32 commercial truck steering box

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my4dv8

Well-known member
I picked up a fairly decent 32 big truck steering box . I knew it was from a big truck as it had the 4 spoke steering wheel and a much longer column drop. No problem I thought, just swap those out. It is a RHD box which is what we want. No pitman arm with it. Dang I have 8 or 9 pitman arms and an F1 arm . None are big enough to fit on the splines of the sector shaft. A miserable 0.0984 bigger at the small end of the splines. Does anyone have any knowledge on these steering boxes? Is the ratio different ? The mounting flange is different and i think the hole orientation is different, but thats ok as there are no holes in the frame on the RH side.
 
'32 passenger car and commercial vehicle steering sector shaft diameters are the same as are the steering gear boxes. It's the big truck BB steering box assembly that's stand-alone unique.
 
Yes this must be a BB box . Seems like 17.1 ratio. Now I need to find a Pitman arm . STD ford pitman is too small by 0.123”. Spline count is the same. It’s a very nice box.
 
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Fred @ Southside Obsolete should be able to help you. He is @Barnfind08 on here, HAMB and Instagram. Good luck.
 
The 1932 BB truck pitman arm is a one year only part (BB-3490-A). There was a change for the 1933-34 BB truck pitman arms (BB-3590-B) and then another for 1935-1937 (51-3590). I'm just pointing this out so that you know there are different versions of the big truck pitman arms for these years. Hope you can source a good 1932 BB pitman arm.
 
Dang one year only. Would a later model big truck pitman arm with the bolt in ball work ? Just assuming it may be slightly easier to find.
 
Unfortunately I don't know the difference in shape between the 1932 and the 1933-34 styles. Perhaps the difference is the angle or length of the end of the arm? So maybe the later style would fit your '32 steering sector shaft and then you could adjust the angle or length? Sorry I can's be of more help.

Also, are you certain you have a 1932 steering box? Maybe it's a 33-34 version? I don't know how to tell these two steering boxes apart either.
 
I *think* the steering columns themselves are the same between 32-34 BB truck. David G is certainly more knowledgeable thna myself on that.

I believe the main difference between the pitman arms is where the arm is angled. I know Chris (sugarmaker) posted a side by side comparison of '32 and '34 pitmans arms.

Red
 
my4dv8,
This is what i found. The 32 BB pitman arm is close to you in the picture, more rusty.
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Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
 
The unfortunate aspect of both those Pitman arms is that the ball is a parts of the arm, unlike the '32 passenger and commercialal arms which have replaceable ball studs.
 
I assume these are longer than a passenger arm. I am sure if the fixed ball is worn ,with some care it could be built up, or it appears that the is enough metal to make a 7degree tapered hole for a bolt in ball?
 
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