Model A frame, roadster cowl, 8BA mounted far enough forward to mount 29 cowl without cutting the firewall. Two choices of cheepo headers. I'm going to mount the radiator 1.5" forward to clear the truck fan. I have a dropped main spring on a 33-36 axle. I have 42-48 square back spindles. What are my choices for cross steer steering boxes that are stock ford? I am considering cross steer because of the dwindling availability of the F-1 box Thanks for your help
F-1 boxes are hard to find now? I was at a swap meet last weekend and saw maybe a half dozen. Granted, they will surely need a rebuild.
It mounts pretty far forward so generally no trouble. I’m not running a flathead v8 but I’ve seen plenty running the combo. I’m using the box to frame bracket as well with a little spacer. I don’t have time now for a picture but I’m sure there’s to many and to much info in my model A build thread if you click on my profile there’s a link
F1 boxes aren't hard to find. Finding ones that have good internals is tough. But you are going to have that same problem with your cross steer box too. In fact, the guts from a 37-48 cross steer are the same as an F1. So if you luck out and find a good cross steer, you can swap those into an F1.
Corn Fed.. I heard that the internals could be swapped. If anyone has pics of a cross steer box mounted to a model A frame I would love to see them Thanks for your comments hambers! I appreciate it
With the loss of MAC's / Ecklers the worms and steering box parts are unabtainium. Our local machinist/rebuilder of steering boxes is stumpted [Oregon]. Caution on using those old boxes now. Newc
He must not be very internet savvy or just doesn't want to work on them, because the sky is not falling... Everything but the worm gear 7HC-3524-X is currently available at Dennis Carpenter: https://www.dennis-carpenter.com/trucks/steering/steering-box/20/1/2/ CPP is making the worm gear new, part number 4852WG https://www.ebay.com/itm/264968441264 There's other places offer whole kits, although sometimes expensive. https://www.cl***icperform.com/ whole kit part number 4852SOK https://www.f100central.com/48-52-steering-box-rebuild-kit.html https://www.jamcosuspension.com/product/1948-52-ford-truck-manual-steering-box-rebuild-kit-4852sbk https://www.cmwtrucks.com/product/48-52-ford-truck-steering-box-rebuild-kit/
The trouble with Macs/Eckler is You spend hours looking for the pieces that others might have in a kit. Or if you need a set of something you have to remember to order X number to make that set or you just get one. The problem with most all post 1948 car steering boxes is that the gear box with the worm and sector sits on top of the frame rail with the housing/bracket that the sector shaft runs though bolting to the inside of the frame rail below it. Not a big deal with a fat fender where you can hide it but rather ugly on an earlier rig. 268.90 for a worm and sector plus the cost of bearings, seals and gaskets plus the cost of the going price of a fair to middling F-1 Box and you have 500 Bucks tied up in an old steering box. Same cost for a 37/40 Ford box after you rebuild it I'd have to think. I've got good 47/54 Chevy truck boxes sitting around but they look like **** sitting up on top of a frame where you can see them. Too much exposed ugly.
After having one rebuilt and modified by him, I would highly recommend NealinCA on here, Atascadero,CA,
A good resource is "This Old Hot Rod" on YouTube. Watch the "27 Ford Roadster" series. Somewhere around episodes 5, 6, 7, or 8 he shows how to install a Ford cross steer setup. He is using an "A" frame. I just installed a 1937 Ford cross steer box and column using This Old Hot Rod's instruction and it turned out good, but I'm running a straight six, so clearance was better. One thing to keep in mind, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, when you use side steer it may give you clearance and will put the steering torque forward to the axle, but when using cross steering it side loads the frame rails and can cause frame rail twist. I personally have experienced the frame rail twisting in my setup. My setup drives down the road really nice, but I am worried about the frame getting side loaded at full lock. You will have to use the correct bracket or box the frame rail near the box to mount properly, and before we go down a rabbit hole, I do not believe in boxing the entire frame, unless the engine is very heavy, or the engine has excessive torque/horsepower. Just my opinion which really means nothing. But for the purposes of this conversation, the 37-48 cross steer box and column will work. A 46 Ford truck has cross steer too, so other years on trucks will apply to finding a box and column. different years will have different column lengths and steering wheels. Choose your setup based on style and length. The columns are different at the base of the steering wheels throughout the years, but the splines should interchange up to 48. I believe the splines changed for the '49 model year. Hope this helps.
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