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Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,014
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From: Rio Rancho, NM
Bobby
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,190
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From: Burbank, WA
How can you tell if a steering box is any good? IE...how much play should there be? It is currently hooked up to the front end for my inspection, however I have no idea what to inspect. I am not against rebuilding my existing box, but if I can get a decent one for less then I would be dumb not to!
Ideally, you don't want any play in your steering. Sloppy steering linkage leads to a wandering and uncontrollable driving truck. So turn the wheel back and forth and see how much steering wheel movement you have before the tires turn. Look at the pitman arm and sector shaft where it goes through the frame. See what moves there while turning the wheel. You probably can't see underneath and turn the wheel at the same time, so bring a helper. You only want to see the pitman arm move forward and back in a rotating motion. If the sector shaft moves up and down at all, or any other direction besides spinning, the sector bushings are bad inside the box. If there's a lot of wheel movement without anything moving outside, the gears inside are worn.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Well I figured no play would be rather ideal. Right now it wanders quite a bit. I am heading out Saturday morning to buy those springs and check out his steering box. I want to take another look at mine before we leave because I think a lot of the play is caused by worn out tie rod ends and a bent drag link.
Good lookin out on the bushings...I wouldn't have thought about that until it was time to use em!
Good lookin out on the bushings...I wouldn't have thought about that until it was time to use em!
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,014
Likes: 9,969
From: Rio Rancho, NM
When you are checking your front end for worn parts and slop; tie rod ends, etc. also look at the spring bushings and shackles on the truck. Every little bit of slop adds up. Basically there are three pins and bushings per spring; one at the rear of the spring at the pivot and two at the front (shackle to spring, and shackle to frame).
Right now my truck wanders on the road quite a bit. Most if it is due to the fact that I'm running 30 year old bias ply tires. I'm hoping to get changed out to radials this summer.
Good luck on the springs
Bobby
Right now my truck wanders on the road quite a bit. Most if it is due to the fact that I'm running 30 year old bias ply tires. I'm hoping to get changed out to radials this summer.
Good luck on the springs
Bobby
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Yeah, I was going to go through it all when I get to spinnin wrenches on it. I am sure the bushings are no good...there is little underneath of there that IS good cept the brakes. I need to do some clutch cable work too...cause the lever on the pedal side is a little short.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
From: Marysville Wa.
Good looking truck Fordman, and wow Bobby that looks spooky. I ran a 52 back in high school with a 460 and never had anything like that ever happen, WOW! You can adjust the steering boxes on these things a few times as well and grease every zerk you see and they will drive ok for awhile till you get some new parts. I bet that 4 gear is fun especially in the rain.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Thanks k-member. As it stands, my truck has only seen the rain once. With no drivers side window and a 1949 military foot locker for the trunk, I try to keep it dry. However I did notice it is just as easy to put it sideways...dry or wet! Once some other things get fixed, I won't hesitate to take it out pretty much year round though.
I thought about shimming the box to see if that could take some of the slop out, but I am leaning more towards the box not being that bad and the majority of my steering issues coming directly from shot tie rod ends and crappy springs. A HUGE factor would be the bent center link...which hopefully I can bend back and sleeve it or something.
I thought about shimming the box to see if that could take some of the slop out, but I am leaning more towards the box not being that bad and the majority of my steering issues coming directly from shot tie rod ends and crappy springs. A HUGE factor would be the bent center link...which hopefully I can bend back and sleeve it or something.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
From: Marysville Wa.
Nice, I live in the great Pacific North West, drive in the rain too much. I run an antique ice chest bolted in the back of mine, still has the ice pick and church key. Have an optima battery maybe a few hand tools and can still hold a 6er on ice. Dig that color on yours.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Very nice!
Everyone keeps saying they like the color...maybe I should actually paint it that color! The body is exactly how I purchased it some 8 years ago. This is after it sat outside all 8 of those years, save for this winter. Brown has grown on me...maybe I should look for that brown metalic again?
Everyone keeps saying they like the color...maybe I should actually paint it that color! The body is exactly how I purchased it some 8 years ago. This is after it sat outside all 8 of those years, save for this winter. Brown has grown on me...maybe I should look for that brown metalic again?
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,014
Likes: 9,969
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Years ago I had a 59 Ranchero that was a dark metallic brown. It wasn't my favorite color but it looked decent overall. The worst thing about it was trying to rest your arm out the window after the beast sat out in the sun for any lenght of time...it'd burn the tar out of you....lol
I think your truck looks great, kind of a copper color
Bobby
I think your truck looks great, kind of a copper color
Bobby
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Man oh man...what a score! Not only did I get some great quality parts, I found another local F-1 build happening, and met a cool gent in the process. I got my springs, a second set of headlight trim rings, drivers side exterior door handle, complete front end from drum to drum including a bolt on steering stabalizer, and a tight steering box. Good finds in my book.
He has more hood trim, if anyone is interested I could probably help with that. He is not currently on here, but I will see what I can do to remidy that. Chris...when you get around to getting on here...thank you very much! You made my month. Now...to get to changing out the front end of my truck!
He has more hood trim, if anyone is interested I could probably help with that. He is not currently on here, but I will see what I can do to remidy that. Chris...when you get around to getting on here...thank you very much! You made my month. Now...to get to changing out the front end of my truck!
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Actually, I was going to see if there would be any use on here for them. I am planning on parting ways with the axle and spindles and my old steering box, among other parts. I will compile a list soon. As soon as the garage is half finished, I hope to start working on the front end of the truck.