1936 steering box options?

[Henry Hopper]

Whilst awaiting some warmer weather ,I'm musing over some possible changes to my 36. I read a lot of comments about upgrading the steering box to the later 37/40 boxes and how this is a real improvement over the original.Is the work and expense worth it,ie,is there a real improvement or a marginal improvement?

Another option I read was using the Saginaw 525 box...has anyone used one of these and retained the original column..does it drive nice..how did you couple the steering shaft to the 525 input shaft.I realise the light switch etc will become obsolete by doing this.I want to drive this car a lot and would like it to be a pleasant experience rather than a wrestling match.

TIA.

[rotorwrench]

The roller sector was a good improvement over the older Gemmer 1 types. If you go that route, find an earlier one 37-39 so you'll still have a light switch mount. Can't help on the 525.

[TJ]

The 525 Saginaw may be a little too big to fit with the flathead. You will have to change your mounting bracket so the box fits closer to the inner frame edge. I have used a Vega box in a '40 and it will fit, but it's not that much of an improvement over the 37 and up stock box. The Vega is slightly smaller than the 525 and uses the same bracket as the 525. To mate the Vega or 525 to the stock column you will need to use a universal joint. The 525 is far superior to the Vega box.

[V8COOPMAN]

Henry....The 525 is really a nice-feeling box, and it's well-up to the task in a '36 or later Ford. They came in GM mid-size cars like Cutlass and Chevelles. They are slightly larger than the '37-'48 box, but well worth the effort to adapt. They will even accept the old Ford Pitman arm to make adaptation a little easier. DD

[FlatheadTed]

Its a balancing act between lightness and and to light ,the 37 box will give you enough for parking etc and still retain some feel on the freeway .Any lighter would be no good at speed ,so in my opinion its a good swap .On a right hand drive car its almost a bolt in deal except for slotting /re drilling the top hole .On a left hand box I believe you need to switch the chasse mount to a 37 to 39 this sits it lower to clear the manifold but would affect the refitting of the floor board ,there may be a way of notching out the top of the box or switching manifolds ,but not having done one yet I wouldn't be sure ,you would need to experiment ,Ted

[Henry Hopper]

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The 525 option would be easier in a way because finding a 37/40 box over here would be a real task.A big part of me wants to keep it all " in house " Ford, but I really want to maximise the driving pleasure if I'm going to the trouble of changing anything.

Thanks for the input lads, much appreciated.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Henry Hopper

The 525 option would be easier in a way because finding a 37/40 box over here would be a real task.A big part of me wants to keep it all " in house " Ford, but I really want to maximise the driving pleasure if I'm going to the trouble of changing anything.

Thanks for the input lads, much appreciated.

Henry....Is your car LEFT HAND drive, like in The States? If so, piece of cake! DD

[Fortunateson]

Don't want to hijack but what is a better improvement for a '32 5W coupe; a '40 box or an F1 box?

[flatheadmurre]

Originally Posted by Fortunateson

Don't want to hijack but what is a better improvement for a '32 5W coupe; a '40 box or an F1 box?

More about how much you want to drill and adapt....then which one is better.
The F1 boxes are good but will not be a close to stock solution.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by Fortunateson

Don't want to hijack but what is a better improvement for a '32 5W coupe; a '40 box or an F1 box?

The '40 is a cross steer requiring adapters on the spindles and the F1 is a longitudinal steer. I would go with the F1.

Charlie Stephens

[George/Maine]

The 37 to 48 box is good ,some times hot roders cut the box off and is all you need.
What i mean is keep your steering tube and shaft. You have to press your shaft off and put on new box. I had a 39 and it steered good.

[Henry Hopper]

Just got off the phone with a mate who has a 37 box and a bracket out of his 39 truck...20 miles away......sometimes "a plan comes together"lol....I'll see what it is like.Are the rebuild kits any good, ie, USA made or Chinese?

[d.conrad]

I replaced the 36 box that work very well with a 37 and wasn't able to get all the play out of it. Then I put in a new Mullin Vega box with a U-joint and it steers almost as go as power steering. Wasn't hard to do.