledge of this other post prior to my ordering, I would have directed my concerns to Frank at Gearheads and let him respond to them. 

I do know before purchasing the box I talked to 5 different people who have installed the product and not had any issues. Additionally, I find it somewhat unbelievable, that a company like Gearheads that has been in business 20 years would  knowing produce an inferior and potentially deadly product as described in the posts you linked us to.  I know they have produced several thousand units over the last several years and if they were all as bad as the linked post indicated than I think we would have certainly heard of more horror stories than just those, and further the company would probably not be in business very long. I do believe they are pretty much like every other company and crank their product out the door in a hurry and am sure they have their quality control issues.  How that is addressed is critical.

The bottom line is that if the events happened in linked posts are true; it is hard to get around the lack support issue.  However without having both sides of the conversation between the customers and the vendor I don't think we will ever know exactly what transpired.

Time will tell all for me.

Patrick 
Dallas TX

Thanx Patrick,

I did not want to start off here with such a controversial post, but thought I should bring it to the board's attention. It is actually hearsay as I have not used the product but I have no reason to doubt their versions. What I find troubling like yourself, is the tech help which appeared to be none.

Anyways, I am glad I have found a forum dedicated to the 57 FORD... 

Gary

[bagboy]

I think anyone looking at steering check with Better Business B. How they handle customers problems is the final judgement.

[cool57]

IM BUILDING A CUSTOM 300 2 DR. I DECIDED AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL PEOPLE ABOUT STEERING. I CHOSE WURTH IT DESIGNS SYSTEM. I GOT THE POWER RACK  AND THE IDIDIT COLOUM. I TOOK THE IDIDIT COLOUM TO IDIDIT AND HAD THEM REGATE IT TO WORK WITH THE AOD AND CABLE SHIFT IM USING. THE MAIN REASON I CHOSE WURTH IT BECAUSE I TALKED TO A FELLOW AT THE DUCKTAIL RUN IN INDIANA. HE HAD A BEUTIFUL 57 RANCH WAGON BLUE WITH FLAMES, HE WAS RUNNING A 429 WITH A C6. HE SAID HE HAD WURTH IT RAC AND IT WORKED GREAT EVEN WITH A MANUEL RAC HE SAID IF HE DID IT OVER AGAIN HE WOULD PROBABLY PUT A POWER RAC IN. I HAV INSTALLED MINE, BUT I'M STILL BUILDING. PUTTING A 351 W WITH AOD AND 350REAR GEAR.

Could you give us a little more detail on the column and cable shift? I have AOD also with modified stock linkage (combo of new, old and home made) i always thought cable shift might be the way to go. What cable did you use? How much did IDIDIT charge for the mods, etc; pictures would be great! Thanks!

[60tbirdrick]

Hey fellas,
I'm new to this fine forum and I just wanted to let you know that I have installed the  :dumbass: modified 605 steering box in my 60 Thunderbird. I am not happy with the performance of this box at all so now I am in the process of fabricating brackets for a rack & pinion conversion based on pictures of Fatmans and Rick Wurth's brackets. It's coming along pretty good so far. You can PM me if you want to know why I am not happy with this steering box. Anyway here is a picture of my car.

[bagboy]

Just like all you out there too know -THE EDITOR OF  ROD&CUSTOM WENT WITH A WURTH-IT RACK FOR HIS 63. I will be watching how fellow rodder does with  Gearheads  ,I hope he get's it on the road befor "warranty" is up. :dumbass:

[bagboy]

Just thought I would ask how 'briney'/Dalles Tex is coming on his ride?When will it hit the road? What else beside gearbox did he buy.Cooler?,draglink?,idler arm ? or was it even spoken about?

[briney]

Bagboy,  :dumbass: 

Parts are currently on the workbench lying beside the box.   I haven't really done much of anything to post at this point.  My 72 year old mother has been in the hospital for several weeks and my energy and time have been focused on her health care.   My brothers and I are in the process of moving her to a rehab unit this next week.  Her being located two counties away make it quite a time consuming drive to get back and forth to deal with the issues.  I will probably get to working on my ranchero in the next couple of weeks.  The car really doesn't seem that important to me right now and is certainly not my priority.  I'm sure you and the others understand that.

When I start working on the project I start a new post on the installation along with pictures of everything from what came in the box, to copies of the installation instructions.  I will also post how Gearheads Customer service responds if I have technical questions, which I am sure I will.

Roger if you're out there how about some updated pictures of your progress.  I would sure cheer me up and I know the other would like to see it too.

Patrick 
Dallas, TX

[RAWms]

Patrick,
Not a lot of progress.  Broke in the cam and took the front end apart to build an AC bracket which I just picked up today.   Today I hope to put on the rear bumper and the engine pulleys to get it timed and on a lift.   Kind of slow as you understand.
r

[60tbirdrick]

Briney,
I hope your mother makes a full recovery. That must be very difficult.
If your steering box is just sitting on your bench, the next time you get chance to go out there, put the rag joint on the box. There should be about 3 1/2 turns lock to lock. Turn the shaft with your hand using the rag joint till the shaft is centered then lightly turn the rag joint back and forth and see if you can turn the shaft without the sector shaft (where your pitman arm bolts onto) turning. If there is any play in the box, this is your first indication that you may have WANDERING issues. I have about 1/2' to 3/4'  play in my box which translates into a few inches up at the steering wheel. This causes me to have to constantly turn the steering wheel back and forth while I am driving to keep the car straight. This is only one issue I am having. I sent the box back for them to look at and they said there is nothing wrong with it. They bench set it and sent it back but there is absolutely no difference. I really hope yours is ok and that your are happy with it.

[bagboy]

You have my best wishes with your mother.

[briney]

All,

My mother is still ill and I am dealing with the drive to take care of her.  Summer is here and I can't sleep at night so I have decided to start working on the 605 conversion as stated earlier. 

I already have formed some opinions just from reading the literature and inspecting the parts as shipped.  I hope to be able to post pictures and information in the next month showing the install. 

This is all contingent on things staying stable with my mother.

Thanks all for your patience in waiting on the installation. 
I will be candid with the results and let you know how it all went.

For those of you that know me, you know my post have always been very realistic and accurate in my judgment.

Respectfully,

Patrick

Dallas TX 

[RAWms]

Interesting coincidence with your post today.  I was about to PM you to see what was happening since it had been almost a month since last post.  Hope things are improving for your mother.  Looking forward to progress reports on your project.   r