What is everyone using as a replacement or where are you finding rebuilt units for the '56 Fairlane manual steering box? O'Reilly Auto Parts is the only place that I have been able to find that lists the manual box but they are wanting $700.00 for a rebuilt unit plus $500.00 deposit! Mine is completely worn out and there isn't any adjustment left in it. I know that I could get a power steering box but I really don't want to get into converting it over. Are there any other years that would be a direct swap for the manual steering box? Do you know of a company that is offering a rebuilt unit for the '56 that isn't wanting an arm and a leg. Thanks...
Contact Lares Corporation. They rebuild steering boxes for many auto parts stores, probably including O'Really. I believe you can deal with them directly. (800) 555-0767 http://catalog.larescorp.com/part/8500/
TomDobbs, I talked to Lares this morning, they want $480.00 to rebuild my box and they have a 6 plus week turn around.
Both Summit and RockAuto lists the Lares 8500 steering box but like O'Reilly's, AutoZone, Napa or Bumper to Bumper they are out of stock with no date as to when they would be able to ship.
I talked to Powersteering Inc in Nixa, Mo. this morning and they'll do my box for $285.00 and have a 1 to 2 week turn around. If I can't come up with anything else, I'll go with Powersteering Inc. I would be interested in a good used box, if I could find one. Anybody got one laying around?
Sounds like Lares is out of cores, in which case you will need to have them rebuild yours or convert to some other make of box. Here are some other rebuilder possibilities: http://www.powersteering.com/manual-steering-gearbox-rebuilds https://redheadsteeringgears.com/rebuilding/
a used box MAY end up being as bad or worse than what you have.for peace of mind a small wait is worth it.I rebuilt my own not sure on a 3 tooth as to parts(gears etc.)
Long ways away from you but there is a guy here in Salem Oregon with a ton of 56 Ford parts. He has restored and parted out many Crown Vics over the last several years. His name is John, 971-599-8491.
Thank you. These are very helpful. Especially since I want to modify my box to steer better than original
Update... Back before the holiday's, I purchased a used box from a guy a couple hours north of me that restored '55 and '56 passenger cars, it looked to be in better shape than the one that I had and the guy claimed that it was in good shape so I took a chance on it. It felt pretty good and other than needing to be adjusted, I decided to go for it. After thinking on it for a few day's I decided that I would go ahead and have powersteering.com go through it before I put it in. Last week we drove up to Nixa, Mo. and dropped off the box, they agreed that it felt pretty good and although it seemed to have a rough spot in it, perhaps a bearing going bad, it shouldn't be that big a deal. Today, I got an e-mail from powersteering.com with their findings! The good news was that it would need the worm gear replaced which are plentiful and the not so good news is that it needs a new pitman arm shaft that aren't so plentiful! Apparently, no one sells the pitman arm shaft! Talked to Lares and they said that they could rebuild mine for around $500.00 plus any extra parts that would need replacing but "no" they wouldn't sell me just the parts that I needed for mine. So now, unless I can find a source for a new pitman arm shaft, I will have to pull my original box and hope that it can be rebuilt. Anybody know of a source for a pitman arm shaft?
I am with tom the pics only show the gears one of which presses onto shaft from memory.buying used is like pulling the pin on a hand grenade
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