jagnweiner
Senior Member
Gents,
I need your help identifying a steering box that I recently purchased, that unfortunately does not fit my '47 Merc. First the background.
A few weeks ago, I saw an ad here on the Barn for a rebuilt steering box for "42-46" Ford. I was of the belief that steering boxes (and, more importantly, steering shafts) were the same from 41-48, and that '47 Merc Convertibles were basically the same as '47 Ford Convertibles.
I called the seller and he explained how he came to have the box. He needed to rebuild the box on his '40 (I believe) and he decided to buy a core to send in so that his car wasn't ******* while he waited. He bought this one from someone who told him it would fit his 40. He then sent it off to Lares for a rebuilt. When he got it back, he found it was 2" too short. He then determined that his '40 needed a different sized shaft, so ended up sending his original off to be rebuilt, leaving him with this one to sell. He agreed that it should fit the '47.
I made the purchase, received it on Saturday and went to install it on Sunday. When I got the old one out I instantly saw that the new one was also 2" shorter than mine.
After I got over the initial heartbreak, I started trying to think of what to do. I briefly thought about trying to swap my shaft into the rebuilt box, but I just don't want to tear apart one that has been rebuilt. I decided I'll get my old one rebuilt. (I know many have said they're not that hard to rebuild, but I'm just not up to it.) Now I have to sell this other rebuilt box, but I need to know for sure what it fits.
The box itself looks almost the same as mine, but it has a number, "30937" cast into it that mine does not. The shaft measures 44 1/4" from where it exits the box. (My original measures about 46 1/4") It also has a collar near the top that mine does not.
-Anyone know what this box/shaft fits?
-Is there any difference between Ford and Mercury steering box/shaft for 1947?
-Is 1947 the same length as 1946?
Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post.
I need your help identifying a steering box that I recently purchased, that unfortunately does not fit my '47 Merc. First the background.
A few weeks ago, I saw an ad here on the Barn for a rebuilt steering box for "42-46" Ford. I was of the belief that steering boxes (and, more importantly, steering shafts) were the same from 41-48, and that '47 Merc Convertibles were basically the same as '47 Ford Convertibles.
I called the seller and he explained how he came to have the box. He needed to rebuild the box on his '40 (I believe) and he decided to buy a core to send in so that his car wasn't ******* while he waited. He bought this one from someone who told him it would fit his 40. He then sent it off to Lares for a rebuilt. When he got it back, he found it was 2" too short. He then determined that his '40 needed a different sized shaft, so ended up sending his original off to be rebuilt, leaving him with this one to sell. He agreed that it should fit the '47.
I made the purchase, received it on Saturday and went to install it on Sunday. When I got the old one out I instantly saw that the new one was also 2" shorter than mine.
After I got over the initial heartbreak, I started trying to think of what to do. I briefly thought about trying to swap my shaft into the rebuilt box, but I just don't want to tear apart one that has been rebuilt. I decided I'll get my old one rebuilt. (I know many have said they're not that hard to rebuild, but I'm just not up to it.) Now I have to sell this other rebuilt box, but I need to know for sure what it fits.
The box itself looks almost the same as mine, but it has a number, "30937" cast into it that mine does not. The shaft measures 44 1/4" from where it exits the box. (My original measures about 46 1/4") It also has a collar near the top that mine does not.
-Anyone know what this box/shaft fits?
-Is there any difference between Ford and Mercury steering box/shaft for 1947?
-Is 1947 the same length as 1946?
Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post.
