1952-59 Ford stereing box question??

hey fellers, so I'm going to be swaping out to granada spindals, and I have the whole granada car motor and all. actually, I'm useing the motor, rear end, trans. preaty much everything I can. but my question today is about the stearing setup. . .

Will the power stearing unit from the granada work with the 54 ford front end? is there any fab work I need to worry about? etc. . .

 

Since the older Fords like the '54 use "the deadly spear" columns I would also change to the Granada column the one item of concern is the pitman arm alignment if you retain the original linkage, if you swap to all Granada the key to your swap is going to be:measure,measure and measure again and take plenty of notes before tackling the job,before you remove the Granada front end take plenty of pictures from different angles to refer to at ***embly time.

 

thanks jeff. if it appears too troublesome, I'll just stick with the armstong stearing. just figured since I had it, and if it worked out I'd use it. but my customline functions just fine as is. so if that's the case, I'll just leave it. but I'll certainly look it over carefully b4 I make my final decision.

 

and out of curiosity, why do they call it "deadly spear"?

 

'cos it comes straight at your chest in a head on crash..... never pretty

 

If you were to use the Granada coulmn it will collapse under impact,it could be adapted to your '54 steering box with a little work,I have a link that might help if you want to see what is involved.

 

Can you see if you can just cut the frame at the firewall and weld into your Ford ? That would really make the job a lot easier than trying to take the parts off the Granada and making them fit on the Ford .

As for the "Deadly Spear " term , remember that the column is a solid piece of steel with the steering box attached to it . Now think what would happen if someone hit the front of the car so hard that the frame bent and the steering column came at the driver ! I am now sure you under stand what the term means now . Of course a rag joint or knuckle would make a big difference for safety . That way the joint would hopefully break in the event of an accident and you wouldn't be eating that steering wheel and column !

Jim

 

You can use the complete power steering setup from the Granada on your '54 without changing the steering box or the steering column. Its not a direct bolt on but with a little simple fabrication I'm sure you can do it. I'll scan the plans to this and post them for you.

 

I have posted a scan in my Pictures and Albums on how to use Granada power steering on '54-'56 Fords, Click on my user name to get there.

Sorry, its the only way I know how to post it.

**** Cohen, the guy that wrote the "How To" has p***ed away so please don't try contacting him.

I may be able to email this to you if its to hard to read.

 

hey thanks for all the info guys, I really appreciate all the help. I f**king love this forum. as soon as I can get started on the process, I'll try to poast some progress pics. you guys are great.

 

and thanks to mark. I saved the article to my computer, and was able to blow it up enough to read it.

 

I made the change to Granada steering to my '54. It's really pretty simple if you are mechanically inclined at all. A 1" spacer between the idler arm and frame and a way to mount the steering ram on the drivers side. Use the Granada pitman arm.

 

Mark T , thanks for the picture scan . Doesn't look to bad at all .

I hope I am right !

Jim

 

You can also use the Granada master cylinder and proportioning valve. M/C is a bolt on.

 

Yes, make sure you use the Granada proportioning valve if your going to use the Granada brakes.

 

will do. as for the brakes. how important is the brake booster? can I run w/o it?

 

Ya, you can run w/o the booster, but I think you then use a m/c with a different bore size but not positive.

 

I think Parlane is right. I think there is a check valve in one and not the other- Power brake Master cylinder vs. Non power master cylinder

 

Just my 2bits worth .... if you're going to the trouble of fitting disc brakes up front why not add the booster? I made a simple bolt on braket for Michelles ranchwagon so that the master cylinder and booster I used for my disc conversion bolted back up the stock holes in the firewall/pedalbox .

 

Yes, but you put it on the wrong side.

Whats that brake booster off of?

 

all 77 granada. I have the whole car so I'm trying to use as much as possible. the only reason I inguire about not useing the booster is because my dad has a chevelle running disks w'o booster and works great. but I'm not sure about his calipers. Hey I certainly appreciate the help guys.

 

Mark T , yes you are correct , its on the wrong side . Mid '90s Toyota Surf/4runner master cylinder and booster . Has 1 inch bore and is tandem system, much safer than the old single pot deal.

 

Friend of mine did the Granada thing w/o booster, and says that it stops good. Th booster is kind of fugly sittin there for sure.

 

true that... unless I pinstripe the F#%& out of it... I'd probably make it look worse... HAH!

 

I have a Brake booster out of a '67 Galaxie that I'm going to try on my '55 with the Granada front disc brakes, I think it looks just a bit better that the Granada booster and I'm pretty sure its going to bolt on with little or no modifications. Hmmmm, I kinda like the idea of pinstriping it.