Technical Speedway vega steering box

Zero play, zero adjustment needed. It just feels much more precise and doesn't wander on the road like the old foreign box.

 

Anyone try the Vega style power steering box Speedway and others sell?

 

I'd send it back to Speedway, and get credit towards a Flaming River Vega box. Speedway wont likely refund your money, but they're good about crediting towards another purchase. The Flaming River Vega boxes are much higher quality.

I didn't replace a cheap Vega box, but I do have the Flaming River Vega box in my '39 Chev coupe. It's a great box that I've had zero issues with. I simple fabbed a mount and bolted it on. Set the proper lash and nothing else.

 

I wouldn’t put a Flaming River box in my lawnmower or buy anything else that they make. You are very lucky to have have zero issues with yours. Their lack of “customer service” and ******** “lifetime warranty” are the worst in the industry. They made me pay $150 to correct a Mustang steering box that they incorrectly manufactured with a input shaft 1.375” too long. To make matters worse, I shipped it back to them in a USPS $13.95 flat rate box. They returned it to me in the exact same box after correcting the shaft and charged me $30.00 to ship it back. THEY ****! Step up to a Borgeson box and support a company that makes a superior box and will stand behind it.




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Replaced a stock Vega box on my A pickup about 6 years ago, was on it for about 28 years plus who knows how many miles were on it when I originally pulled it in the junkyard. It was getting sloppy. Replaced it with a Borgeson, just bolt it in and go, no nonsense and an excellent product. You get what you pay for on the cheaper boxes and I don’t cheap out on critical components.


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Sorry you had an issue with them with a "Mustang" box. What does that have to do with a "Vega" box or have you had issues with a Vega box from them also and if so, what issues?

 

I guess somebody will have trouble with any manufacturer, as all of them can occasionally have an issue. But Flaming River gets very good reviews overall.

 

My point was the company ****s and doesn’t stand behind their products.


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I only use Borgeson--had issues with others

 

Yup, why risk it, they wrote the book

 

I’ve used several Speedway Vega boxes and the first thing you need to know is that not all of them come properly adjusted. I’ve used or installed maybe a half dozen or more and after checking them out almost all needed to be adjusted. I haven’t had any excessive wear problems or failures. If you’re concerned I would go with a Borgeson, you sure don’t want to be driving around scared that you’re going to have a steering failure.


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I put a Borgeson Vega box in the Model A I'm working on. I don't have the car on the road yet but I had the same problem that the pitman arm didn't seat tightly because the washer and nut bottomed out before the arm was tight on the splines. I machined a thick washer with the center hole the same size as the shaft threads and cut a "relief" on the underside to clear the splined portion of the shaft which allowed the outer diameter of the washer/spacer to fully seat the pitman arm. Don't know how many Vega boxes might have that issue, but it's worth checking.

Lynn

 

Are these factory or aftermarket pitman arms you guys are talking about?

 

Thanks Uncle Buck for saying what I was trying to project in my post above.

 

Well for the record you didn't list a manufacturers name in your first response, which I would find helpful.

 

While I won't use another Flaming River box on a customer ch***is at the time I was a dealer for them the boxes were marked Mfg in Argentina. I think they are now being ***embled in the USA, where they get their parts I have no idea, From my own experience, in new boxes there is no comparison to a Borgeson box.

 

I replaced the ****on head allens they were real soft,and installed some new bolts and lock washers and torqued to specs and marked them.I will road test and report.

 

No matter whose steering box I use, I always check adjustment and fluid levels before using them. Even the best can need adjustment, and any make can miss occasionally on fluid. Just part of the pre start up inspection list for me.

 

I checked the adj a few times ,Never checked the bolts for the cover.

 

From the Speedway Vega Box ad
Info
From the Speedway site.
Note: Vega steering box is not adjusted at the factory and therefore, it is necessary that the steering box be adjusted upon installation per the instructions as provided on the PDF instruction sheet.

 

I saw all this information no where did I see I was supposed to retorque the bolts holding the steering box together

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Also when I called Speedway to talk to them about this they said in 23 years they never heard of this happening

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That surprises you?
Whenever anyone calls a company about something not working, not fit for purpose, falls apart etc. it's always "the first time..."

 

To be fair I bought my Speedway vega box from their Garage sale option. It was not returnable. I shoulda known better but I bought it. Something in it was not machined correctly so as soon as the lash was taken out, the steering gear was super hard to turn. I lubed it up and installed it in my 34 anyway, thinking it may just need to be "worn in" .
It got worse and I pulled it apart a 2nd time...aside from the white plastic ball holders in the balll bearings it appeard ok but it was a piece of ****! I tossed it in my s**** pile, installed my gennie vega box after a good dis***embly and lubing but the bearing race is beginning to gall........gotta adjust it every 400-500 miles or so. I'm buying a Borgeson.

 

Is the Vega box a cross steer set up? And does it have side mounts to the frame, like for a 35-40 Ford?

 

Yes, it is a cross steer box and mounts to the frame sides.

 

Thanks! I have trouble looking at vendors pics and figuring it out.

 

If you pansy ***es would do like I do, go to the junkyard and get a factory made box, rebuild it myself, and make it work.everything has to be store bought and easy bolton for you

 

I was wondering if you could help me . I have just received speedway Box, paperwork says it may need adjusting ? right out of package ? or every 200 miles? what exactly happened to yours?

 

For a 35-40 Ford, use a Saginaw 525 box instead of a Vega, bit beefier. They came on everything from Malibu’s up to later S-10’s.
As for original Vega boxes from a junkyard, good luck finding those anymore.
Another option is to use 37-48 Ford cross steer boxes, you could always cut the shaft and grind/ machine for a double D universal if you don’t have room for the solid shaft.


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