How much longer is a 525 steering gear vs. a Vega steering gear? I'm running a F.R. style Vega steering gear now in my '36 Ford. It bumps very closely up to the Hurst saddle mount and motor mount ***embly in the frame of my Ford. If the 525 is significantly longer I'd have to pull some major cutting of the offending steel. Hate to do that naturally, but the Vega box is too weak for this car. I'm told a 525 is significantly stronger, but is it longer? Anyone got ideas?
It's not too much bigger, but does require a different pitman arm. Looks like they bolt up the same, http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/1002sr_steering_then_and_now/photo_12.html http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/techarticles/0803rc_steering_box_options/index.html
how is the vega box too weak?, the reason i ask is i have one in my '36 but it's not on the road yet. i've heard they're for '34 and under or 2500lbs or less (which i would think a full fendered '34 is the same as a 35/36). i've seen several 36's with a vega box (and some 40's with them too on here).
not sure why your's is weak , my `36 has a vega steering box and it's just fine. i've put vega boxes in many `35-`40 fords with no problems
A 525 is "a little" larger than the Vega, but NOT significantly larger. They both share the same mount pattern. Some 525s have short shafts and others have long shafts. I have a 525 mounted in my '40 Ford coupe. I'm using a steering box mount from Ch***is Engineering which mounts directly to the stock '40 steering mount. This effectively puts the box in the stock '40 Ford location, well rearward of a forward saddle mount. I run side mounts on my SBC with no interference problems. DD
I also have a vega box and had no problems, also when ordering the bracket to mount it to the frame I spoke to Jerry Slover from Pete and Jakes and he told me that the purple flamed 39 that Pete C built and that he now owned had a vega box and it drove all over the place, he was the one to talk me into a vega box...
If I'm not mistaken the 525 was also used in the Monte Carlo's ect. 65 thru 80. Camaro's had them but were the the quicker ratio. Im using a 525 on my 56 F100.
I used Vega boxes when they first got discovered, had to make pitman arms from 3/4" steel blanks. Most were adequate for the hot rods, ('27-'34) but a little 'light' for post-'34. I found one out of a Monza that had needle bearings on the sector, instead of the bushings. Nice piece, but I have a preference for the aluminum mid-'60s Mopar box, recirculating ball type, adaptable for cross or side steering...(plus, it polishes up to look like a MOON part!)
I'm on my 5th Vega box (F.River) in 22,000 miles in my SBC powered "36 coupe. 4 of them developed significant play in them within a short while. On the 5th, a high dollar aluminum box unit, it was the tightest and best one I ever had. One day I made a made low speed , hard right hand turn into a M***achusetts Inspection station when I heard a loud snap noise and it got loose on me. I popped the hood to discover that one of the 3 mounting lugs had broken off the box. F.R. told me no help from them was to be offered. They told me a '36 was too heavy for their product. Basically............I was told T.S.
The 525 boxes were used on 64 & up GM A-bodies (Malibu, etc) with manual steering, 68 & up Novas, Camaros, S-10 trucks & many other makes such as the early 80's F-100 with manual steering (the mounting pattern may vary). I had read in a magazine years ago that a stock 40 ford steering arm bolts right on, but never verified it.
do they advertise that a 36' is too heavy for the box? i would think after the 1st failure you would have gone a different direction/product.
i had problems with a Flaming River vega box in a `32 Ford...i don't think it is the weight of the car , but rather the quality of the steering box i've had good luck with original saginaw vega steering boxes
the one i have is a new metal vega box from borgeson just before they stopped selling them (about 6 years ago), i think they're made in canada.
The 525 is a good box. It was also used in Jeeps and many industrial vehicles. They come in both short (about 2 1/2"), or long (about 6 1/2") input shaft lengths. Also fast and show ratios. I have a few in my shop, so if you are looking for a specific set of dimensions let me know.
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