Swapping out a steering box options

[spdway1]

I currently have a 7-tooth box in my late 28.

1) If rebuilt to keep originality, would it be an improvement with modern-day parts? I know the design was changed for a reason.
From what I am finding no more Model A vendors rebuild them.

2) If I decide to go with a 2 tooth, how involved is it...steering column replacement, horn rod replacement, more money, etc

(Eric, don't respond because remember it is not worth your time)

Thank you everyone else for your time and response.

[nkaminar]

I think the main advantage with the 2-tooth box is that it is fully adjustable. The 7-tooth box just has two adjustments and only one is normally used as the other requires the end of the box to come off. If the gear and sector is worn in the 7-tooth box the only remedy is to replace the parts. Otherwise they both steer about the same. The parts inside the 7-tooth box are fairly easy to replace so you could rebuild it yourself.

It is not a big job to switch boxes. Although taking the box out and putting it in a car is not a as simple as changing a light bulb. There are steering wheels meant for the 2-tooth box that look like the early steering wheels used on the 7-tooth boxes. But there is money involved. My advice, if your present box is worn out, is to rebuild it. Buy the seal nut at the bottom of the box with the tube installed as it will keep your box from leaking. Use gear oil, not grease, and replace the grease fitting with a pipe plug so to not confuse a future owner.

[Herb Concord Ca]

I had a29 special coupe with a 7 tooth. I replaced it with a 2 tooth, in my case I had to shorten the steering shaft to make the horn rod fit correctly. I have friend who is excellent welder.

[JOES31]

I know it's not an option your looking for, but the Mel / Randy Gross Ford
F-100 box works well too.

[rotorwrench]

If my 29 had been equipped with an original 7-tooth, I would have kept it but someone had replaced the original with a later 30/31 2-tooth. I had to shorten the column jacket and replace the 44" steering shaft with the 43" shaft. It was a lot of work but at least it looks correct now with the 29 steering wheel and horn rod for 2-tooth of that length.

[nkaminar]

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The F-100 steering box is great. It is like having power steering. It is simple to adjust. The conversion looks like a Model A box to any casual observer. One advantage with the stock boxes is that they are quicker, less turns lock to lock. So it does not take as much turning of the steering wheel as with the F-100 box. In my opinion, this makes the steering a little easier with the stock boxes once you are traveling down the road.

[ModelA29]

Mine has the F100 box and it's fine. If I had a 7 tooth I'd be tempted to buy the new parts and overhaul it. If it went 10,000 miles between adjustments that would be at least 10 years for most owners.

[lyleknievel]

I am basically at that same "decision point" about what to do with my 7-tooth steering box in a 1929 Model A Tudor Sedan. Presently doing my research.

[John]

Keep in mind that there are two different 2 tooth steering box shaft lengths for the Model A. Some of the later '29 cars had the two tooth box with the '29 steering jacket and a 43 inch steering shaft. In '30, the cars had a 43 inch steering shaft with a '30 steering jacket. Later Ford went to a 44 inch shaft in either late '30 or '31. Thus there are several different length spark and throttle rods. Ford basically used a splined shaft for the 7 tooth steering wheel and a tapered and keyed shaft for the two tooth shaft. The '29 two tooth columns did use a '29 steering wheel with the tapered shaft. There were a few oddballs as I have seen an original '30 steering wheel with a splined center.

When looking for a 2 tooth box for the '29, use the 43 inch shaft box which can be from a '29 or '30. The '29 two tooth steering jacket is a bit hard to find but it can be made out of the 7 tooth jacket with a bit of work. That way, the steering jacket has the proper spark and throttle quadrant.

John

[lyleknievel]

Thanks for the tip on the different lengths!

[rotorwrench]

Ford started 1930 with the short shaft Gemmer but the change began in February to the longer Gemmer. Ford was still using their 7-tooth design as well but it was slowly being phased out. Ford never wanted to run short so they always had multiples of the same type of components in production either in house or by subcontractors.

Getting a short horn rod for an early 1930 set up is still a long search for a usable part. I don't think anyone has ever produced them in reproduction parts. Most short production item suffer this problem.

[Mel Gross]

The early 1930 short two tooth boxes take a A3616G horn rod.
They are available thru most of the Model A parts distributors.

[rotorwrench]

I was likely thinking about the spark & throttle rods. There were only two types with availability of nickel or chrome plate on each type. I had to cut down the long ones to fit my 29 2-tooth set up.

[Bob Bidonde]

The early 2-tooth steering gears were made by Ford and have an "F" cast into their gear boxes. The Ford gear boxes have the oddball sector bearings. The next versions are Gemmer steering gears and these are more prevalent the the Ford steering gears.

[rotorwrench]

I think both Ford and Gemmer were cranking out steering gear assemblies as fast as they could. 1929 was a good year till the crash. The bearing change came later in 1930. Ford put out the Service Bulletin to notify the dealer service folks.