Any steering box ideas for my 38 Chevy Gasser?

I'm using a stock front axle and drag link. What ideas do you have to join my existing column (shown) to the Drag Link (also shown)? Any pictures? Thank you

 

look into junkyards, any coe, or vans chevy early 70s to mid 90s would have a double ujoint shaft with sliding sleeve about 12-20" long, you can cut one side of the slip shaft to make it shorter if needed too, and it'll be tough enough for torque on high front end. DEFINATELY put a bearing bracce/bracket to keep it from moving. also any dodge truck 40s-60s esp. power wagons would have a box that should be able to be modified to fit.

 

OK, are you saying both the 2x and 4x use the same steering box? But, that same box is just mounted differently from one truck to the other? Or, am I unclear on which box to try? Thank you

 

2001 gm full size van box can be made push pull pretty easy by reclocking pitman arm. It looks like you have enough room in there to mount it. Plentiful, and cheap.

 

Chevy truck boxes are different from 2 to 4 wheel drive. The mounting lugs are positioned on different sides of the case.
Most 4x4's at least will be power steering.
My opinion...not really what I'd be looking for.

Your pic is a bit out of position to see how much clearance you have but I'd look at the old favorite F100 box as a good candidate. Trad and configured right.

Another box with a vertical pitman arm and still non-power, would be a Toyota FJ 40 box. Bulletproof and looks pretty good. Still has the old flavor to it...
These things should be easy to source as Offroaders often change them to front mounted Chevy power boxes to lose the bell crank and ***ociated extra bits that Toyota chose to use...in addition to getting GM power ***ist to turn the big tires.
In your setup...this extra stuff wouldn't be needed anyway.
74ish and newer boxes use a rag joint and spline right at the box. Pre 74ish used a shaft right to the steering wheel.

Not recommending anything...just offering some suggestions you might want to look at!

 

OK....
1-so it's a 2x non power box I'm looking for?(If yes, I'm wondering WHY the 4x was mentioned)
2-what year F1?
3-what toyota is the FJ40 box out of?(I don't know imports)

 

Is the box in this picture non-power?

 

I'm not sure what GM truck box you would need...
Personally I'd look in a different direction. I'd prefer the look of a box thats configured as per normal in your coupe.

F1 is a bit different than an F100. Either might work but one has a different steering wheel position than the other. F1 is 48 to 52(?)...F100 53- 56 for sure and beyond...but I'm not sure where the configuration changed after that.

FJ 40 is the small Toyota "Jeep" with the removable roof. Several other variations used the same box but I forget the model designations.

heres a link to one on Ebay. (BTW...buddys price is right out the window even if it IS rebuilt! These things are common...)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyo...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

I had luck using a box from a 1969 chevy van with a solid axle.

 

OOPS, my mistake on the F1. I'm not concerned with appearance as much as ease of installation. It's not in an area that's easily viewed. Besides, I'm more interested on function over form. I'm not the stickler that some guys are for little insignificant details. There's a saying around here "can't see it from my house". With the fenderwell headers, the box isn't too viewable. And if there's not enough "cool" to look at on this car to distract from looking at the box, shame on me then. That being said, what box would you suggest now? Thanks again for your time

 

What I've mentioned is where I would look first (which is NOT saying anyone else is wrong...just many ways to skin a cat!)...however the deciding factor is always mounting clearance/bumpsteer elimination.
Ultimately, that means some educated guesses and a test fit or two.

Try a few boxes from friends stashes and choose accordingly!

 

OK, this is how it's sounding from here------
You gave me some options. Then I asked some details on those options. You took a u-turn, and now I'm back at square one??
To recap---your first post was aimed at a truck box. Then you wrote "I'm not sure what GM truck box you would need...Personally I'd look in a different direction."

 

I think my dad is using a vega box on his 38 chevy.

I'll get pictures and details how he did his.

 

Thank you

 

I too, usually use the Vega, but in cross steer situations. I wonder if it can be mounted differently to work with the front steer(or whatever it's called)

 

My first post word for word...with added bold...

"Chevy truck boxes are different from 2 to 4 wheel drive. The mounting lugs are positioned on different sides of the case.
Most 4x4's at least will be power steering.
My opinion...not really what I'd be looking for.

Your pic is a bit out of position to see how much clearance you have but I'd look at the old favorite F100 box as a good candidate. Trad and configured right.

Another box with a vertical pitman arm and still non-power, would be a Toyota FJ 40 box. Bulletproof and looks pretty good. Still has the old flavor to it...
These things should be easy to source as Offroaders often change them to front mounted Chevy power boxes to lose the bell crank and ***ociated extra bits that Toyota chose to use...in addition to getting GM power ***ist to turn the big tires.
In your setup...this extra stuff wouldn't be needed anyway.
74ish and newer boxes use a rag joint and spline right at the box. Pre 74ish used a shaft right to the steering wheel.

Not recommending anything...just offering some suggestions you might want to look at!"

What do you mean I took a U turn!?!?
I said I didn't PERSONALLY like the GM truck boxes, thats all...that I thought there were better options already configured for a push/pull drag link.
I offered a couple of ideas that would be where I would START looking...IF I were doing your build...thats all.
My last sentence...
Not recommending anything...just offering some suggestions you might want to look at!

The thing is...YOU need to do the looking and the mocking up...and figure the bumpsteer/turn radius/column connection etc.
You also need to consider if the steering box option presented to you will turn the wheels in the right direction. Thats one to ponder right there....
I CAN'T tell you what the perfect box for your build would be.
How can I???
The car isn't in my garage...I don't have access to it for measurements etc...just the one off-angle photo you posted!
Not a lot to go on...
Nobody can say with 100% certainty what your absolute best option is. Too many variables involved.
ALL the options mentioned by EVERYONE will work with the usual tweeks and mods...but its up to you to make the final decision based on what your CAR needs.

Be safe and have a good one...

 

Sorry. I think I may have mistaken your post with someone else that attached their post to part of yours, and then deleted it.

 

Look at 61-64 F100. Might get you where you need to be.

 

I'm thinking the Corvair's not a viable option.I just went out and looked at my car. This is what I see at a glance-
1-Mounting that box on my frame puts the input shaft too high for my column(and not enough room to move that column to match up)
2-It also appears too far left to line up with my column
3-And it's high enough to interfere with my fenderwell headers

I've heard of the use of early Mustang boxes. I wonder what they look like?

 

Thinking about it, I think they DO mount the same!
I believe i was confusing the later Chevy IFS style with the early style!
CRS kicks in as you get older! Hahaha

Still not fussy on them though...and to steer correctly I believe they would also need to be reversed. (Hmmmm...Not even sure they CAN be reversed...)

Regardless...I was wrong on the mounting style and its important to correct yourself when you discover you made a mistake.

 

probably doesn't relate to your problem, but I'll check out the beater 37 monday see what he's using

 

Groucho, can you move the bottom of the column over or does it conflict with too many other things?

Angled columns are common even from the factory.

Take a good look at a 50 Plymouth, they have about the most angle on them - from the factory - than any stock car I've seen to date.

 

I've got some leeway in either direction. I can move it left/right, or up/down if necessary. I looked at a bunch of boxes at Long Beach swap meet today. I'm gonna email that guy some pics of the car and see what he might recommend.

 

I have what "might" be an early Mustang box that looks like it'll work. A buddy, that's way better at his particular thing is gonna come by and tweak on some ideas with me this week.

 

the reversed corvair box is what i wanna go with, but it is known that they cant handle the weight of a front engine car. The flaming river box is supposedly redesigned (same external dimensions) out of steel instead of iron or aluminum and has better bushing/bearings. I am trying to figure if they (sold by jegs, and speedway for about 360) can handle the weight with these improvements

otherwise a reversed vega box may be needed which is about $460 through borgeson/mullins.

 

The early Mustang:Falcon:Comet,Maverick:Comet steering boxes may be an option. Mounted under the frame on their side the pitman arm would be in the vertical position to hook up to drag link, just bolt/weld in the steering ball to the pitman arm if the directional pull is correct. The 68-up ones have a short shaft and use the rag-joint. The earlier ones have a long steering shaft to the steering wheel.

 

i've got one but that wont work for me (mopar starter in the way) cuz i cant any of the box on the inboard side of the frame. curious about the F1 box anyone got a pic? cost? availability?

 

Umm, hes probably running a full set of MAN testicles! That thing is BAD***!

 

....not what you wanna hear but I'd use a 525 GM manual box, and go to a cross-steer set-up using Speedway steering arms and steering/tie rods. just my 2 cents.
Good luck whatever you do...

 

With my buddy Andy doing MOST of the work, we installed this early Mustang box. Works NICE!