vega steering box install

I am having a hard time figuring out how to mount my vega box on 32 frame rails. Frames are boxed and I have a dropped 4 inch axle with cross steering. The box is has tapped mounting holes and my bolts end up against the frame. Any help or pictures would be great.
Thanx

 

Buy a Pete & Jakes bracket.You have to drill the threads out of the top hole of the box and the bottom holes end up under the rail.

 

To give a little more room for the steering shaft to go by the engine I traced around the mounting face of the steering box on scrap metal and cut it out, then cut the center out of the plate so the steering box recessed into the cut out area. I thing it was 3/8" plate, don't want the steering box to hit the frame where it is recessed. Drilled the three mounting holes in the plate. Bolt the plate to the steering box with the two lower bolts. Mock it up where it needs to be on the frame and center punched the top bolt hole to frame (boxed frame also), drilled a hole large enough to install a crush tube through the frame and welded the tube in and ground smooth on the inside, the outside I left the tube protruding about an 1/8" for the weld around the tube. Bolt the plate to box and use the top long bolt to tighten it to frame, after final adjustment for fit tack the bracket to frame, make a small gusset to brace the bottom of the plate and tack it to plate and frame, remove box, finish welding it out and bolt steering box in, on the two bottom bolts I safety wired them and blue locktite with lock washer on top bolt. This is probably confusing but worked out well for me, mine is on a '30 but should be about the same. If you don't cut the center out of the plate you will need to use spacers between the plate and steering box which moves the box closer to engine.

Oops reread the post, you may need three crush tubes through the frame, sorry.

Vergil

 

Used a triangular bracket like ones available from numerous suppliers, made out of 1/4 inch plate with 1/4 inch thick spacers to move the steering box out slightly for clearance. The top bolt has a crush sleeve welded into the frame just under the top with a bolt going thru from the wheel side of the frame (running full fenders so will never be seen). Bottom of bracket has two 1/4 inch thick triangular braces to bottom of frame. The space between to steering box and triangular frame bracket gives enough room for brake line routing along frame to front. Bolts all grade 8 with lockwashers (good enough for GM, good enough for me).

Found the best position for the box was nearly, not quite horizontal with a straight pitman arm pointing forward, tie rods coming up from the bottom. Lined up nicely for a almost parallel alignment with the tie rod. Axle is 4 inch drop with original steering arms dropped to clear frame/radius rods and axle when turning (and magnafluxed after modifying).

For steering column clearance I moved the bottom of the column where it passed thru the firewall out about 1/2 inch and offset the engine about 1/2 inch to the passenger side. The outer column tube was trimmed off at the firewall. This gave me enough room to clear the starter motor, the problem area in my build. This is using a Saginaw 525 box, slightly larger than your Vega box and with a longer shaft going up to the steering column. Intermediate shaft is out of a Chevy Astro van, 2 U-joints a slide fitting and vibration damper all in one.

Tried it with a "C" shaped bracket (Chassis Engineering copy) that moved the box closer to the frame but didn't like it, thought the triangular bracket would be a lot stronger and I didn't gain enough space where I needed it, passing the starter motor. This is on a "A" frame so your 32 would have a little more depth for mounting but NOT MUCH, mine is 5 inches high, half way between a A and a 32.

No pictures but can take some tomorrow if it of any help.

Canuck

 

Guys,
Your input is greatly appreciated. I didn't think about the crush tube.
david

 

according to welder series:

On model a and 32 fords, we put the center of the upper hole 11" back from the rad mount center hole.

mount the bracket so the lower bolt holes are parrallel to the ground. use the bracket as a template to center a 1/2" upper hole in the inner wall of your frame.

their drawing shows the top of the bracket even with the top of the frame.
that should get you started.

 

Hope these pictures help a little... One of the important things to do is drill out the top hole on the box if you're mounting it like ours - you don't want to tighten a bolt through a threaded hole. We use a fine thread bolt on the top hole and coarse threads on the bottom so there's no way to mix them up.

 

Thanks for the new pics. Tom (Tired Old Man)

 

ultimately , ride height will determine the box mounting height....most box mounts are for 4 wheel drive ride height rods..... keep the drag links parrallel with each other and the ground. i usually set the chassis at the ride height i want (horns resting on a block at the ride height i want ) and build everything to work at that ride height...... the steering box is usually mounted higher in the rails , but i like my junk half way low and do not want the pitman arm or box to be the lowest thing on the chassis......

 

Puttin my old hotrod back in one pile and caught the steering box discussion. Thanks a ton

Bill

 

I’m doing this same install and got the bracket with mine to weld onto the frame. I’ve got a model a frame that’s been boxed and 6 inch z’d prior to me. For my motor to sit correct with the firewall and the Vega box to sit in line with the pass steering arm it’s right in the way with my motor mount. What happens if I move the box back further will it cause bump steer if it doesn’t hit my oilpan

 

Like others said cut & recess triangle steering box mount into frame , will give 3/8 to 1/2 more room & use good Quality universal joints, I prefer the small diameter forged

 

I asked the same question regarding moving a cross steer box back, Neal Ludd explained why it would be okay. Can’t seem to “@“ him.

 

I have used 100's of the Pete& Jake's Vega plates with Borgenson steering boxes. 1 inch bolt in the top 1 1/4 inch bolt in the bottom. 11 inch top bolt measurement is good. I usually put the top bolt about 3/4 inch down from the top edge of the rail. I also tilt the rear of the box up just a small amount. Lately the boxes I've been getting had the top hole already drilled or made that way.

 

Okay 11 inch from where the radiator bolted to the crossmember. I’m trying to use the sbc mounts weld to the inside of the frame since the body was channeled and the frame z’d so much originally. If I can move the box behind the motor mount and it miss the oilpan and it be okay to have the drag link at a angle I’ll be good