What would have been a period correct steering box for a Gasser built in the mid to late 60's? I have searched for this and just get a bunch of mixed threads. Obviously a vega box is out, but would a corvair box be corret, or how about a mopar manual box from the 60's as they were aluminum and abundant? The box will be going into my 56 Chevy, so any help would be great.
I suppose I could, but i want to move the box in front of the axle instead of the stock location. the problem would be with the shaft of the stock box.
here is what I'm going for: This is the front suspension out of the TLB 55 built by Richard Ruth. I think that they used a vega box for ease when they restored the car a few years ago.
my old straight axle ranchero had the box in front of the axle like that, they used the stock box, and turned the pitman arm sideways so it would work with the side steer econoline axle. handled & worked really good, but i always hated the way the long steering shaft extention looked. any reason in particular you want to move the box to the front of the axle?
Your typical gasser in the mid 60's used a P&S steering box or Corvair aluminum box. This was usually on the lighter cars. The P&S box was patterned after the Crowsley steering box that was used in the early top fuel cars. The P&S box had a 10-1 ratio which made for a very quick steering. On a heavier car the steering effort was a little much. This box was used on cars uaually 2500# or lighter. Not a good box for street use!!!!
would a corvair box be ok on a heavy street car then? I'm not real sure how much the car will weigh when complete. It will have a glass front clip and light weight seats with a small block. But I'm not sure how much it will weigh total. probably a little over 3000 lbs. As always, thanks for the input on my questions. vintagedrags
I was into the corvair box, until i found this little bitty box at the local swamp meet (yeah, i said swamp), i couldn't imagine what kind of go cart would use one, the guy said "oh, that one? yeah its a corvair." would never use that under anything heavier than a T bucket. mopar unit is attractive, stout, and aluminum. i'm using the stock box out on my 61 falcon. That thing it tiny too, but looks more substantial than the corvair. You could mount a falcon box ahead of the axle, if you mount the pitman pointing rearward.
...I used a manual steering box from a 65 Chevelle, (525 box),...works very well with cross steering setup, should work for you as well....you won't even have to change the direction of the pitman arm.
I was planning on using the box from my '46 Dodge axle (since it's a push/pull drag link style) but I'm looking for one of those aluminum mopar boxes to see if that fits better with my setup...I love the look of those mopar steering boxes...
Cool, never thought of the impala box. I think I may have a few extras from the 60 elcamino parts I used to collect. If not, I could keep a eye out for a chevelle box from the 60's also. were the chevelle boxes aluminum or cast iron? I have a 65 impala power steering box, but it is cast iron not aluminum.Would the mopar boxes be considered correct for the era also?
I agree with the looks of the Mopar boxes, I have one setting in my garage. Too bad its for a buddies 66 charger project. I'm quite sure he would miss it if I borrowed it!!
Correct for the era is kinda up for debate, there's all kinds of guys that used whatever was available at the time...I would venture to say Ford and GM parts would have been the most abundant, and I'm sure most guys tried as hard as possible to work with the stock setup...since Chevy pickup straight axles are common in tri-five chevs, I'm guessing guys used the stock boxes from the tri-five or the pickup box from the donor truck they got the axle from...
Just got off the phone with a buddy of mine, I now have a 62 impala steering box for the 56. I would like to thank everybody for all of the input on this subject. I have not been this fired up about working on my junk since finding the HAMB. By the way Butch, love the car!! You guys are doing a kick ass job!
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