Hey Hambers, I looking to mount a 39 box and column in a stock deuce frame. I don't want to cut up the frame too much. The rest I can modify . Any pictures would be sweet!!! thanks continental
Well, I see you've not generated a lot of response with your question. I used a 39 box and column in my old 34 frame but kept it a cross steer. Mounting it that way gave me a long drag link and I was able to keep the drag link parallel with the tie rod, giving me a bumpsteer-less steering. I'd imagine you prolly have an appplication where you cannot use cross steer [suicide mounted axle?] but if you don't need the front-to-rear darglink, I'd sure be looking at the cross-steer orientation. Mine was a huge improvement over the old front-to-rear draglink.
This survivor from the 50's has a complete 39 column from the banjo down to the pitman arm. It even used the 39 steering drop with the ignition switch. A simple bracket mounts the box for the standard cross steer application. It looked so clean. I'm surprised it wasn't more common. This one is flatty powered. It might not fit with an Olds or a Hemi.
So the box is mounted forward towards the motor mount, like Rocky did on the 33? You would then end up having the steering column at a lower angle. I would really like to see some pics of this doen in a flathead powered 32. Neal
Yes the angle is slightly different from the deuce but not drastic. About the same angle as a 39 I guess. I noticed the banjo and 39 steering drop. It looked normal from the top side. Yes it's mounted farther forward like Rocky said. It appeared that an old rodder pulled a complete 39 unit and fabbed up a mount without changing a thing on the assembly.
That would sure simplify things for me, since my frame had been boxed...and I have a 40 steering gear. I guess I need to mock it up and see how things come out. Neal
I did notice that deuce isn't slammed. You may need to "adjust" the pitman arm to get ideal clearances etc. if you use the standard dropped axle fare. It would really be cool with the 40 column shift!
I'm running 32 Ford front axle and 40 Ford brakes. I mounted a 39 column but had to cut it in the middle and use a couple u-joints. I sleeved the column tube with a piece of nylon machined to surround the shaft and keep the column tube steady. The box ended up being slightly forward of the engine mounts, but the drag link and tierod are perfectly parallel to each other. All in all it worked out fine. I built a frame from 2x4 square tubing ot 32 Ford specs. And mounted a 34 Cab chopped 5 inches and channeled 4. You shouldn't have any problem mounting that set-up in a 32.
My 33 was channeled 5" over the frame and I used the stock 39 column drop, adapted to a homemade bracket under the dash. That placed the wheel/column really low so the 5.5" top-chop worked with it ok....The steering box mounted to an original butchered ford bracket that was welded in the frame when I got the project. There was a 33-34 steering box mounted to it but the mount holes were oblonged. I had to fill 2 of the holes and drilled 2 new ones and welded deep nuts behind them. It would have been easier and much cleaner to simply make a new box-mount bracket but I wanted it to look like it was done in the mid 40's....I ended up welding the hokey ass bracket to the frame rail flanges... nobody could even see it behind the steering box...doh!
Oh, I forgot to say I used stock 40 ford spindles on a 4" dropped Magnum axle with the tie rod ends mounted on top of the steering arms for wishbone clearance...hadda ream the steering arms on top to do that. This kept the tie rod and the drag link parallel to each other and to the ground...Lotsa head scratchin and work but it drove nice.
Thanks tommy, I knew I wasnt's nut about doing it! So really all he did was move her forward and changed the angle. I kinda looked at that but it seemed the arm would have to be way longer and hug down a ton. I measured the shit out of both the stock set-up and the 39. I'll play with her tommarow and see what flies. It's a close set-up but plenty of room with the flathead. Hey Radshit I too did cut the shaft and column and machined a U-joint on the cabriolet with the redram. Too wide and a bit too big. Much easier. Any shots of the set-ups Rocky or Tommy? thanks continental
No pictures. The pitman arm may stick down too low with a dropped axle that raises the tie rod up closer to the frame. Adjusting it with the fire wrench should get it where it needs to be. I'd set up the axle and tie rod and then mock up the box to get the pitman arm location. Adjust as necessary.
no photos here, John....they were on my hard drive when it made smoke.nothin backed up on disc... sorry, maybe T-man has one of the steering?
....but my setup required no changes to the pitman arm or the steering arms except for reaming the tops of the steering arms for tie rod ends.
Thanks guys for looking for some pictures, here's a few shots of the problem that exsist; 1. box too far for cross steer or long pitman are will result in slowwwwwwwww steer? I could meet in the middle. 2. the column is at a correct angle and in a comfortable position, move it forward and loose dash mount and lower steering wheel position. 3. Were the box is located now ( I modified the 39 mount) it sits real close to the exaust port. Not a real problem but just makes it a challange to go around with center dump. Any ideas or am I missing the obvious thanks continentaljohn
I did it on my 34, it was a real tight fit. The box was as close behind the engine mount as I could get it, The column passed very close to the cast iron head. I had to cut away the column outer tube to clear the head nuts. I also had to lengthen it. Mart.
I wrote the above before seeing your pics. You gotta forget trying to fit it there. Slide that pup way forward, until the end of the pitman arm is above and behind the track rod.The angle will be much shallower, and you will have to (unfortunately) cut into your firewall. It's got to fit like it does in a 39. What motor are you using? That column has to clear the head and rocker cover. If there is not a straight run available you will need a uj somewhere along there, and you could have the column at the original angle, and the front part laying down low. If you need a uj, you could use a vega box as easily. Mart.
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