Seriously, how many of you guys..

Does anyone have have a corvair steering box in something that has a little more weight than a stretched out TBucket?

The corvair box has it's shafts arranged such that the output is lower than the input-which works for me because my starter requires that I have the box atop the frame and still have the pitman arm reaching down far enough to have a level drag link.

i'm one the fence about buying a reversed 'vair box which gives me good geometry but questionable service life- or stepping to a reversed 525 box (practically same price) but bigger, uglier, less than ideal drag link position, and more complicated mounting angle/steering column.

who is actually running them and how are they holding up? getting sloppy? cracking? are you using the aluminum, the iron, or later steel repop from flaming river or speedway?

i can guestimate all day as too how long before she needs rebuilt, but i'd like it from the horse's mouth. thanx-rick

 

I seen one in a corvair once...

Wait, maybe they aren't heavier than a t..

 

model a sedan..worked

 

The Corvair unit was the popular choice for a long time 'back in the day"
Seemed to work well back then,dont know why it wouldnt now.
Aometimes new technology isnt any better than old technology.
Find someone with a bunch of old Street Rodder mags from the early '70's
as they often had articles about installing them and strength/weaknesses

 

The Corvair box I am using is reversed but otherwise completely stock. It is in a 1200 lb "T" but the difference with mine is the tires. I'm not using the bicycle-like tires up front like you often see on a "T". Mine has 15" Steelies with huge W-W tires all around. I too wondered how well the Corvair box would withstand big tires/wheels when I built it. So far, it has held up well and drives nice. Hope this helps.

 

My Anglia has had one since 69 and has with stood quite a few wheelstands

 

26 T works grate

 

My first '34 5W coupe had one in it. I broke it one night leaving a restaurant with a date when someone parked behind me and blocked me in. Trying to jog my way out, turning back and forth and it snapped inside. The wrecker driver kindly took me by my date's house so I could drop her off and them on home to begin a total rebuild of the car. A year later I was on the road again.

 

I have one in a '34 plymouth coupe. Well, actually it's in the trunk but it's been there for years and hasn't given me a bit of trouble

Seriously though, I would never use one on anything heavier than a T Bucket. Even then, with any motor up front, especially a V8, you're asking it to push around a hell of a lot more weight than it would ever have seen in a Corvair. Just my 2 cents.

 

so -a couple of T's, and an anglia say yes (v8 anglia, probably?) and a couple of coupe guys say "no thanx" it's a 61falcon with aluminum rad, heads, intake, waterpump, axle that's POSSIBLY a 65 econoline or 65 chevy (5 on 4 3/4 bolt center hubs with 7/16 studs) and a rear mount battery, so i'm hoping it's light enough to not kill the box in short order.

any others with v8 non T's using the vair box?

 

My Es*** has a complete Corvair front suspension, including the stock 'vair steering box. Seems to work ok although it's getting a little loose. I just figured out how to adjust it and will do so once the weather warms up a bit.

 

Have you looked at an A-body Mopar aluminum box? I'm considering one for my truck....the Corvair box I bought looks a little, ummm, wimpy.

Tim D.