FWIW I have it on my 55 Customline with 460 based power. Works great. Just a slight bit larger than stock.
Okay guys, I have read a few articles (not here) where people have used the Borgeson box on 55 / 56 Fords and have had alignment issues with the steering column to steering box angles. Several have had to dimple or cut the top of the frame rail to get the box to line up. I have bought the Borgeson box but have hesitated to install it due to the issues I have read about. I trust you all here on this forum as you have provided accurate information in the past, anyone care to chime in? Mark
I just complete removing all of the Fatmans mounts and rack and pinion from my 55 Sunliner. After removing the exhaust manifold and MC to gain as much clearance as possible I attempted to install the Borgeson box. Not a chance. Will require a pretty good notch in the top of the frame and even then the algnment with the column is a good 2" too low. The bolt holes in their mounting plate line up just fine, but without the notch, no go. What is so frustrating about this is that 5 years ago, while in the building process I installed another Borgenson box that fit perfectly. I just decided that I wanted to rack and pinion and returned the box. I am now at a loss.
No, I have not installed the box yet because of the stories I have read like okiedokie said. Looking at posts on different sites some say it is off by a "little" and others like above have said it required major frame modifications to install. I am not really into notching my perfect, stock frame. I am just unsure how all the frames could be so different.
What confuses me is that the box five years ago fit, but the new one is way far off. Borgeson changed from them suppling and pitman arm then, to using the original now. Otherwise they say they are the same. I say no they aren’t.
I am wondering if they have changed the supplier they outsourced the box to for the installation of the mounting plate if they don't do it in house. A jig or alignment fixture seems to have changed somehow. The angle and height of the pittman arm has to be parallel to the idler arm no matter what so it seems like this would dictate where everything else would need to go. Two inches too low is a WHOPPING no go in my opinion, seems something is screwey in Borgeson land. Thanks, Mark
Post #5 in this thread is how my dad handled the box in his '56 that he has since sold. Basically a cup. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/56-vicky-have-a-few-questions.1090581/#post-12375789
When i built my 55 maybe 10 years ago I bought a borgeson box it fit right in they used a different box now I think they cast there own the new ones are just a little bit bigger when I did my 56 wagon I found the new boxes were bigger an one of the mounting holes is a little bit off I called borgeson they were no help at all I got mine to fit after a little fitting I all so use my stock shifter
Well, I posted my question about fit to the frame on this forum and also on the 55 /56 Ford forum on Facebook as well. After a couple dozen responses from all over the US it looks like about 70% fit okay and 30% needed some kind of modification to the frame or mounting plate that is welded to the box. I guess this winter I will remove the original steering box and try the Borgeson unit and report back with some pictures. Don't hold your breath as it will be a while! Thanks, Mark
What is frustrating to me is my friend who has a 56 wagon with some type of asian steering box that was installed many years ago. Problem is, neither he nor the guy who helped him install it can remember what it is. they say a Mighty Maax pickup but all of them I can find mount on the outside of the frame, although the ones I see have the same top as his. It is much smaller than the Borgenson box and his wagon is a dream to drive. But alas, no luck.
I have read several posts that talk about using a Isuzu P/S box from 1996 Isuzu Trooper, also used (supposedly) in 1994 - 1997 Honda passports. Not a vehicle you see in wrecking yards very often anymore. I would not be opposed to using a more modern manual steering gear with a faster steering ratio THEN using an electric****ist under the dash on the steering column. This could be a potentially smaller steering box for clearance and power steering WITHOUT the hassle of a pump, belt, and hoses for a cleaner install. Again I don't know what steering box I would use. I am not a fan of most of the rack and pinion systems I have seen adapted into our Fords. Two people from my local car club have converted their 55's to rack and pinion then removed them later and installed the Borgeson box. Turning radius was the most common complaint with the rack and pinion, one guy just said "it didn't drive right" and couldn't describe it beyond that! Mark
The borgeson box on my 55 did not have the borgeson name on it it fit as it should the one on my 56 has borgeson on it I had to do some fitting to make i work it is a bit bigger
The Boreson box I recently had did have the Borgeson logo on it. nosford, did any of your friends have the Unisteer rack and pinion? That is what I have decided on for my 55 but they have a two month waiting period so I have time to change my mind. lol.
I don't know what R&P they used or who made it. It is possible that the kits may be improved by now, both of these were done more than 10 years ago. Also have a friend I just talked to today with a 66 Mustang that is a pretty nice car, he also removed his R&P and installed a Borgeson and says he likes it much better. Who knows?
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