Shoebox Central's Steering Upgrade Kit?

[leon bee]

I've bought a few things from them and been well satisfied. On my 50, I got some grease in the kingpins- they seem pretty good. All the steering joints are completely worn out. Looking at their kit the price scared me until I started pricing individual stock type pieces. But I sure wouldn't mind hearing something about it before clicking the mouse. If anyone has knowledge about this I'd sure like to hear it. Thanks a lot!!

Not sure if it's cool to post a link, but I'll see:

http://shoebox-central.com/1949-1950...pgrade-kit-new

[51 MERC-CT]

Yes, all the components are new including a ball bearing idler arm replacement
I believe it's made by Fatman Fabrications.
It's design is primarily to eliminate or reduce factory built in 'bump steer'
I have the setup on my car and if you are going to rebuild the system this would be the way to go to upgrade at the same time.

[forty-niner]

Have used for the last 2 seasons in Iowa. Also got the larger anti-sway bar.
I'm going to say incrementally better, without getting totally modern.

[leon bee]

This is just what I needed, a little encouragement before ordering that. Thanks, guys!

[JHFORD51]

Be sure to carfully check you oil pan. Only "select" years fit the upgraded setup. My pan looks just like whats in the Ford shop manual (no ribs or grooves like in 52 and 53) but the tie rods didn't clear when turning the wheel. Guess my sump is bigger. Its made by Fatman with their name "erased" from the skethcy installtion instructions.

[PKW181]

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I have one on order for my 49 Coupe, always have had good luck dealing with Chris at shoebox. Looking forwards to see how the car does with it.

[vilanar]

I too have one on my ´50 Convertible. I also did find clearance issue with oil pan , but
nothing major. Biggest problem was that tie rod ends didn't tighten at drag link. The hole was reamed too deep so the nuts bottomed on threads. Easy fix thick washer under nut.
I also strongly recommend that sway bar upgrade , makes huge difference. Original is
actually quite a joke IMHO.

[nohelp]

I also tried the new setup on my 50 first thing happend grease fittings hit the oil pan on both sides removed fittings then tie rod ends hit on both sides of drain plug had a friend cut the weld and weld it back so it did not hit anymore after that had all of the bump steer I wanted. So I removed it went back to what I started with. Very happy with orginal.My friend said the block of steel that bolted to the frame needed to be wider and taller to let it drop down to clear everything. No help

[tubman]

Hmmmm. I have been watching this thread with more than a little interest. I have never experienced any problems with the front suspension on my '51 Ford, so I was hoping to get some insight as to what the problem actually was. After the last post, I am wondering if a complete rebuild of the stock setup might not yield the same results with less clearance problems. Might be cheaper, too.

[leon bee]

Well, Tubman, I haven't pulled the trigger on it yet. I'm glad for the response. What really got me thinking was when I stopped at my local NAPA and checked on prices for the original type parts. $$$$.

[tubman]

You may be right; I haven't priced any of this stuff lately. Have you try Rock Auto or eBay? I was having a heck of a problem finding reasonably priced brake lines for my O/T F150, but I finally ran across a set a a reasonable price. I think some of these outfits price their stuff high for the same reason a dog licks his balls.

[Frank Miller]

Originally Posted by tubman

You may be right; I haven't priced any of this stuff lately. Have you try Rock Auto or eBay? I was having a heck of a problem finding reasonably priced brake lines for my O/T F150, but I finally ran across a set a a reasonable price. I think some of these outfits price their stuff high for the same reason a dog licks his balls.

Cause they can't make a fist?

[tubman]

Frank - That's a new one on me. Shut me down in an instant.

[5851a]

I am probably wrong and don't remember where I seen the info, but what I gathered was that Ford changed the suspension on the 51 for better handling. Could a person upgrade the 49 and 50 to the 51 suspension, or would it be worth it?

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by 5851a

I am probably wrong and don't remember where I seen the info, but what I gathered was that Ford changed the suspension on the 51 for better handling. Could a person upgrade the 49 and 50 to the 51 suspension, or would it be worth it?

Doubt that changing to any '51 suspension would be an upgrade.

[5851a]

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

Doubt that changing to any '51 suspension would be an upgrade.

Thats true.

[TJ]

The Jamco stuff with new ball joint A arms, springs, etc. is the best way to go for an upgrade. The problem is getting them to respond to you when want to order or have a problem. I think they went to the Paul Bradley Business School.

[leon bee]

I'm gonna let this issue ride while I get the engine paid for. Anybody comes across this later and has more input that'd be good.

[tubman]

Boy, I don't know about upgrading to later "shoebox" suspension parts or not. I do know that there were a lot of problems with the earlier cars, and Ford's advertising for 1950 was "Fifty Ways Better for 1950". Some of those improvements might have had to do with steering/suspension. I don't really know; do any of you?

[CJStefan]

Any new news on these steering kits? Has Jamco taken note of the issues and maybe revamped it? I was thinking of getting it for my '49. Will it work with aerostar coils and flipped/dropped uprights?

[Shoebox]

I too am interested in any current comments regarding this kit. Shoebox Central uses a picture of this kit for their STEERING section of their web page, but going in there is no listing of it at the moment. Jamco told me they have a lead time on them because they get them as ordered. So, guess I'll touch base with Fatman Fab.

[flatford8]

I put one on my ‘51 but I haven’t finished the car so I can’t advise how it works, but I think it’ll be an improvement. Mine is dropped two inches and there’s no clearance issue. I bought it because everything had to be replaced anyway. I saw one for sale on the HAMB that had been installed but not used and got it for my ‘50. Cant report back till spring......Mark

[vilanar]

I have one from Chris , it works great. My ´50 Conv has dropped spindles and bagged suspension so it is pretty low.
It handles great with help of heavier front sway bar and rear sway bar also. Only problem I had when assembling it was that holes on drag link were reamed little too deep so I have to put small bushings under nuts to have tie rods ends tightened.
20000+ miles and counting...

[Gene1949]

Just my $.02 worth. My idea was to have an easy ride that was lowered a bit and comfortable to ride/drive for a couple a thousand miles at a time.
Looked at these kits thru the years and the one thing they all have in common is addressing the dreaded bump steer in our shoeboxes.

I basically went to NAPA/TRW and replaced everything that moved. At the time prices and availability was good.
Got rid of the bias ply tires and went with a common sense radial 205/70R-14 with the correct width rim
Ford Aerostar front springs and 1 3/4" lowering blocks on sacked out rear springs. Shoeboxes like to set level.
Repurposed a front sway bar off a full size [late 70s boat] Buick Century using polyurethane bushings.

The really important part(s);
(1) Readjusted/tightened up the steering box
(2) fabricated enough hardware to level out [make parallel with the earth] the steering linkage (eliminating bump steer for the most part)
(3) Fabricated lowering blocks to drop the attachment points of the lower "A" arms. Again to level them using the earth as reference. Strictly trial and error not too sure if it was worth the effort
(4) putting as much caster as I could stand without killing the parking lot drivability (armstrong steering)
(5) 1/8-1/4 degree NEGATIVE camber

All of this stuff is super simple and easy to do. Point being, apply the rule of KISS and don't overthink suspension upgrades.

[Gene1949]

One other thing;
Setting the toe.
A lot of curvy mountain roads 0" to 1/8" toe out. But makes the car a little "twitchy" (technical term) [having to drive the car vs pointing it]
Straight stretches' like we have here in Nevada 1/8-1/4" toe in. Gives you the ability to "point" the car.

Hope this helps. Suspension is like the great oil debates we have here every so often

[tubman]

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There is currently a thread on the H.A.M.B. about swapping suspension uprights on a shoebox to lower it, which includes a good video. It includes a section about the Shoebox Central kit. According to those who have done this, the kit is essential and makes this a practical modification. Once you understand how it works, I believe it would be possible for any reasonably skilled person to make their own.

[Shoebox]

Denny,
I jumped over to the H.A.M.B. and did a quick search on Shoebox Suspension, found a lot of stuff to read,.... but not finding what you mention, maybe a link? Thanks!

[tubman]

Try this : https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-hack.1214369/.

Actually, now that I think about it, the pictures in the "Shoebox Central" online catalog were quite informative.

[Alberta50fordor]

So is there a consensus against the steering upgrade kit ? was thinking of getting it for my fordor and using the steering parts for the woodie but if it doesn't make enough of a difference i don't want to piss away 500 bucks lol
Been trying to figure out what sway bar i can use off a later model car instead of using their kit as well
also noticed on my 51 woodie that the sway bar is thicker, was that a 51 thing or a wagon thing?

[wga]

Ref: stock 49 woodie
Just finished the rebuild of the front suspension, steering upgrade kit installed from Jamco,
rear suspension, new Bilstein shocks front and rear, replaced body mounts.
The front suspension parts I purchased were all made in china, and the suppliers have all the same parts to sell. Quality is OK, compared to 73 year old Ford parts.

I ordered new stock replacement springs from Eaton Detroit and they are not a replacement to the stock Ford springs, took them out, re installed my 73 year old springs. Should have used the Aerostar springs.

Installing all those rubber parts is a real pain.

With the quality of parts available and the hassle factor, I now understand why installing
a Fatman suspension kit is a good option.

I'm a few days from getting it on the road to test drive it and see if the steering kit from Jamco (same as Shoebox Central) improved the steering. Need to install the sway bar.

Alberta 50, seriously consider using the Fatman front clip, it is a modern IFS with improved brakes, etc. If I knew last year what I know now...

[19Fordy]

The ad says it's no longer available.

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

The ad says it's no longer available.

As I understand it, Shoebox Central is NOT SELLING the Jamco Upgrade Kit because of issue(s) they had installing it on their test bed car, of which they shared with Jamco. Would be good to hear from previous poster how his install went.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Shoebox

I went, I saw, I bought the T shirt

[Newc]

The '52/53 Wagons had the bigger sway bar 3/4" ? Also Police option. Put one in a '53. The wagon rubber blocks are not available so I froze the car ones and bored them out. Helped a lot on that '53. Should fit '49 up. Newc

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by petehoovie

Yep, got that one

[wga]

Shoebox, did you see this:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1949-ford-custom-23/

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by wga

Shoebox, did you see this:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1949-ford-custom-23/

Someone got a GREAT buy on that car.

[jackson]

Not sure how useful this will be, given the elapsed time.... about 8 years ago I ordered and installed the Jamco front end upgrade (ball joints, disk brakes) and Fatman steering and sway bar, for my '50 Merc. It was a relatively easy install, and I've been really happy with the results. I had a local tire shop allign the front end using Jamco's setting tips, and tire wear has been even. Main reason I bought this setup was to get disk brakes on the front for my big 'ole heavy Mercury. (at the time, Jamco used Ford Torino spindles and brakes). The only issue is that I have different bolt patterns front and rear... so I carry a single spare with a spacer I can use to accomodate the 'odd" bolt pattern.