Hi. I'm a new member. Nice website.

I'm working on a '46 Ford pickup street rod that will be used for towing. It has a chopped top, 460 V8 (to be replaced with a 523" stroker when time permits), C6, 9" posi, boxed frame and custom grille opening. I plan to use a new Pro's Pick bed. My questions have to do with the steering box. I disassembled mine and discovered that the scroll (pinion) gear was spalled and chipped. Here's my Questions:

1. Is the scroll gear removable / replaceable from the steering shaft? It looks to be splined and pressed on the shaft.

2. Does anybody make new parts for this steering box? Like the scroll gear / shaft, and bushings and seal?

3. Is there a later model box - manual or power - that can be substituted for this one?

4. What weight gear lube does it use? I assume 140. Is there a synthetic lube available?

5. Has anyone towed a closed trailer with one of these trucks? Did you incorporate wide rear view mirrors? How?

Thanks for your response.

 

Hmm...Don't know if you can get much help with some of those questions here for there are so few of us around. About the gear, if it's the worm gear thing, I believe it's one peice and the last time I checked, Macs Auto Parts has them, and of course they have the seals too. The gear is one peice with the shaft if I remember correctly. If you use it for towing those large bolt on square ones should work, although they won't look right (to me at least) without the trailer. Good luck!

 

O' and welcome to the site! The '48-'60 forum may help you out a little better too, they have people running 460s and towing too. The trucks are basiclly the same, just a little widder and newer.

 

Thanks 41Clay, I will try Macs for the pinion gear. You're right, those mirrors are going to look butt uugly on a chopped , lowered, and flamed truck. I'm trying to come up with a detachable mounting system so they can be easily removed, like Dzus buttons or maybe one large roof mounted boom system , like some house mover trucks use. I'm open to suggestions.