i'm putting a flathead in my '31 coupe. i cut the steering coloum, removed the box. stock i beam axel. have juice brakes, what steering is better less complacated. and of coarse less money.
Dude your in the wrong forum if your asking about using a rack and pinion set-up, especially on a AV8! But to answer your question, F100 or F1 like stated. A Model A Gemmer box, a '32 box, would be traditional.
There were rack n pinion back in the day.....even used on hot rods.... That being said, I like cross steer style
Two other good side steer options are '61-'66 Ford Econoline van/pickup or '64-'69 Dodge A-100 van/pickup. The Dodge A-100 box is a GM Saginaw unit designed for side steer application. Early '60s Chevy/GMC vans that had straight axles and parallel leaf front springs most likely used a similar unit to the Dodge A-100, hadn't had a chance to look at one of those in a long time but if I remember right they were side steer also. Nothing wrong with the F1 and early F-100 boxes, just a lot of people restoring those trucks which bids up the price of a good used steering box. Either one will get you a skinny column close to the diameter of a stock Model A column which will look at home in a traditional A-V8. Either one comes with turn signals built into the column. As I recall, all of the F-1 and most if not all of the early F-100's came with a single taillight standard, which means that turn signals would require one of the add-on units.
Do a search for that goofy tall t looking show car ....think its un certain t .....check out the steering in it....also the hot heads 32 coupe
cross steer on my ride feels exactly the same as the R&P on my 50's sports car....can't tell the dif thru feel for me
I have vega cross steer on my 32 and it drives better than a new car and is simple to install, all kinds of choices on chromed boxes, new ones etc. good luck
Nope, I'm aware of the turned ninty degrees rack that pushes and pulls that you are talking about on the "Uncertain T". Probably worked O.K. for as little as that car was ever driven, but did you ever look at the steering column angle on that thing? Leans way forward! That's the problem you would have with ninty percent of the racks you would try to do this with. The original poster is building a fairly traditional car with a flathead and such. In my shop, the first recomendation would be to go F-1 and out on the side. Second would be to go Vega and clean up the left side. A smidge of rack visable from the side would just flat be unecceptable...
The original poster is building a fairly traditional car with a flathead and such. In my shop, the first recomendation would be to go F-1 and out on the side. Second would be to go Vega and clean up the left side. A smidge of rack visable from the side would just flat be unecceptable...[/QUOTE] agree, if you are going trad with the build those funky rubber accordian boots peeking out would look way wrong. Vega cross steer is the way to go.
A rack will have tow in problems on a solid axle, similar to bump-steer, unless it is mounted directly to the axle. Solid axles work best with a traditional box.
I'm using a 66 mustang box drag link style in my 28 rpu and handles fine. Similar to the econoline but i think it's faster turning. I should have used a 67 mustang thou which uses a rag joint and would have given me more room to angle the steering column. The 66 has a solid shaft .
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