vega steering in 36

mrtexas

mrtexas

Well-known member
What are the advantages to this?

picture.php
 
if you want to keep the car as close as possable to orignal use a 37-39 steering gear it will steer like you have power steering & can be done with little mod.
 
I've been told it should be used with vehicles under 2500 lbs. or so. However I'm not sure if my '33 pickup will overtax that steering.
 
From my point of view, I can see no advantage to modifying the steering components in '35-36 Ford, to aftermarket units, Vega, Corvair, etc., when it is so simple to change the earlier steering gear setup to a '37-40 Ford unit..
I changed my '36 Ford steering gear box, worm/sector, to a '37-40 worm/roller in 1955, it was like adding power steering to the car. In lieu of hand over hand truck like steering the steering is finger tip, parking is a snap..
Of course if you are going to modify the power-train with a "belly-button" system, then why not upgrade the whole front end to something more modern...
 
blucar said:
From my point of view, I can see no advantage to modifying the steering components in '35-36 Ford, to aftermarket units, Vega, Corvair, etc., when it is so simple to change the earlier steering gear setup to a '37-40 Ford unit..
I changed my '36 Ford steering gear box, worm/sector, to a '37-40 worm/roller in 1955, it was like adding power steering to the car. In lieu of hand over hand truck like steering the steering is finger tip, parking is a snap..
Of course if you are going to modify the power-train with a "belly-button" system, then why not upgrade the whole front end to something more modern...
Click to expand...


I agree with your comment but the question came up about the Vega box specifically and that's what I responded to.

The 35-36 box can easily be switched to the 39 and you can retain most if not all of your original functionality but you will need the 39 frame mount. A worm-sector swap out is the easiest and cleanest as you say, and something to be considered....
 
Last edited:
35fordtn said:
I have a 37 with a vega box. It steering 5 times better than what a original 36 box does
Click to expand...

My '37 box is probably tired. I will consider rebuilding it but I not sure it will ever feel like a "modern" box. I like to keep the car original but drivability lifts the fun-factor.

I have had great success with Vega boxes in the hot rod world.

Any pictures of brackets and/or install?

How did you do with the light switch?
 
The light switch will have to be moved to the dash or under the dash. You can get a bracket for the Vega box from Speedway Motors. You will need to attach the steering column shaft with he correct universal joint.
 
I am very much aware that the original question pertained to the use of a Vega steering gear box in a '36 Ford..
I made my comment about the '37-40 gear swap because of the simplicity of the '37-40 application, which retains the basic originality of the vehicle and provides excellent drivability..
In an open wheeled roadster/hot rod, a Vega/Corvair steering gear box makes a lot of sense..
 
Does anyone make a adapter to bolt to the original mount on a 36 so I don't have to chisel the rivets of ? I want a bolt on for a Vega or upgrade to steering in my '36 ???

What is involved in changing my '36 Ford steering gear box, worm/sector, to a '37-40 worm/roller ??
 
Last edited:
.


A 1971 Chevy Vega 2300 Hatchback Coupe 140 has an advertised shipping weight of 2,190 lbs. And we all know what a little "Spam can" POS the crappy little car is. Makes ya wonder just how well that little steering box was engineered when you consider how well the engine was engineered.

My '40 coupe weighs 2,790. Station Wagons can weigh in excess of 3,200 lbs. Do ya feel lucky? That is 50% heavier than that original Vega box was designed for. Sure, guys have gotten away with Vega boxes for ages. But ya know what? You would be much safer using the similar (although beefier) design of the Saginaw "525" box. Only slightly larger in overall dimension, these "525" boxes were designed by GM for use in mid size cars like Chevelles and Cutlass. Just barely larger than a familiar old Gemmer box used in '37-'48 Fords. And, they come in a number of different gear ratios. These boxes have been in use since the mid '60s and into the '80s...well proven! DD


.carid.com%2fimages%2fborgeson%2fproducts%2f920040.jpg


.
 
The Saginaw 525 is the better way to go. Much stronger box and not much bigger than a Vega box. You can get brand new ones from Borgeson or can find good used ones at swap meets for $25 or so.
 
.

Info straight from Borgeson (U. S. Steering gear supplier):


OEM Saginaw 140 Box
This is a real Vega box 100% made
in the USA not a cheap copy.
The Vega 140 is recommended
only for vehicles under 2400 lbs.
Steering ratio is 22:1.

DD


61YyDII5PiL._SY679_.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top