I am in need of a steering box for my 1928 chassis, and was wondering if there are any boxes from any other year/make/model that would work? Thanks...
I was originally going to install a F1 steering box in my 29 Model A. My buddy who is helping me turned me to a steering box out of a 40 Ford car not truck. On his 29 he mounted the steering box to a bracket off the frame, like a Vega box. This puts the pitman arm in the up position not down, pointing to the ground. The drag link will now be in better alignment with the steering arm on top of the spindle. You can also utilize a F100 steering box, corvair, vega. Do a couple searches here and you will find a ton of information.
if you are using the stock wishbone suspension you do not have correct steering geometry using a level drag link and a wishbone. the imaginary line of the drag link should pass through the center of the wishbone ball link. I like the f1/f100 style boxes depending on what type of angle you are looking to get for your steering wheel.
In monroe at a recycle place, i can tell ya which one if ya want, there is a 55-56 or so f-300 that should have the F-1 style steering box everyone talks about in it,
also, it might be better to buy the entire truck, lots of good parts to use with your model a, you can use the steering column, box, hydraulic brakes, wheels ect. its a good parts car.
your maybe right, im just familiar with the 1948-1952 models tho. would the 48-56 up to f-3 hydraulic brakes work as well? or is just the steering box?
I'd stick to a 1/2 ton brakes... they have smaller levers on them. So yea they'd work. I think shaggy is right... the only difference would be the pitman arm length. I think!
When i get more situated in my shop i'll have to compare stuff I think brakes are different, but i've been told backing plates and hardware is the same, so i dont know Petals and m/c look the same to me but i might be wrong
48-52 and 53-56 are a different box. Both will work, but have different configurations. Column comes out of the bottom on a 48-52 F-1, but uses the same pitman arm spline as 32-48 ford car. 53-56 F-100 have the column in the same position as 28-34 Ford, but use a completely different style pitman arm. F-2 and F-3 boxes look like a F-1...but are bigger. F-3 brakes are bigger too. Neal
They have a different mounting bracket cast into the box that won't allow it to fit in the model A frame with out some serious adjusting! The rest of the box is pretty much the same! here's a 57 box in my T coupe...
Wow i havent had an ass kicking like that in a while, Guess i needed to compare the stuff side to side but the tardel book said 48- 56 right??
I have heard and seen a few people that are going to the 4x4 toyota steering boxes. They look very closly like the old ford ones and are from what i have read a better design.Check it out!!!
Many of the Model A guys with fairly original cars use truck boxes modified by Mel Gross whose ad you can see at: http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72960 Charlie Stephens
The '41 Ford was a cross steer box and that will make your life a little more complicated. Charlie Stephens
Two other good boxes if you can find one are '60-'66 Ford Econoline van and '64-'69 Dodge A-100 van boxes. I had one of the Dodge A-100 boxes from a van I junked, gave it to a friend who used it on an early '20s Studebaker roadster, worked well.
I used a 66 mustang in mine. Mounted under the frame with more room for exhaust. Pics don't show much but the box bracket is incorporated into the 4 bar bracket. Hard to see in pic. Drag link runs paralell in both directions.
I think the Toyota boxes are for a power steering upgrade on the 53-56 F100, NOT for the '28 Model A.
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