1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

Hi All,
I have rebuilt the steering box in my 50 Ford and installed an older Jamco kit (dropped king pin kit) Car drives very nice but unable to get the steering wheel to the correct horizontal position when driving ahead, I seem to be off about 45-deg. lower toward the driver side. I have tried adjusting the tied rod ends to correct for proper steering wheel position but am just about out of threads at both tie rod ends, this at closest point at the tie rod end itself even though the threaded section of the tie rod end in the link is quite long.
Don't know what to do at this point.. I would have thought there would have been more thread showing at each tie rod...unless it has something to do with the Jamco spindles..?
Any thoughts?
Tie rod ends, drag link and idler arm came out of a 51 Ford, they should be the same correct?

Thanks, Steve

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

Can you pull the steering wheel and reposition it?

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

no, its keyed

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

Adjust your drag link.

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

Don't recall ever seeing a '50 Ford with an adjustable drag link.

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

Did you also install the required new steering arms?

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

When you count the turns of the steering wheel lock to lock and then go half way
back is the steering wheel centered??

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

Tell ya what. I have a '55 Ford that allowed more rotations of the wheel in the left direction than the right. I took the steering wheel off to see if the wheel was installed properly aligned with the little keyway in the steering shaft, and it was.
I got down and tried to adjust the tie rod end sleeves to even out the number of rotations each way, but ran out of thread on the tie rod at one end, while the other end was as far in as it could go.
Someone had previously pressed on a new worm-gear on the other end of the steering shaft, but they placed the gear on off-center.
I put my tie rod ends back where they were, then filed a new keyway in the steering shaft at the exact midway point between the right and left turns. Then put my wheel back on. Problem solved. Not the right way to do it though, but it doesn't hurt anything.

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

Opps, you are correct. Perhaps this thread will help.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252988

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

It's an added cost but a 'bump steer' eliminator kit has adjustment to the drag link as well as the tie rods.
Made a big difference in steering wheel feedback from the road on mine.

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

Steering wheel is centered with key-way at 12:00 o clock, equal travel in both directions. I dropped the pitman arm to drag link connection and centered the steering wheel also set both front wheels in forward direction.link from drag link to pitman arm is close but not close enough.
I have read that there may be a difference between 49-early 50 and late 50 and 51 idler arm bushings.

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

Idler arm assy consists of (2) nut/bolts and idler arm.
Never heard of "bushings" in idler arm assy.

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

With your steering wheel centered the steering arm on the bottom of the box should be pointing straight back. If this is not the case then the worm is out of alignment with the key or keyed spline as it is in this case.
I personally would cut and weld the steering shaft for the right alignment. You can make a bushing to go in the shaft and plug weld it as well as the circumference for added strength.

Re: 1950 Ford Steering Wheel Alignment
 

Smitty: Here is a very informative thread.
http://www.stangerssite.com/adjustment.html

Also, this:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=259881

Do a Google search on "How to center 1950 Ford steering wheel"