So, I am trying to get this car on the road for my cousin and I have convinced her to at least add disc fronts and power booster. I would also like to see her add power steering, but I figured the brakes were a good start. Anyway, I was looking at the sticky thread and it has something about using Granada parts with minor spindle modification--but no link. I have found one kit, without looking to hard, but does anyone have a good source for a kit or more detailed info on getting parts from a donor car? I would also like info/suggestions on power steering if anyone is willing to share. If I could do that relatively inexpensive maybe she would go for it. As always, thanks for the info.
I got a kit for mine from "Dropem and Stopem" but he has retired I believe. He goes by nascardave on here. They are Granada parts but I don't know individual part numbers. I also have Borgeson power steering box, it was easy as my car was all apart and I used an Ididit column with floor shift automatic. The Borgeson box not cheap though, I think around $500 when I got it.
A Granada spindle lowers a 55-56 Ford approx 2 to 2-1/2”. EBay show kits for approx $700 or less for Granada type power disc brakes with the spindle ready fit 55-56 Fords. There are also kits to use stock spindles from Wilwood and other Ford restoration suppliers like Larry’s Thunderbird, Carpenters, C & G, Macs, etc They probably contain Chinese parts. Any power steering system other than stock will necessitate cutting or replacing the column and adding a new steering box. Electric PS in the middle of the column under the dash is an option with machine work.
Electric Power Steering is a very viable option. If you can cut and weld enough to make a mounting bracket and weld a U-joint to your shortened column, that's basically all that's required. I installed mine for under $200 all in and it works like a charm. I love my EPS! https://www.hotrodders.com/threads/electric-power-steering-install-in-a-54-ford.526435/
Granada spindles can be machined to lower the car 1” to 2 1/2” depending on how much you bore the lower ball joint hole.
Inexpensive, no. Borgeson has a bolt-in box for $640, figure $1K by the time you get the PS pump, mounting bracket and hoses. You could track down an OEM linkage-***ist set-up, but those are prone to leaking and expensive to rebuild. Plus the currently-available repo rubber bushings used in the PS idler arm are junk AND a PITA to replace when they do fail. Also keep in mind any aftermarket solution will eliminate the stock horn wire that runs inside the stock steering shaft so the horn will need a new way to actuate it. Swapping to a '58-62 Ford full-size column and steering wheel will bring back the horn function to the horn ring or you can go aftermarket column ($$$). Keep in mind that with a SBF swap you've dropped several hundred pounds off the front of the car so steering effort will be quite a bit lighter. I did a 351W swap into a '56, removed the OEM PS and steering effort wasn't much more than what it was with the PS.
I like my Jeep grand cherokee steering box. 1 finger steering. A bit of work to install but the price tag is about a $100
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