33 Ford Car Steering box?

I can take a 32-4 box and not modify it and the starter switch and light switch assy fit just fine. What kind of a mod are you talking about?
 
Art Maurice said:
Hi Charlie, Someone to machine for roller bearings?
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If you are talking about the needle bearings for the sector shaft I have heard both good and bad about them and think I would pass. You are probably talking about mounting the gear on the sector shaft in roller bearings like a '37 and up I have never heard of anyone doing this modification. Since it is a good idea and nobody is doing it I assume it can't be done. The usual solution is to use a fifties truck steering which is the same internal design as the '37 and up early Ford. I can't remember if the one used is an F1 or an F100 but it depends on what engine you are running. If you have a 4 cylinder I think either will work and if you have a V8 one works better because of the location of the sector relative to the worm. There is plenty of info in the archives here and on HAMB. Randy Gross, 714-292-8660 or email melmodela@aol.com, does this modification for Model A's and might be able to help with the '33.

Charlie Stephens
 
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Neal in Ca does a beautiful conversion on the '37 Hudson steering box that fits '32-''34 Fords. Some claim this gives a better conversion than the F1/F100 steering box. Pictures provided in a recent post here look to me like everything bolts up and wires up as original. You could easily find this post by using the search function.
 
Rumbleseat had a converted Hudson box in his 34 Roadster. I drove his car when he was at Garlits many years ago and it was a dream to steer. I have had 3 33/34 boxes converted to needle bearings and they work well, but they also had worm and sector gears replaced.
 
I have done the conversion for the needle bearings on the sector shaft ,they are not free running like a ball bearing ,so there is more drag on them than the bronze bush ,not worth the effort in my opinion .Ted
 
I have a "Mart" version of the same Hudson conversion that Neal does. It does make a nice conversion. Short of Hudson parts here in the UK I achieved the same result using a mixture of RHD and LHD 37 up parts in my 33. Both the 32 box in my roadster and the stock box in my 33 were a bit of a chore to steer.

I believe the stock old switch gear can be used with Neal's conversions. He does a sweet job on them. Finding the core units is the problem.

Mart.
 
Just to add ,Ford had the needles in 36 but removed them from then on they obviously found a problem with them or no gain .Ted
 
Unless, Ted, the improvements in efficiency gained from going to the worm and roller design meant the operation of the 37 design was an improvement over the 36 design without having to go to the extra expense of the needle rollers.

In other words the needle rollers were an attempt in 36 to improve the efficiency (reduce friction) but the 37 was better anyway.

Mart.
 
Go over to the HAMB and check the blog by Dennis Lacy on rebuilding his 32 PU. Hes shows extensive detail on rebuilding a stock steering box.
 
Yes Mart that could also be the case Ted

Mart said:
Unless, Ted, the improvements in efficiency gained from going to the worm and roller design meant the operation of the 37 design was an improvement over the 36 design without having to go to the extra expense of the needle rollers.

In other words the needle rollers were an attempt in 36 to improve the efficiency (reduce friction) but the 37 was better anyway.

Mart.
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