looking at a 1930 Ford with an early Mustang steering box set up for side steering. I'm not that familiar with this set up. Did the box have to be modified to use this way?
My 36 Ford coupe has what comes back as a 67 Mustang box, based on the Ford casting numbers. It’s someone’s unfinished project, so I can’t tell you how it works. It’s set up for cross steer, and has what appears to be an aftermarket frame adapter. Several Pete & Jake’s as well as Posies ( Posey’s?) parts on it so that’s where I assume the frame mount came from.
My drag coupe runs a 65 Mustang steering box , cross steer. works great. Mount was fabricated, done back in the sixties, I guess not much help for you on my end.
'65 to early '67 boxes have a 1" sector shaft, late '67 and up boxes have a 1 1/8" sector shaft. Either box is good, provided it's not worn out. I have a '68 box mounted for side steer in my '32 Fordor and it works fine, and no, the box does not have to be modified for side steer.
I have used the early Mustang box in two builds and have found that the non-power unit is the better choice for me. It has a slower gear set in it which results in mare turns lock to lock so it steers easier.
I have a 1930 Ford coupe with a '68 mustang steering box. It is mounted side steer and no special work had to be done. It's a power steering box with the quick ratio gear so it steers quicker than the regular box. I use it as a standard non-power assisted steering and it is very easy to steer. The only thing I don't like about it is that it mounts more vertically than I would like. A tilt steering column fixed that.
Thanks for the quick responses. It answered the questions I had and now I can move forward. I have been lurking for a long time and figured if anyplace had answers, it was here. Thanks again.
I used several of them for side steer; sector shaft under the frame, pitman arm up. A couple on P&J mounts and a couple on home fabricated mounts. One stub shaft and the others long shaft boxes. Never noticed one used for cross steer, could be wrong; but seems like it would be cumbersome to mount as compared to a 525 box; but possibly suited for a non-Ford installation.
So if you use a 65-67 Mustang box do you cut off the column shaft and adopt a rag joint or universal joint? Far as I remember the steering column and the box were integral or one unit.
I've seen some with the shaft left intact but would prefer the later box myself. This old thread pretty well details the installation https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/mustang-steering-boxes.1107423/ There are brackets still available that don't have the 4 link setup that are a lot cleaner and simpler. I hate to use the S word but this plate from Speedway is as simple as you can get but I'd be making a gusset for it if I used it.
I have a 67 power box , for quick ratio in my 32 . It works fine . P&J mount , placed column in stock location . I wanted side steer for simplicity and old timey look
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