35-39 steering box

[mick]

Will a 39 steering box fit and work in a 35 . Thanks guys , Mick

[flatheadfan]

Mick-

This is a common swap that improves steering tremulously. Send me a private email and I will send you some pictures and a procedure you will may find helpful.

Tom

[PeterC]

Originally Posted by mick

Will a 39 steering box fit and work in a 35 . Thanks guys , Mick

Yes - here is a picture (click to enlarge) of my 39 box and 39 bracket in my 35 chassis with Fenton cast headers - it required approx 1/4 inch of material removed from the lower frame rail to get the bracket inset closer to the outer side - slightly over 1/4 inch clearance to the Fenton header -- sounds radical but not noticeable - may clear a stock exhaust manifold without that detail - not sure.

[mick]

Thanks guys and Merry Christmas ! Great help ...Mick

[Planojc]

Have one in my 35 and it bolted in with no problem. You need the 39 bracket also or you will need to weld a piece on the top original to catch the top bolt hole. Also, depending on your exhaust set up, you may need to shim the front motor mounts.

[dean333]

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What's the difference in steering over a 35? Better how?

[PeterC]

Originally Posted by dean333

What's the difference in steering over a 35? Better how?

My understanding is that Ford steering boxes thru 1936 have fixed teeth on the sector which creates high resistance and relatively rapid wear so even when adjusted and lubed properly they are stiff and notchy - the 1939 box is improved with a recirculating or rolling sector that rotates with the worm gear - smoother and easier to steer. This improved technology started with the 1937 year.

[dean333]

Thanks Peter. Merry Christmas.

[tub1]

leave the 35 mount bracket just drill one hole in the steering box to locate the box

[flatheadfan]

I can't speak for others but I have tried this approach and it lifted the gear box up and as a result I couldn't get my left-hand exhaust manifold on. However, if you are going with headers you might be able to do it without any problems.

Tom

[Planojc]

I tried both mounts and with the 35 I had to shim the motor mounts for the motor to clear the manifold. Later I found a 39 mount and everything fit with no clearance problems.

[electricman]

The 40 box I now have in my 35 PU was rebuilt by a gentleman in the midwest about 10 years ago. He simply drilled an extra hole for a thru bolt in his box that allowed me to do the install with raising the front motor mount less than 1/4 " to clear the stock 59 AB manifold. My steering bracket is original to the 35 frame. Just another way to look at it. Merry CHRISTmas.










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[dean333]

Will the 39 unit also fit a 36 Fordoor? How about a Vega unit?

[flatheadfan]

Tim-

A '37-'40 (a '41-'47 can also work with a truncation of the shaft), will work in your '36. If you go the Vega route will need to revamp your lighting and horn operation because you will be eliminating the light/horn rod assembly. Personally, cost-wise and ease of installation, the Ford route is probably your best option.

Tom

[dean333]

Thanks Tom, I only asked about the Vega unit because it came up when I put my car in the search area on Ebay.

[rotorwrench]

Vega units are popular with the street rod crowd that tend to install the late type steering collumns. A little too much mix of old and new for me. The older I get the more comfortable I am with OLD. Hudson boxes were popular for some applications back in the day. All were made by Gemmer. The 1937 through 39 FoMoCo OEM boxes & collumns are a lot alike. 1940 changed to remote collumn shift so the 40 through 48 are different but can still be made to work depending on what a guy wants it to look like, how it attaches to the dash, & what type of light switch they want.

[blucar]

I installed a '40 steering box, w/40 frame mount and a '36 pitman arm into my '36 in 1955. the difference was like adding power steering, in lieu of the '36 worm and sector steering.
The '37 and later steering gears have a "roller" that intersects with the worm gears, therefore there is less restriction between the two parts.
My car has a column shift so I used the '40 column and shift rods with a '47 Steering wheel. My engine is a well built 59AB, I used the stock '36 log type of exhaust manifolds. had no clearance issues at all... It was like Ford meant for this application to work..

[tub1]

woops I should have said my car is rhd and no probs at all