Hello all! I had a question about cowl steering. What do people use for a steering box? I heard you can use a Ranger box. Is that possilbe and what year box? Thanks Adam
I've heard of a lot of people using early ford F1(late fourties early fifties I believe) columns and boxes.Shortning the column and lengthening the steering shaft out the side. Good luck
I am using a manual steering box from a Barracuda. Aluminum, doesn't need to be reversed. They used these on lots of Mopars from early 60s to early 70s. Several guys here have used these, but "search" doesn't seem to be working now. I got a few pictures off E-bay, there must be a dozen for sale under $100. Second picture shows it upside down from how you would mount it for cowl steering.
I have a bmw 2002 series box. A few other guys on heree have used them. Check some of the posts by dodgerodder. He used one and has some good pics of it mounted. I think these BMW s were built late 60's to mid 70's. As for the ranger box ther is a post in the tech archives of one being reversed. Do a search and check it out. Its also has some good pics.
That's the box I'm using, a Dodge Dart 66-70, its aluminum but still quite heavy, you don't have to reverse it and it's 5.75 turns from left to right, perfect for cowl steering. Also the F-1 steering boxes (48-52 I believe), are good, so are the 2002 BMW.
How long did you make the pitman arm, and from what material? How did you attatch the steering wheel? Photos?
kick ass! I have an early Valiant that is the parts car for my next project... I guess I get cowl steering, cool. - Joe
What I use is a F-1 box. I cut and lengthen the sector shaft about 6-7", and then run it through a pillow block bearing as it exits the cowl. The mount needs to be sturdy, because there is alot of force when rotating the wheel when not moving. I cut the stock pitman arm down to just the splined area. Usually ends up about 1 3/4" diameter, with the splines in the middle. Then I cut a new pitman arm out of 1/2" plate. The speed holes look sharp, and the top hole is 1 3/4" diameter, and is welded front and back to whats left of the stock arm. It allows me to clock the arm however I want before welding it. Hope you understand, Im better at doing it than explaining it sometimes. Let me know if you have any more questions. ROB
The box you are looking for is from a 70-79 ford "ranger" Not the small 1/4 ton pickup truck you were thinking of. I have been hunting one for about 3 weeks now and have had little luck. Locally at least. Here is a link to a post in the Tech Forum outlining how it was done (search function is your best friend): http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77658 I know the post says it used an '85 box, but If you read all the way to the end they discuss that the years are wrong. I have researched it further and found it to be the 70-79 ford 2wd 1/2 ton manual steering box!
Been talked about before, here are a couple of links. Mine is a mid 50's GMC truck box. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142985&highlight=cowl+steering http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77658&highlight=cowl+steering http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132216&highlight=cowl+steering
Here are some pictures, of my set-up. 66 Dodge Dart box. I used 3/4" solid rod, tapered the end (steering wheel side) then put a 5/8" thread on the end of it and cut a keyway into the shaft, to keep the wheel from spinning. The other end of the shaft is welded to a coupler in this case a 3/4" 36 spline. To make everything solid and safe I made a mini steering column, with two bearings, held in by lock bolts, so the shaft could be removed, as needed. Check it out, look at the pictures and it might make sence.
Nice! Alright, so I had already planned on using an early mopar alternator, and now I'll be lookin for a steering box too.
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