steer me in the right direction

Woodie UK

Woodie UK

Member
Yo Barners,
I need to replace the steering box on my French-built Matford woodie and the chances of finding a replacement this side of the Pond are pretty grim at best.

I've seen mention of the benefits of using a Vega style box and as there seem to be plenty of variations available I thought I'd ask if anybody in the great and mighty barner universe has fitted a Vega steering box and what there experiences have been, before I order one?

Colin
 
Why 'bastardize' your car? Why not rebuild what you've got? Is the Matford RHD, or left? Three questions to answer your question.
 
Hi Colin, if your Matford is l/h/drive the Vega box should fit with a little work...but....they have a short splined shaft instead of a full length steering shaft up to the st.wheel. That means signifigant alterations if you wish to run the original column, also means you won't be able to run the light and horn switch at the bottom of the steering box as in a regular V8 like your '36. I'd be looking at rebuilding your original box or sourcing something like a '37/40 box out of the US and using that. Even if you need to trim a little length off the steering shaft, it's only a bit of lathe work and you'd still be able to run all the correct switch gear and have it all look "right".

PS, got a copy of your Woodie book out of England a few weeks ago,great stuff and should be a considerable help in building my '41 Woodie,thanks!.....cheers, Colin.
 
Hi Brian,
The Matford is left hand drive which is why the Vega box seemed an attractive option. Don't know of anybody here in the UK that could rebuild the original and all that stuff about Ezze Con or whatever makes me leary of shipping something backwards and forwards across the Pond.
Colin
 
Hi Woodie,
I recently rebuilt an old box for my 34 pickup ( RHD ). All the parts (repo) I bought from the USA. RHD sector and worm. Used the old shaft, new bearings. Works well and a fairly easy rebuild.
Good luck
 
Colin, parts are easily sourced to rebuild what you have, and like ragtop says, a fairly easy rebuild. I would say rebuilding with new parts is at least easier than converting in mongrel parts, which then necessitates repositioning light switch, horn button, with associated rewiring etc.
 
What does the original steering box look like? Might be a frog box, might be a normal US Ford type box.
Pics would help.
Martin.
 
Colin ,I have most of the parts you need to rebuild your box .I do not need them, as I bought a e/steer box complete . I have a NOS Ford made sector, new needle bearings and seal for same and gasket set and new bearings for the worm shaft, all parts you would need except the worm.Johnny.
 
Johnny, you got the bits for s Marford box? Or a Ford box?
Needle bearings, sounds like a 1936 (I think) Ford steering box.
Martin
 
Scooder The parts I have are from Drake and are for the 38/48 Ford box the needle bearings are an update from the bushings originaly used .The main reason I went with the E/steer box was for the slower ratio I am happy with the quality and it's operation. The parts he claimes are all US made. Johnny
 
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