Penrite SemiFluid and Steering Box Lube. As a faithful follower of advice on the FordBarn, I used this to solve my leaky steering box. I too replaced the endplate with the one welded to the snorkel (Snyder's). Drop in perfect fit.
I debated on CornHead Grease and other SemiFluid Greases. It seems the community is split. Penrite makes a semifluid grease (suggested by Tom Endy in another thread) that is less viscous (slightly more runny/fluid) than cornhead grease. It is formulated for steering boxes as well.
I bought both. I have a HumVee planetary gear box and put both in and tested it. Both lowered the coefficient of friction markedly. Both resisted leaking out of the cover as a slowly backed off the cover bolts. I heated the gear box to 40 degrees, 75 degrees, 100 degrees, and 110 degrees in my sand blasting chamber. No difference in leaks until gear box cover was 3/64" separated and that was at 110 degrees. At 100 degrees no leaks until the gap was 4/64".
However, what convinced me was upon inspection at temperature level 100 and 110 degrees the gears were equally covered in lubricant. But, at temperatures below 85 degrees the corn head grease did not flow into the cogs of the gears like the Penrite product did. At 40 degrees the grease separated and the gears ran unlubricated. It took 28 seconds at 40 degrees for the Penrite grease to mix in the gears.
I opted for the Penrite product. Have had no leaks and steering works well.
In summary, I think either or both would work, it depends on your ambient and operating temps. The gear box on my '30 coupe never reaches over 88 degrees even during a tour on a hot southern day (measured with laser thermometer).
Goes to show, if you ask ten Model A "experts" how to do something you will get 10 answers about the five best ways.
Full disclosure, I am just a Joe Schmo, not paid or compensated by anyone for anything related to Model A's. Just an ol' engineer with too much think time on his hands.
Diastole in the Smoky Mountains
