Does anyone know if a 1940 Ford with a 1953 flathead engine, a Vega style steering box and 4 in drop soild front axle and stock steering linkage can be changed to power steering. I do not want to go to a Mustang II front end suspension.' Thanx in advance
The Vega box uses the same bolt pattern as a manual 525 box and GM Power boxes (although they have one more mounting hole), so a power box should bolt on. I have also seen a power box advertised recently as a direct replacement box for the Vega. i don't know if that is just a standard Saginaw power box or a new specialty smaller box. Then there is a question of whether you have clearance for the bigger box. You are most likely on your own in terms of mounting brackets for the power steering pump. I would consider the simple approach first of trying a larger diameter steering wheel and check if your caster is correct first before going through all the trouble.
The reason is that I am 68 and had a pace maker put in last year. I my have trouble parking the car in tight spaces at cruise nites.
Have any pictures of your current set up? Switching to a p/s box is pretty easy, but fitting the pump to the engine would take some custom fabrications. Unless they make an electric pump set up??? Hmm might have to research that one...
I think it is doable with a power steering box as suggested above. Clearance being a concern. As for driving the pump, when I put Air Cond on a '53 Merc engine a few years ago, I mounted the A/C compressor and alternator side by side on top of the engine. The later flatheads had two belts, one offset from the other front to rear, and I offset the comp & alt likewise and used one belt for one water pump and alt and the other belt for the comp and other water pump. I made my own mount, but somebody, maybe Alan Grove, makes a similar mount that may work for your purposes. There may well be other mounting options, that is just what I chose to do. Also, it may be worthwhile to look into the electric power ***ist steering columns that mount the power system under the dash. In any case, best wishes.
EVsource.com has an electric pump. But it costs all most a grand. Think I would be fabricating myself some brackets after that sticker shock.....
Guys look what I found. I was told that Flamming River make a power steering vega box that mounts to the same location as the manual vega that is there know. From March preformance.
Oh sorry for the mixup. This the only picture I have at the moment. You can see the pitman arm just inside the wishbone. The steering box is up and to the left.
Ch***is Engineering Inc. has a bolt on GM steering box adapter that uses a power or standard box. call them about clearance with exhaust. it can be adapted to the stock column.
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