Cowl Steering? if the sky was the limit

So if you geniuses were going to build a car with cowl steering and the budget wasn't an issue what would it be. Ok, what if budget was an issue? What is the simplest, best working arrangement? I've heard sprint car boxes were too fast for a street car. Is that true? Show me what you've done or seen, please. Will it restrict leg room, because I have legs but not much else? All information is greatly appreciated......

 

What kind of car are you doing? I've done several Tri Five Chevy boxes-reversed and case machined- which fit real nice in '28-'29 Fords. If you're doing a '30-'31 or a '26-'27 the '65 thru '75 (or thereabouts) Ford F-100/150 manual box is a pretty nice fit. They are both Saginaw recirculating ball nut gears which don't wear out like the Ford Gemmer gears. When finished they look "racy" and don't steer too fast. Several H.A.M.B. ers have bought from me. P.M. me for details.

 

The 30s GM pickup box I used rocks, ask GV, he owns the T now. Cheap and well built.

 

I am using a Schroeder midget box, but it is fast, I have cut the pitman arm length down and have made the steering arm on the front spindle much longer but still it is one turn lock to lock. My car is very light so it should not be a big thing. I have a friend that used a BMW box and it works very well and is stout. I think there is a "tech thread" on reversing a mid 80s Ford small pickup box that looks good. So there are a ton of ways to do it, as usual it depends on your bank account and your fabricating skill.
Rex

 

Ask 3 Window Larry, Never seen one that looked better and I doubt price affected his decision.

 

I'll second the GM truck boxes. I even use them on regular side steering set ups.
Clark

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=223806&highlight=mopar+box+steering

Mopar all the way...cheap...look cool...no reversing needed

 

If budget wasn't a problem,
I'd let Chip Foose figure out how to do it.





If budget was a problem,I'd look here:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/search.php?f=5

 

i've driven thousands of miles in cars with schroeder steering, and they aren't too fast for the street, as for alternatives, Most of the guys have covered that here...and they aren't as bad as people say pricewise in my opinion either to be honest

 

Have you considered installing a "steering quickener" but installed backward so that it acts as a "steering slower-downer"? If not, Summit Racing has some different ones to choose from. I'll likely use one on my car since I'm going to use a Ross steering box for cowl steering out of an old sprint car (very fast like the Schroeder). Here's an Afco quickener:

 

I have just finished a 32 roadster and price was a factor, but so was time and appearance. I chose the Schroeder box mounted like 3 Window Larry did his. As for quick I just bought a new Colorado with a power rack and it has a very sensitive steering. 1/4 turn heads it for the ditch much my Schroeder steered roadster.

 

We used a Ross in our 27 race car, and it is quick. It was easy to mount and i would use one again. It could be slowed down, there are lots of ways to do it.--TV

 

Yeah, if budget wasn't an issue, I'd do what 3wd Larry did. What a set-up.

If budget was an issue, I' look at some of Clark's posts on the truck boxes or might fall back on my own BMW box that I used in my RPU.

JH

 

I checked the search first but it didn't turn up much. I didn't just get off the bus bub.

 

I updated the '30's style gear-grinder/binder in my '40 GMC to a smooth as silk '41-'46 recirculating ball type.
Way better!
AND it's a bolt in exchange and uses the same frame mount and column jacket.
The only problem I see in this one is there isn't an upper shaft oil seal (it just relies on gravity to keep the oil in the box) so if you tip the column down to level, the gear oil will run up the column into your lap...
I guess an upper seal might be adaptable, maybe.

 

Im using an 8:1 schroeder box and couldnt be happier. The pitman arm is a 6" f1 arm and is about half the size as the one designed to be used on the schroeder boxes, so it is perfectly streetable. Once you drive anything for a day or 2 you get used to is anyway. Just make sure you secure it to the frame and firewall with a hoop connecting the 2 so its a solid structure. the tend to flex alot if you dont, and make sure its perfectly level. good luck

 

I saw your #150 at Bear Mountain's cruise....I liked it alot. Nice car!

 

oh cool..yeah i went once last year.


thanks

 

Very nice! Is that a bushing mounted to the dash? What did 3 window larry do?

 

Here's a Schroeder box on my Zipper. It's hard to see, but the steering arm was lengthened 2" and raised up so that the drag link is parallel to the ground. Lot of time to get it right.

 

I'm using a reversed corvair boxi n my 27 T RPU build for two good reasons: it was relatively cheap AND available! ...also, it takes up very little space and spares me from having to deal with a steering column in the floor. Since I'm building a 5 speed vehicle with a lowered floor pan, space is very important! Good Luck with whatever you decide to do!


Semper Gratis Emeirtus!

 

I had heard that Schroeder was gonna make a ratio more "street" compatable because of the popularity of hotrodders using their boxes.

 

I'll check with Schroeder today.

 

Are there any pictures of how 3 Window Larry's is mounted?

 

I sent my box back to Schroeder in early spring for the ratio reducer pkg. They returned it after about 2 months, said they need more R&D on the reducer but it might be available in spring 08. That was then this is now. Maybe things have changed. Also do a search on the hamb as Larry had a very detailed batch of photos on how he mounted the steering in his 3 window.

 

I like the Mopar box, no reversing.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=77658

 

If the sky is the limit then you want my vintage Halibrand 8:1 Champ car gear. First $2000.00 owns it !

 

More good stuff here

 

Here's a mopar box I saw at the GNRS, very neat set-up.




I like the look of the Schroeder box..



Who can argue with Doane Spencer..

 

for the cheap way,I´d go with an volvo 140 series box,no need for reversing,and even in the us there´s got to be like a zillion of them in junkyards.same basic box 67 to 74.the volvo 120/130 series also works,and if you want a box with a onepiece axle and tube,the volvo pv 444/544 would work fine too.