I got a 51 ford truck with 34 wishbone suicide front end 460 ford. Vega cross steer, new king pins. I cant steer it it takes all of my upper body strenght to steer it down the driveway. I'd love to put some sort of a electric power steering rack and pinion on it but everwhere I've checked I need a ECU and all kinds of modules. Please advise and thank you very much!
New build! never on the road until this spring. with no weight steers easy put weight on it very hard
I’m trying to figure out how 34 wishbones attached to an F1 axle. Guessing we aren’t really talking about much of a truck other than a cab on some other chassis?
Got any pictures? I can't even imagine what that looks like. My first guess is there is a severe issue with geometry that a rack and pinion is not going to solve. So many questions though.
Assuming the front end components are correctly****embled, I would guess you are asking too much from a Vega box.
The lengths of the steering arm at the spindle, and the pitman arm at the steering box, also have something to do with it. Pictures will be necessary to help you.
My Dad ran a 40 Chevy coupe, and a 54 Chevy pickup with a Corvair box in each car for years. The 54 Chevy truck was a daily driver for over 10 years with no problems. The 40 Chevy had the Corvair box installed in 1970, and still has that Corvair box in it to this day, so I don't think the Vega box is the problem.
I replied to an email from a lady at work once with "if you ask a question where the only possible replies are more questions you have failed at asking that question." I won't say that here though, apparently it is rude.
I have to agree that there is a problem here that should be corrected before power steering is added to the equation. After all the geometry and adjustments are sorted out you may still want to opt for PS as you have a hefty lump of Detroit wonder metal over that front end.
Hopefully the OP will post some pics and details. My questioning the Vega box suitability was based on the 460 - is it all cast iron or has it shed a bunch of weight with aluminum intake and heads. A fully dressed cast iron 460 is a scale tipper.
Sounds like a ratrod. I have been doing Ford hotrods since the 1960s----- what is a suicide front end?
Spring behind front axle I Believe dirt track racers were doing in the 30s, gives front a Lower stance . I have Axle that was done in mid 60s in 0ne of my sheds. Yes Op build does sound like R-R, No pic's yet, As Mission previously wondering about the size of the steering wheel ? 8 or 10 inch chain.
I doubt total weight is an issue. More likely to be ratio between steering items or maybe contact between them and something solid mounted in the Chassis. Photos pal, photos! P.S. In the early 70's I had a 49 Ford Coupe with a 46-48 style front Axle setup and a 392 Hemi in it. Steering was not an issue. It can be done.
Decent description? There are a hundred things that could be wrong with his truck. He told us very little about his truck. Pictures would probably result in a good resolution in ten minutes.
The Jalopy Journal
