Steering wheel orientation.

[37 Coupe]

I am putting the 1931 two tooth steering box back together and wondering about the steering wheel to shaft to mounting it where it should be going straight down the road. The steering wheel is the original one with two keyways.Is adjustment made with drag link if wheel is off some or something I should be doing on box assembly? I am having a flashback to an incident 45 years ago when I had a Ford Torino front end aligned.When I went to drive it home the steering wheel hub or center was straight up and down going straight down the road.Old alignment guy last day on job told me to either pull wheel or get use to it.

[31Tudor]

The steering wheel makes a X vs a +. If that makes any sense. When you are driving straight, the steering wheel spoke does not block the speedometer.

[37 Coupe]

Okay I understand that I just hope it does it on its own nothing I have already missed like where keyway should be when I put the sector gear in the housing.

[Dodge]

Count the turns left to right put it in the middle and X marks the spot. The sector gear just goes in and runs back and forth. counting turns will position it. Your key should line up
If nothing else in the front end was changed.

[marty in Ohio]

Don't mean to steal a thread, but I have a question. My '30 town sedan has a keyed steering wheel and there are two key slots in the wheel. It seems that the wheel can be installed in two different positions depending on which slot you chose. Is this common?

The Service Bulletins address this, but only for the seven tooth splined wheel.

Marty

[ryanheacox]

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I believe there is another service bulletin that says if the speedometer is obstructed to move the wheel to the other key position.

[37 Coupe]

Okay,starting to make sense . Also sense I need service bulletins and not Les so much.

[mike657894]

Not sure if its the same on the As. Havent messed with mine yet. But on your modern the tech could have easily counted off a turn in on the side you want the top of the wheel to move towards and one turn out on the other side. and check angle. and repeat. super simple. I wouldnt trust an alignment if they guy cant figure the steering wheel into it.

[Keith True]

The worm gear is ground in an hourglass shape,and there is really only one position for it to be in the straight ahead position.It should be tight when centered,and loose when you turn a quarter turn in either direction.It really only wears in the middle,and when you adjust it for wear,it has to have looseness when turned or it would bind.If the worm is properly pressed on the key should be facing straight up when centered.That's not what I've seen a lot of in real life.I have a NOS shaft and worm that is centered with the key at about 11:00.These are not recirculating ball steering boxes that factor the steering wheel position into an alignment.If you try to position the wheel by altering the drag link,the steering worm will no longer be in it's center position when aimed straight ahead.Out of five A's three of mine have excellent steering,and no two have the steering wheels in the same position.

[burner31]

I have mine in the "X" position with wheels straight, just looks nicer in my own opinion.
Your car... your choice...