f100 steering

J

Jim in S.C.

Member
I am considering putting a f100 steering gear conversion in my 31 coupe.
Will you barners that have done this please share an opinon?
And make suggestions as to where to purchase one.
 
I have one in my Town Sedan and like it very much. Fellow club members gave it to me.
However, I put a short pitmaan arm and teflon ball seats in my Roadster and it approaches the ease of steering of the F100. Of course the steering arms had new polished balls installed and the entire steering assemblies were rebuilt.
The main difference between the two systems is the F100 steering will straighten the wheels when turning a corner.
 
I put one in my coupe and it steers very nice. I had tried the teflon parts, the roller bearings etc. but this is far superior.
 
Jim in S.C. said:
I am considering putting a f100 steering gear conversion in my 31 coupe.
Will you barners that have done this please share an opinon?
And make suggestions as to where to purchase one.
Click to expand...

Jim,
There's a guy out here on the left coast, named Mel Gross. He sells new model a drums and modified f100 steering boxes..for use in model a.
I've never heard any negative comments regarding his steering boxes..but they aint cheap:eek: ! I figure tho that you get what you pay for in his box.
I do run an f100 in my '30 roadster and wouldn't ever go back to the two tooth gemmer that I rebuilt...and exchanged to a restorer for the rebuilt f100...such a deal, and it even allows direct hookup of the original light switch:)
 
Has anyone used the fella on ebay? He stated that he has sold 75 units but I did not recieve any references when requested. His are machined F-100 boxes the same as Mel and $50 less.
 
 
Stay away from the E Z Steer box. It is a copy of the F100 box, but, the interior machine work is nowhere near quality. Mine has 1/4 to 1/3 free slop/play in the steering wheel. I am currently building an original F100 box to replace the E Z Steer.
 
Consensus from experience guys who have had experiences with various steering systems.

The original properly rebuilt with the correct lubrication does great. Where it has troubles is more force needed when the car is not moving. Properly done the original bushed 2 tooth can run one handed.
Given that none of the parts houses are selling the correct bushing I would say finding a properly rebuilt box is problematic. The bushings that are available are too large have installation and honing to round (it is critical to be honed). The needle bearing conversions have mixed reviews and a percentage tend to fail as the sectors are not all up to the correct hardness needed to support the needle bearings.

Putting the shorter pitman arm helps ease the force required to turn.
Given that you can one hand a properly rebuilt box how important is that?

The F100 boxes clearly have issues too. The extra money really seems to only buy you less force when standing still.

It is an interesting subject to continue to read about. I believe so many are used to such crappy steering any slight improvement is something. It is way too common to find around a 1/4 turn play in the steering wheel on stock systems. I have even seen a guy drive 60 miles with 1/2 turn play. His pitman arm bolt was loose.
In the end it is way cheaper and more reliable to get a 2 tooth properly restored to factory specs.

But what could I know I am just a wacko reading everyones posts for years and accumulating NOS or excellent used parts for my car so it will drive like factory.
My brother as a 15 year old rebuilt his box (a 40,000 mile car) in 1970. Today he has about 1" to 2" of play and can do turns one handed. The box has not been touch since it was put in the car. He had the needle bearings put in with an Argentine repro sector. He does not like the play it has and he will go back to bushings one day.
 
1931 flamingo said:
Brent: no offense but your 3rd link is about ez steer which is NOT an f-100 box. JMO Paul in CT
Click to expand...

I agree Paul and no offense is/was taken. My reasoning for including that one is because intelligent folks can make intelligent decisions when they know all the facts. I have found the search engine here at Fordbarn will uncover much information regarding these units.
 
I seldom see Joe Grentz's name mentioned about these steering conversions any more. Maybe he isn't doing them any more.
I had a couple of his conversions apart and they were pretty much original inside with what looked like all new parts..they adjusted like original and had NO play when I opened them up...They were a bolt in conversion with the light switch on the end of the box..
All I have is a phone number..He used to be in Wenatchee, Wa.
509-782-3774
 
CA Victoria said:
Has anyone used the fella on ebay? He stated that he has sold 75 units but I did not recieve any references when requested. His are machined F-100 boxes the same as Mel and $50 less.
Click to expand...
I have one, not yet installed -- this winter's project. Taking out an EZ steer that has way too much play in it that can't be adjusted out.
 
I have one in my sedan and I believe it's about the closests to power steering in a model a you can get. I also have tie rod ends and have little to no play at all.
 
i built a F-100 box for my model A, used hollow 1939 shaft with F-100 screw pressed on it, the `39 endplate, with crimped and soldered brass tupe on it, `39 light switch bracket and spring, it all fits without machining recuired.
 
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