I want to update the stock steering and handling on my 49 ford. Anyone know of a complete kit rather than piece by piece? Thanks...
Fatman Fabrications makes a rack & pinion kit, but it is less than exciting. They use a Cavilier rack, and it doesn't have as much turning radius as the factory box. I just installed an Izuzu trouper power box onto a 50 Lincoln with little effort, hooked it right onto the factory steering arms and tie rod ends using the Izuzu pitman arm. It is not done yet so I can't give you a driveability report, but I have also done this on a 50 Merc, and it worked very well. Some fab is required such as making an upper mount, so if you aren't a fabricator, this one isn't for you.
I wasn't blessed with alot of welding and fab experience, so I looking for something bolt on. If not a kit, then what about individual pieces? I'd need pitman arm and what else? Thanks again...
Unless you are going road racing the stock steering should work fine. Try Kanter's for a complete rebuild kit. I got one for my 55 Pontiac. Reasonable price and works well.
Hey T McG -- I'm interested in the results from your izuzu r&p in the 50 merc. I'm planning the same. How did it work out?
The Isuzu setup is IIRC a conventional recirculating-ball box, not a rack. I believe it's an Aisin box of the same family as what Borgeson sells in modified form for early Mustangs. It's a decent piece of hardware, boxes of that family are found in lots of Japanese product though the 'shoebox' needs one that turns the opposite direction from most rear-steer cars. You might also check out this thread: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=575328 and there's others if you search for volvo steering box. I've gotten no feedback yet that anyone's actually taken my suggestion and measured up one of the E32 7-series/E34 5-series BMW ZF steering boxes, though...
Ham I am with Mitchel Stewart on this one. I am staying with the king pin setup on my '53 Stude. I am not using Kanter pieces but they are good pieces. It may be that I am old but I just like the feel of the older front ends they actually drive pretty nice when they are up in shape and if your welding and fabrication skills are lacking I wouldn't suggest that you learn on the front end of your car. If you must go with a modern front end Jamco makes bolt on A arms for shoebox fords. I haven't use the kit and don't know anyone that has but I do know that it is available. I am sure that if you contact them they can either supply you with a different steering gear or point you in the right direction. The kit is a tubular A arm ball joint conversion kit. Given that I have driven those old fords more than i would like to admit and know for a fact that up in shape they are an excellent drive without being changed over to a more modern configuration.
At least in the case of the '60s Galaxie part he cuts up a Saginaw 605 box, which isn't as good as the ZF or Aisin boxes to begin with. As for the modifications to the box internals...I can't speak to the earlier cars, or what he's shipping right now, but the one I had for my '64 that I bought seven or eight years ago I opened it up, had a look, and decided not to use it. I will note that after that experience I still went ahead for whatever reason and spent money on his upper control arms, and they're a much more impressive piece of hardware.
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