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04-22-2018, 06:05 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Whangaparaoa New Zealand
Posts: 263
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36 3 window steering
Hi Guys, I went yesterday to help a mate who has been restoring a 36 3 window coupe for the last 12 years or so. Its a stunning car and a six figure dollar build. He is at the stage of doing a few short shake down drives around the block. Engine is sweet ,brakes very good,no rattles or clunks. The issue is the steering, its atrocious . Everything has been rebuilt at great cost but the steering is heavy and dead. I know that a 37 steering box is a big improvement, and I tried to talk him into one, but he wanted to keep it original. I can't believe that 36s were that bad. He is taking it for a wheel alignment this week so hopefully things will improve. how much of a mission is it to fit a 37 box with engine etc in place? Also I have a 36 box with the needle rollers in it , are they better ? I feel for the guy, after all this time and money, it ain't nice to drive. Looking forward to your thoughts. Cheers Tony.
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04-22-2018, 06:18 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 10,101
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Re: 36 3 window steering
If he restored the original steering box, the sector gear would have roller bearings in the sector housing. My experience with my '36 is that the steering is not atrocious, especially since I'm used to '32-'35 steering efforts, but I will admit that that of my '37 is a noticeable improvement.
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04-22-2018, 06:25 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Shelton, WA
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Re: 36 3 window steering
36 was the last year to have a gear that meshes with the worm. 37 and up sectors have a disk instead and many have taken the bracket out of a junk 37 frame and used it to bolt a 37 box into an earlier frame. I haven't done it myself but don't think it would be a big deal. What kind and size tires are on the front of this car?
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04-22-2018, 07:00 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Kerrville, Tx
Posts: 2,771
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Re: 36 3 window steering
Some new style tie rod ends are very stiff and could cause a problem. The king pins may be tight. Are the king pin bearings on the top of the king pins like a 32-34? If the top of the spindle is worn, it could let the spindle drop and drag on the axle.
I have a 37-48 steering box I would like to sell. They sure work better. |
04-22-2018, 07:16 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,770
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Re: 36 3 window steering
don,t forget nz is right hand drive
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04-22-2018, 07:28 PM | #6 |
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Location: Lancaster PA
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Re: 36 3 window steering
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04-22-2018, 07:42 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Whangaparaoa New Zealand
Posts: 263
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Re: 36 3 window steering
Front tires are 650/16 coker whitewall radials.The steering dosn't self centre, is this the norm? With the front jacked up you cannot move the steering side to side by pushing on the wheels, is this the norm? When jacked up turning the steering wheel feels nice and smooth. Thanks for the replies.
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04-22-2018, 09:34 PM | #8 |
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Location: St. Louis, Mo
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Re: 36 3 window steering
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04-22-2018, 09:47 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 10,101
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Re: 36 3 window steering
Neither of those two symptoms that you mention are the norm; something is amiss. The first thing that I would check would be the fit/adjustment between the worm gear and the sector gear; it sounds like it is too tight and binding.
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04-23-2018, 12:33 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
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Re: 36 3 window steering
My experience ,I have just done the 37 conversion into a RH 35 ,The change over of the chassis bracket is not necessary on a RH hand drive job,it a easy change over by drilling the top hole 1/2 lower not sure about USA cars because the kick out on the Manifold ,Ted
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04-23-2018, 11:20 AM | #11 |
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,319
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Re: 36 3 window steering
I put a '37 steering gear into my LH drive '36 3-window with an 8BA and Fenton headers about 25 years ago. About the only thing I can remember specifically about it is that I did not have to remove the engine. The fact that I don't remember anything else about it leads me to believe it was a pretty straightforward process.
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04-23-2018, 11:24 AM | #12 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here
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Re: 36 3 window steering
Tony have him check clearance from head of starter through bolt to the back side of pitman arm on steering box. If mounts both front & tranny get soft & engine settles this gets close & can rub making steering very hard.(ask me how I know).
even with new mounts it is close on my 36. Cheers Tony |
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