Right Hand Drive F1 steering box questions

[Mark from Australia]

I have an F1 steering box I wish to install in my project.

I want to fully rebuild it, having already obtained a NOS RHD steering shaft and worm gear.

Can anyone tell my if a replacement LHD sector shaft ROLLER will fit the Right hand drive sector shaft? These rollers are easily located, sold in many early Ford parts stores in the US - alas they are not readily available in Australia.

Also - can anyone tell me if a LHD pitman arm will work on the RHD car?

Thanks in advance


Mark (from Australia)

[Andy]

I would put a large bet that the rollers and the splines in the arm are the same. The clocking of the splines are probably different and the arm would be angled different. An adjustable drag link should fix that. If you don"t have an arm, a pass arm would have the same splines and with removing the blocker splines, can be rotated to get a good angle.I would be interested in the RHD parts if you would like LHD parts. The LHD parts woud allow the steering shaft to come out on top of the box like an F-100 box for a better steering wheel position angle. I would buy you a worm and roller and send a sector for your sector.

[Ross F-1]

Andy, Did you get LHD and RHD switched in your post?

I don't think there is an angle to the F-1 pitman arm. I'd guess it would work on either LHD or RHD.

[Andy]

The blocker splines are normally in line with the steering shaft. The splines in the arm are rotated to get the arm at the desired angle. If the steering shaft was exactly 45*,then it could fit either side. It is probably not so would not be clocked right on the other side.

[rotorwrench]

I imagine the biggest difference would be in the casting for the box itself between LHD & RHD. The pitman arm would have to be clocked 180 degrees different if it has the same sector shaft. The worm & shaft could be the same in theory but I have no idea if it truely is or not. It seems like there was more info in some of the Canadian parts books for Commonwealth vehicles.

New sector rollers & pins are available to replace worn ones and should be the same for either LHD or RHD.

[Ross F-1]

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It looks to me as if the blockers are symmetrically located.

[Mart]

The only parts that are different rhd to lhd are:
The worm (it has the opposite helix)
The pitman shaft (the end is angled opposite)
The casing (mirror image)

All other parts are interchangeable. (Not sure about the pitman arm, but they are workable to a certain extent.)

I used RHD guts in a LHD passenger car casing, flipped 90 degrees in my 33.

Mart.

[my4dv8]

The pitman arm won't care which side of the car it is on. But the worm and sector from a LHD are not compatible with RHD. They both are machined the opposite direction.
I have machined a worn lower worm bearing land dow slightly smaller before and fitten a tapered wheel bearing.

[Mark from Australia]

Thanks guys - it looks as though the pitman arm will fit, and by all means the roller will interchange.

Is $USD175 plus shipping a fair price to get the roller replaced?

[Andy]

The rollers are $60 over here. It is easy enough to replace them. The shaft is mushromed on both ends to hold it in place. I use a rotary file on a drill to cut it back. I lightly weld them back in. $115 for postage and labor? Maybe not too bad.

[Ross F-1]

RHD rollers may be significantly more expensive (lower volume).

[johnny]

if your roller is not pitted you may be able to re use it .The part that wears is the roller pin as it wears it allows the roller to rock creating the loose play .there is a thrust washer on each side of the roller ,they wear and also wear into the sector housing .the needle bearing in the roller is likely OK. so have a machinist make a new pin and thrust washers and clean up the sides of the housing .if the sector shaft is worn you could machine it and put thicker bushings in the housing . Hope this ramble helps Johnny.

[Mark from Australia]

Originally Posted by Ross F-1

RHD rollers may be significantly more expensive (lower volume).

This is something I have been unable to ascertain so far.

Direct interchange ability - yes or no - is what I need to know.

Anyone got an F1 pitman arm?

[Ross F-1]

I just bought a new one from Joblot. Made in Japan, very nice quality. About $70 as I recall. I wouldn't buy a used one.

[Mark from Australia]

Originally Posted by Ross F-1

I just bought a new one from Joblot. Made in Japan, very nice quality. About $70 as I recall. I wouldn't buy a used one.

Thanks I'll look them up

[52merc]

mark if you talk or send email address it to james at joblot he has helped me no ends of time with rhd stuff trev nz

[Mark from Australia]

Thanks Trev.

Advice acted upon

[1932tub]

HQ Holden pitman arm fits the F1 box, you may be able to find one of those

[Andy]

A F-100 box has the same angles and geometry as a RHD F1 box. They use the same rollers as a LHD F1 box. I would not wory about odering a common roller. I really can't believe there is any other kind. I had a hudson box and it used the same roller.
What are you putting the box in?

[Mark from Australia]

Andy its going into a 32 chassis

I have a 49-54 Chev pitman arm at present, but it clocks at a different (wrong) angle. I can get an original LHD 32 passenger pitman arm for it, but I believe it too clocks differently