Is the stock steering box alright ??

[ceejay]

Hi all,

I'm hoping to do the mechanical overhaul on my 33 phaeton first, then do the body and cosmetics.

My car will be restored to stock (has the B engine) so will have stock wheels and tires etc.

I know there are a lot of options with regard to non stock steering systems but..

Is the stock system alright to use if completely overhauled ?

My car is right hand drive and i was really happy to see that there are new right hand drive worms and sector shafts advertised... i hope they are still available to buy.

[Andy]

You might consider putting in left hand drive 36 parts. The ratio is slower so easier steering and it is more comfortable to drive at highway speeds.

[Charlie Stephens]

I have the original box in my 4 cylinder 1932 roadster and never had any complaints. Of course it is not like power steering and it helps to be moving when you turn the wheel but that is what I would expect. Probably about like a Model A if you want a comparison. I think your unit will have a slightly better ratio then the Model A. Unless I was planning on a lot of driving I would definitely leave the original steering in an otherwise original car. If I felt I really needed to upgrade a good unit that is frequently modified to use in the early Fords is the F-100 truck of the early fifties, I will leave it to you to find one that is right hand drive. There is an ad here for this conversion for use in a Model A, https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88091 I doubt he does right hand drive 1933 cars but you might ask him.

Charlie Stephens

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by Andy

You might consider putting in left hand drive 36 parts. The ratio is slower so easier steering and it is more comfortable to drive at highway speeds.

Andy,

I am not sure what you are trying to tell him. The 1936 is a cross steering. Are you saying there may be a way to use the 1936 worm and sector in his 1933 box to get better gears and right hand drive?

Charlie Stephens

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

Andy,

I am not sure what you are trying to tell him. The 1936 is a cross steering. Are you saying there may be a way to use the 1936 worm and sector in his 1933 box to get better gears and right hand drive?

Charlie Stephens

Yep. 32-34 gears are direct opposite of 35-36 gears. You can put 35-36 right hand gears in 32 34 boxes for better steering. He is using a right hand box so normal left hand later gears are what he wants. The 36 gears are 17-1 and the 34 and 35 gears are 15 and the 32 ones are 13.

[Charlie Stephens]

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Originally Posted by Andy

Yep. 32-34 gears are direct opposite of 35-36 gears. You can put 35-36 right hand gears in 32 34 boxes for better steering. He is using a right hand box so normal left hand later gears are what he wants. The 36 gears are 17-1 and the 34 and 35 gears are 15 and the 32 ones are 13.

Thanks for the follow up. I had never heard that before but thought it might be what you were trying to say.

Charlie Stephens

[Brian]

That is most interesting....Thank you for posting that info

[ceejay]

Thank you for the very interesting info guys !!

has anyone actually done this ? install 35-36 worm and sector in a 33 box ?

Sounds like that might be the ideal solution if we are sure it can be done.

[columbiA]

If the original steering box is rebuilt,it will steer very well.On a 33 coupe I also added needle brgs to the sector shaft,shortened the pitman arm 1 1/2",and installed teflon ball seats with new steering balls & it steered very easily.The teflon ball seat kits are the same as used on model A,s.

[Tom Walker]

Originally Posted by columbiA

If the original steering box is rebuilt,it will steer very well.On a 33 coupe I also added needle brgs to the sector shaft,shortened the pitman arm 1 1/2",and installed teflon ball seats with new steering balls & it steered very easily.The teflon ball seat kits are the same as used on model A,s.

ColumbiA, to convert to a needle roller, did you run the bearing directly on the original shaft and machine the housing? I would be interested to know how you did this, thanks, Tom.

[hardtimes]

Hey Tom,
I installed this needle bearing setup on a sector shaft of a model A gemmer two tooth. You probably know that the shaft normally operated on Fords bushing! My experience...the shaft is NOT hardened for needle bearing use and in no time at all...there was trouble/excess play/wornout shaft surface. I think that if I ever were to try such again, that I'd look into whether the sector shaft can be hardened.

[Tom Walker]

Originally Posted by hardtimes

Hey Tom,
I installed this needle bearing setup on a sector shaft of a model A gemmer two tooth. You probably know that the shaft normally operated on Fords bushing! My experience...the shaft is NOT hardened for needle bearing use and in no time at all...there was trouble/excess play/wornout shaft surface. I think that if I ever were to try such again, that I'd look into whether the sector shaft can be hardened.

That was why I asked.

It may be possible to nitride the shaft without damaging it, but the process would only work if the steel is the right alloy. Needle rollers require a ground track of the right diameter within a thou or two, so I dont see how you could do it without some work.

An alternative would be to get the area where the bearing runs hard-chromed then ground to size.

[JM 35 Sedan]

This was an interesting post on how to improve steering on '32-'34 steering boxes.
If what Andy is saying about using later left hand drive gears in the early right hand drive boxes works well....it sounds to me like if you use '36 gears, that sector shaft was originally designed to use the needle bearings and heat treating would not be necessary. Or am I missing something here?

[ceejay]

If I supply the steering box and the newer internal parts, is someone willing to build me a 33 box with 36 internals ... I'll pay !!