Help Identifying Steering Box

[jagnweiner]

Gents,

I need your help identifying a steering box that I recently purchased, that unfortunately does not fit my '47 Merc. First the background.

A few weeks ago, I saw an ad here on the Barn for a rebuilt steering box for "42-46" Ford. I was of the belief that steering boxes (and, more importantly, steering shafts) were the same from 41-48, and that '47 Merc Convertibles were basically the same as '47 Ford Convertibles.

I called the seller and he explained how he came to have the box. He needed to rebuild the box on his '40 (I believe) and he decided to buy a core to send in so that his car wasn't tied up while he waited. He bought this one from someone who told him it would fit his 40. He then sent it off to Lares for a rebuilt. When he got it back, he found it was 2" too short. He then determined that his '40 needed a different sized shaft, so ended up sending his original off to be rebuilt, leaving him with this one to sell. He agreed that it should fit the '47.

I made the purchase, received it on Saturday and went to install it on Sunday. When I got the old one out I instantly saw that the new one was also 2" shorter than mine.

After I got over the initial heartbreak, I started trying to think of what to do. I briefly thought about trying to swap my shaft into the rebuilt box, but I just don't want to tear apart one that has been rebuilt. I decided I'll get my old one rebuilt. (I know many have said they're not that hard to rebuild, but I'm just not up to it.) Now I have to sell this other rebuilt box, but I need to know for sure what it fits.

The box itself looks almost the same as mine, but it has a number, "30937" cast into it that mine does not. The shaft measures 44 1/4" from where it exits the box. (My original measures about 46 1/4") It also has a collar near the top that mine does not.

-Anyone know what this box/shaft fits?
-Is there any difference between Ford and Mercury steering box/shaft for 1947?
-Is 1947 the same length as 1946?

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post.

[26 lakes]

Mercury steering columns are longer than the Ford.

[jagnweiner]

So is it fair to say that it should fit a 46-48 Ford? 42-48? Other years?

[rotorwrench]

They are longer wheelbase forward of the firewall so you need one from a Mercury in those years. The one you found should fit a 42 thru 48 Ford but I'd have to see a photo of the column drop to tell for sure. If no drop came with it, the shaft length is all you have to go by.

[jagnweiner]

Thanks, rotorwrench. Fortunately I have mine, which is rebuildable. My purchase of the rebuilt one was one of my attempts to save time that backfired. Now I just need to find a buyer with a 42-48 Ford.

[Bruce Lancaster]

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The overall length of the shafts is listed in the '28-48 parts books for Fords and is probably in the '39-48 Merc parts book too. Those are good numbers to have since there are so many minor variations amongst the many applications for that basic box.