Steering box swap?

[Solo_909]

Hey fellas,

I have a 35 coupe and the steering box is shot. Is there a good swap that anyone would recommend? I'm running the stock flathead and trans and will be doing a drop axle with reverse eye posie with a couple leaf springs taking out.

Any wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Also what else would need to be done to make the steering box swap work?

Thanks,
George

[deuce_roadster]

A lot of people put in the 37 frame bracket and use the later box with the roller sector.
I think it would be fairly simple and straight forward if you used a 37-39 box since the light switch would be the same.

[Mike in AZ]

'37-'39 would allow you to use the light switch, etc. on your original column....you would need a bracket which is sold by Bob Drake unless you could get one on epay or get it off a '37-'39 frame....do a search for previous posts...Mike

[Mr. Will]

I am just finishing up a dropped axle, 37-39 steering box and hydraulic brakes on my 36. As deuce_roadster said use the 37-39 frame mount and you will have to move the lock collar up on the shaft 1" so your steering lock works.Also the 37-39 box sits a little lower on the frame so you need to modify the floorboard. I chose to make new ones.
I also did the reverse eye main leaf but did it myself on my press, takes about 20- 30 minutes.
I had Greg Hayes at Anson Axles drop my original axle and he did a beautiful job.

[Solo_909]

Thanks guys, what about rebuilding the original box? Is that a large task or pretty straight forward?

[Solo_909]

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Originally Posted by Mr. Will

I am just finishing up a dropped axle, 37-39 steering box and hydraulic brakes on my 36. As deuce_roadster said use the 37-39 frame mount and you will have to move the lock collar up on the shaft 1" so your steering lock works.Also the 37-39 box sits a little lower on the frame so you need to modify the floorboard. I chose to make new ones.
I also did the reverse eye main leaf but did it myself on my press, takes about 20- 30 minutes.
I had Greg Hayes at Anson Axles drop my original axle and he did a beautiful job.

I can't seem to find Anson on Google. Do you have a link?

[JM 35 Sedan]

The original steering box is not complicated to rebuild if you want to stay original, but the '37-'39 (and later if you don't care to retain the light switch and horn rod) boxes make steering so much easier. We put a '37 steering in a '36 Phaeton several years ago, and everything, and I mean everything, bolted right back in place.

[Solo_909]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

The original steering box is not complicated to rebuild if you want to stay original, but the '37-'39 (and later if you don't care to retain the light switch and horn rod) boxes make steering so much easier. We put a '37 steering in a '36 Phaeton several years ago, and everything, and I mean everything, bolted right back in place.

Where is the light switch located? I don't have one on my column.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by Solo_909

Where is the light switch located? I don't have one on my column.

At the bottom of the gearbox, with a rod running up through the center of the shaft to the control in the middle of the steering wheel.

[Mr. Will]

Originally Posted by Solo_909

I can't seem to find Anson on Google. Do you have a link?

Where are you located? Smoky Joe and Sids are in Oklahoma and do nice work as well.
http://www.joesspeedshop.com/joesproducts.htm
http://www.droppedaxles.com/FORD_AXLES.html

Greg Haynes contact info.
916-997-7012
530-333-4043

[Rusk]

Originally Posted by Solo_909

I can't seem to find Anson on Google. Do you have a link?

Greg hasn't renewed his website, so that's why you're not finding him. He is on Instagram if you do that sort of thing.

I'm using one of his dropped axles in my '36 and a '37 steering box...both work great.

[Solo_909]

Originally Posted by Mr. Will

Where are you located? Smoky Joe and Sids are in Oklahoma and do nice work as well.
http://www.joesspeedshop.com/joesproducts.htm
http://www.droppedaxles.com/FORD_AXLES.html

Greg Haynes contact info.
916-997-7012
530-333-4043

I'm located in Northern California. I need to take a photo of my column and steering bad. I think I have a 37 column already.

[Solo_909]

Originally Posted by Rusk

Greg hasn't renewed his website, so that's why you're not finding him. He is on Instagram if you do that sort of thing.

I'm using one of his dropped axles in my '36 and a '37 steering box...both work great.

Awesome! I found him on Instagram so hopefully I can get things going soon. What did you do to lower the rear of yours? I love the stance!!

[TJ]

Originally Posted by Solo_909

Awesome! I found him on Instagram so hopefully I can get things going soon. What did you do to lower the rear of yours? I love the stance!!

Dearch your rear spring. Take it to spring shop and they can do it. If you live in Nor Cal near Santa Rosa you can take it to Spring Works in Santa Rosa, Sacramento Spring in Sacramento, or Valley Spring in Dixon..

[Detonator]

I believe the '40 and later columns are longer than the 37 - 39, so you'd want the 37-39 for your '35.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Detonator

I believe the '40 and later columns are longer than the 37 - 39, so you'd want the 37-39 for your '35.

In '40 the passenger car steering column went to a "three on the tree" gear shift lever, and the light switch was moved to the dash. This eliminated the need for the horn/light switch rod being located inside the steering column shaft. The '40 and later steering column shafts have a smaller diameter center hole which will not allow the '39 and earlier horn/light switch rod to pass through. So, to use a '40 - '48 pass. car steering box in a '35/'36, the steering column shaft would need to be changed to a '39 or earlier shaft with larger center hole. It's not that difficult to press worm gears off and on the appropriate steering shafts if one has, or has access to, the right equipment and tools.

[Solo_909]

Here's a couple photos of my steering box and the steering column. Can anyone identify them? Someone told me that's the the original steering column.

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by Solo_909

Where is the light switch located? I don't have one on my column.

I can see your light switch at the bottom of the column in the pictures you
just posted.

Bob

[VeryTangled]

Originally Posted by Solo_909

Hey fellas... I have a 35 coupe and the steering box is shot... Thanks, George

Hi Everyone, George, JM was talking about what is now my '36 Phaeton in post #7. John, my dad Henry@1140, and myself swapped the original steering in it for a '37 unit sourced from CharlieNY. The difference in the handling of the car was astonishing. Parking lots are no longer a struggle!

Just this summer a '35 Fordor came to live with me. It has original steering and is, there is no way around, it is a lot of work to steer it. Just the way the '36 was before the swap.

So, all that was to say, your steering may not be "shot," it just might be the deal you get with this generation of box.

Your photos look like what's in my '35. I've outlined the 'bulb' that has the headlight switch under it.

[JSeery]

The first diagram is 33-36 and the second one is 37-39

[Solo_909]

Originally Posted by Bob C

I can see your light switch at the bottom of the column in the pictures you
just posted.

Bob

Gotcha, I was thinking there was something in the cab on the column.

[Mart]

The 37 up box is a far superior design with dramatically reduced friction. It is easier to improve the steering by swapping the later unit in than by rebuilding the original unit, or even the "improved" 36 style roller bearings. It depends how keen you are to retain originality.

Mart.

[Brian]

What did you do to lower the rear of yours?

With 35-36 rear ends, you can make up lowering blocks between the axle and radius rods.

[VeryTangled]

Hi again Everyone. George, is this a headlight dimmer switch in the floorborad?

If yes, that is a clue as to some mods that have been done because as others stated the headlight control is in the center of the steering wheel and operates a rod which moves the switch at the bottom of the steering column near the box.

[Don]

Put a 38 in my 35 ,just drilled one hole for fit,your talking a couple days to remove the rivets and installing later bracket, cpdrives like power steering ,steering wheel returned like modern car