F100 steering in 32 Ford

My 32 has a F100 in it and it's pretty sloppy so I'm replacing it with another 53-57 F100. The problem is that when I get it all lined up with the wedge in place it doesn't line up to go through the firewall. When I shim it out so it's right for the firewall the pitmon arm hits the frame. Am I missing something? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

you may have to do some milling/grinding to the actual steering box flange and or the wedge plate if using one behind the steering box, you may also have to take a liitle off the back of the pitman arm if you have clearance problems. Maybe some boxes had more meat on them then others and that could messing it up.

 

I ground the hell out of the pitman arm and nut for clearance through the arc that it moves in. May not have been the best way to do it but it works and the arm is still plenty strong as they were plenty hefty from Henry. Then, when shimmed, it went throught he f-wall nicely.

 

I used a Borgeson Joint to correct that angle thing.......no wedge at all......see pic near the back corner of the head....not the best angle but it's there.....



Here's a better angle to see the joint:



Worked fine for me....

CB

 

If your just swapping F100 steering boxes and the new one doesn't line up, your original steering box must have been altered to fit your '32, which is usually the case. An F100 box doesn't bolt right in, even with a wedge at least never that I've heard of. I'd buy a gasket and shim kit and swap the sector and worm gears and steering shaft from your new box into your old box and probally also replace the bearings, it's not that difficult. If your new gears are good, you would have basically a rebuilt steering box. Did you also try adjusting the steering box in your car first?

 

Also...If you bolt your box to the frame and it doesn't quite align with your column drop, DON'T just force it over and clamp it down.

The jacket of teh column must be perfectly straight to keep the rod inside running true. If the rod inside is not perfectly true, it will work harden and stress fracture and cause the rod to break in half.

Ask me how I found that one out.......

-Abone.

 

Is your car channeled? If it is, the hot rod wedge may not be any help for you. It was designed to use the F-100 box in roughly the stock Ford location.



My F-100 comes through the wooden floor board.

 

Thanks to all who replied....at least I've got some info to work on.