Hey all, I am rebuilding the original steering box on my 57 wagon gasser, I have it apart, purchased all the parts I need to rebuild but I have a question: has anyone rebuilt one of these and if so how did you remove the tube and plate for the horn wire?
If memory serves me right it's like a Freeze Plug and you gently tap it out. I seem to remember using a piece of pipe close to the O.D. of the plug (circle) long enough to drop inside and over the small tube and a few taps out it comes. Be careful because you also need to re use it. The earlier boxes had a 4 bolt cap on them. The Wizzard
I remember it being a shallow recess and a couple stake punches to keep it in place. I always thought it was a week program but it worked. That's memory from 30 years ago talking. At that time I probably used a #3 permatex sealer on it. Can you post up a photo of the New part? The Wizzard
http://1954ford.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=3105&hilit=steering+box+rebuild I believe mine is the same as yours. I would like to see pics of the parts you bought to rebuild it too. Also a good link here^^^^
Firedup, If I'm not mistaken the photo you posted up is of a 1951 Merc. It's going to be a bit different than the Ford unit. After my last post it made me question what I had written. That sent me looking for my shop manual and verify what I was thinking. Here's what I found. At my age it's always good to find out your not totally out to lunch. The Wizzard
My steering box is from a 1953 Mercury. I do not have a manual. Thanks for setting things straight. I figured they were close to the same.
I probably have a book on that one also if my Library is still complete. If you need something specific, be glad to see if I can help ya out. The Wizzard
I purchased a shop manual on line that i believe will help me with this and other tasks on the ford side of the gasser. Really just needed to know how to get the tube and plate out. The race at the bottom looks to be OK but im always the type to replace old parts like that when Im rebuilding something. Hete is a pic of the tube and plate, looking at the plate i now see that it is different then the one I have on the box right now. View attachment 4122269 View attachment 4122269
While we are on the subject or rebuilding steering boxes for old fords, I was given a phone number for a guy that rebuilds steering boxes in Ohio if im not mistaken, I talked to him a year or more ago but have since lost his number. If anyone might know who this person is I would like to have his contact info so I can speak to him about this rebuild. When I talked to him he reassured me that I could do this rebuild myself but it would be nice to have some professional advice for a few tasks. Thanks in advance to anyone, and thanks for all your help so far people!
Let see if the link works: https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mercury_late/catalogsearch/result/?q=Steering+box&x=20&y=12
got the last of the parts so I shooting to get started on the reassembly this weekend, I keep you all posted!
The Jalopy Journal
