Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-16-2022, 09:45 PM   #1
DetroitDesign
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 28
Default Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Hello,

I am building an AV8 roadster starting with a frame, and I wanted to ask if the model a steering box holes are intentionally slightly slotted from the factory? The slot is subtle at at an angle. The slot portion looks very clean so made me think this was a factory feature? Also on my frame the hole is slightly dished in, as if the nuts have a slight bevel base to help seat them? Again, all I have is the frame so that’s why I’m asking. Photos are attached below. Thanks! - Ian
DetroitDesign is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 01:35 AM   #2
bbrocksr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Yakima Washington
Posts: 913
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DetroitDesign View Post
Hello,

I am building an AV8 roadster starting with a frame, and I wanted to ask if the model a steering box holes are intentionally slightly slotted from the factory? The slot is subtle at at an angle. The slot portion looks very clean so made me think this was a factory feature? Also on my frame the hole is slightly dished in, as if the nuts have a slight bevel base to help seat them? Again, all I have is the frame so that’s why I’m asking. Photos are attached below. Thanks! - Ian
Holes are slotted but not dished.
Bill
bbrocksr is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 05-17-2022, 05:40 PM   #3
DetroitDesign
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 28
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Here are some photos of how these steering box holes are slotted, is this factory?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
DetroitDesign is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 05:41 PM   #4
DetroitDesign
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 28
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

More pics, so you can see the dished aspect on the front side


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
DetroitDesign is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 06:28 PM   #5
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,472
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

IMO, that steering box has not been well secured. Those holes should be round and no "dishing" around them. I'd weld ,em up and redrill.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 10:03 PM   #6
bbrocksr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Yakima Washington
Posts: 913
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Synchro909 View Post
IMO, that steering box has not been well secured. Those holes should be round and no "dishing" around them. I'd weld ,em up and redrill.
Holes were slotted to allow for variations in column mounting.

Bill
bbrocksr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 11:31 PM   #7
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,472
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by bbrocksr View Post
Holes were slotted to allow for variations in column mounting.

Bill
That puzzles me. The top end of the column is fixed so I can't see how slotted holes would achieve anything.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2022, 01:28 AM   #8
bbrocksr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Yakima Washington
Posts: 913
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Synchro909 View Post
That puzzles me. The top end of the column is fixed so I can't see how slotted holes would achieve anything.
My 28 came with a spacer in the column drop to lower the column about a 1/2 inch. You could loosen the two bolts and lower the column using the spacer and then tighten the bolts.

Bill
bbrocksr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2022, 02:59 AM   #9
updraught
Senior Member
 
updraught's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,967
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

The steering box has been flopping around. The nuts have worn into the frame. Some chassis are drilled for left and right hand drive, check the holes on the other side. These should be NOS holes unless it is from Argentina.
updraught is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2022, 03:43 AM   #10
john charlton
Senior Member
 
john charlton's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,304
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Generally the 28/29 frames have the steering column holes on both sides . The 30/31 only one side depending what market the car was destined for . Very early 1930 frames are drilled both sides my 1930 pickup in UK sits on one .
john charlton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2022, 08:30 AM   #11
Ruth
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Glide, Oregon
Posts: 1,334
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by john charlton View Post
Generally the 28/29 frames have the steering column holes on both sides . The 30/31 only one side depending what market the car was destined for . Very early 1930 frames are drilled both sides my 1930 pickup in UK sits on one .
So John, are your unused holes round or oval? I think the holes on my '30 Town Sedan are round. I remember someone on Ford Barn suggesting using aircraft bolts as they have a longer shoulder to fit in the frame?
__________________
Ruth
"Sometimes you really DO need to read the whole thread"
Ruth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2022, 08:47 AM   #12
Benson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,579
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

My 29 Coupe had a steering gear which had been "flopping" around also:


1. Someone had used big box bolts which were not hardened.


2. Bolts were grade 2 or ?? and had grooves that went 1/2 way through the bolts.


3. Bolts did not have any shoulders to take up the strain.


4. Some of the repro bolts sold do not have long enough shanks to solve the problem. That is the shanks are not long enough to project past the steering gear housing and then into the frame mounting holes.


5. Aircraft Spruce sells much better hardened bolts with LONGER shanks and self locking nuts that will work better.



The self locking nuts eliminate the major hastle of installing cotter pins with the original setup!


part number AN7-11A


Flat washers AN960-716


Lock nuts AN365-730A


BTW The play in steering wheel went from 3 inches to 1/2 inch after fixing this problem.



I never would have guessed that the small movement of the steering gear would result in that much play.

Last edited by Benson; 05-20-2022 at 01:09 PM.
Benson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2022, 11:04 AM   #13
john charlton
Senior Member
 
john charlton's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,304
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Hi Ruth
The holes are perfectly round and no "dishing" .The frame does flex when driving so I never pull the nuts hard up . If the steering box is hard locked to the frame it can cause the column sheath to crack at the lever ends .
john charlton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2022, 11:18 AM   #14
Ruth
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Glide, Oregon
Posts: 1,334
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Benson View Post
Aircraft Spruce sells much better hardened bolts with LONGER shanks and self locking nuts that will work better.

The self locking nuts eliminate the major hastle of installing cotter pins with the original setup!

part number AN7-11A

Flat washers AN960-716

Lock nuts AN365-730A
Yes, that is it!
__________________
Ruth
"Sometimes you really DO need to read the whole thread"
Ruth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2022, 12:13 PM   #15
Brentwood Bob
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: brentwood, ca
Posts: 4,215
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

To transfer and relocate the hole pattern after welding up the worn drivers side mounting I used a piece of cardboard and some sprayed paint from the passenger side to capture the
Correct alignment. Then a drill, die grinder, burring tool, and files. You want a crisp , tight fit IMHO.
Brentwood Bob is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2022, 02:18 PM   #16
bbrocksr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Yakima Washington
Posts: 913
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Synchro909 View Post
That puzzles me. The top end of the column is fixed so I can't see how slotted holes would achieve anything.
You're right, I checked two other frames I have and the holes are round.

Bill
bbrocksr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2022, 02:35 PM   #17
DetroitDesign
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 28
Default Re: Model A Steering Box Holes: Slotted?

Thank you all! This is very helpful - Ian


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
DetroitDesign is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:43 AM.