Technical TECH: Steering Box Rebuilding for Early Fords/F1/F100

Today's tidbit has to do with steering wheel Woodruff keys.

Ever wonder why Ford used a flat bottom key?



When using the light rod on 32-39 Fords, the standard key will protrude too far in and pinch the rod.



Where the flat bottom key will let the rod slide right through and turn freely



Either style key works fine on 40-48 wheels, but the flat bottom key must be used on the earlier applications utilizing the light/ horn rod.

 

Just found this excellent thread ! " I have built 500 of these boxes" "I'm not an expert" My ***.....
If you are not an expert , no-one is... Great work and excellent pics +follow up how to do things right.
Thank You Sir.

 

The reason I said, "I'm not an expert" is that I am self taught and continuing to learn. I still run into issues with steering boxes that I haven't encountered before. Or, if I did see it before, I didn't realize it was a something that needed to be addressed. Each time that happens, I get a better understanding and make changes to my processes, tools, fixtures, etc.

Recently I figured out a different adjustment process that cleared up some previous mysteries. I told my wife and she replied, "You've been rebuilding steering boxes for how long? And you are just figuring this out now?

You know the old saying...the more learn, the less you know...so yeah, I'm not an expert yet.