Having a f1 with lets say a bit of free play on the steering, I think on this site is a mod you can do to the steering box eg swap it with a toyota 4X4 box with a kit ?
1) is this correct

2) what year toyota is the box from, any part numbers

3) what kit do you need

4) anything else I would need

Thanks

 

in the sticky " Read first- FAQ and MANY more 1948-1960 Ford truck related articles" there is a article about installing a yota steerin box.
i'm using a GM steering box and column, so someone will be around to help with the yota stuff. till then, check out the sticky.
and welcome to FTE!

 

Kits are available from Mid Fifties, CPP, and Sacramento Vintage Ford, among others. They aren't cheap, but then what is these days. If I were choosing a supplier, Mid Fifties is from all accounts very good, as is Sac Ford. CPP is less so.... NAPA has rebuilt steering boxes for the 80-85 Toyota 4x4 pickups that have the necessary drag link style steering. The basic kits have a mounting bracket, a modified billet pitman arm, and fasteners needed. You can buy a more expensive kit that includes the steering box too. The setup does work very well, but don't forget adding new king pins and bushings to the axle, and rebuilding the drag link, and tie rod assemblies. It's a good idea to consider the heavier duty tie rod unit that several sell. You will want the power box, and will need a pump and hoses too.

Now if you are a rather thrifty sort like I am ... and are equipped to fabricate things .... then it is possible to build the bracket and the pitman arm. There is an article on this site that shows most of that. I've taken a bit different approach on doing all this, and have all of it done and on the chassis now. If you look up my gallery for my 48 F1, you can see some of the photos. The bracket I built is probably a bit more complicated than most want to tackle ... but it does work well, and is very strong. The pitman arm was made from a 77 Monte Carlo arm, and the splined end from the Toyota pitman that came on the used box I got for $40. All totaled I redid the king pins, springs and steering for under $200, but that's just how I like to do stuff .... call me a tightwad!! (grin) If you want a few more photos .... just ping me via the private message process.

RG in Spokane

 

Thanks robertr for that info, will look tonight for that set up,my axle has been rebuilt with all new ball joints/kin pins etc so I am quite lucky on that side, I think over here it will be quite hard to find a left hand drive toyota steer box and I am not to bothered about power steering,so is there one company that you can recomend that I can buy everything from, steering box,arm, shaft bearing,kit to mount it etc.
Thanks



pic of my truck

 

I should have looked more carefully at where you live!! Oh well .... As for right hand drive ... I'm not sure what to tell you. I do have a friend in OZ that might have some ideas. Stay tuned. I'll check with him .... he's a long time rod builder, and I swear he knows every hot rodder there is down under.

A single supplier will be hard to recommend ... as all the kits I've seen are for left hand drive, and the brackets would only work for those.

Your truck is very nicely done!! I love the visor. What brand is that?

RG

 

Ok ..... so once again I needed to look closer at things here .... your truck is in fact a left hand drive rig. It's just that getting a Toyota Box for it would be problematic. I'd go with Mid Fifites ... and explain via a phone call what you are up to. If they are unsure what to do.... then go with Sacramento Vintage Ford. They are not as cheap as some out there, but are great to deal with, and tend towards a higher grade of stuff they sell.

RG

 

I am one of the authors of the steering box article. AFA Left hand drive boxes you'll likely have to import one from the states. You can find used boxes in salvage yards here by doing a search here: Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market
They are quite sturdy and seldom are a problem buying a used one.
Mid Fifty: Mid Fifty F100 Parts
is an excellent source for the conversion kit, (and extremely helpful. They have recently opened an F1 parts division as well as for the one for 53-56 so ask for their new catalog) and they used to offer rebuilt boxes, they may still be able to help you with that.
If you can't find something, give me a shout and I'll see if I can help.