...and just mounted the box to the bracket with nuts & bolts? It's a brand new Borgeson vega steering box and P&J mounting bracket welded to a '32 frame. The box's two lower mounting holes have 3/8"-16 threaded holes. I ran a tap through them and ran the bolts through a matching die, but the bolts still don't seem to engage and tighten. Instead, it's as if the threads are wobbly & stripped. Thanks, fellas.
What brand of box? OEM Saginaw, or a Borgeson made on the factory tooling that they bought from GM actually has 7/16-14 threads. I can’t speak about the knock off vega’s they could be anything, even metric thread. If you really did want to drill out the threads make sure the casting has a flat surface where the nuts or bolt heads will rest, but if it’s a knock off cut your losses and throw it away. In looking at a GM Vega box clearance is tight for that but a machine shop could handle it for $$.
Just Gary....BTW I too recently bought a Borgeson box for my '31 Model A. I read a lot of threads and comments about various re-pop Vega boxes and to me it sounded like the Borgeson box is a good unit and although not the least expensive out there it got generally good comments. It seemed like the best bang for my $$. Lynn
Ok, guys. I just checked and 7/16"-14 fits MUCH better. I'm feeling pretty stupid right now... I'll use new 7/16"-14 bolts. But if I boogered the threads too badly, guess the fall-back plan will be to drill out the holes like some of you've done. Thanks again.
Stupid? I’d say you are pretty smart for not falling for cheap is good enough and buying quality instead.
It isn't stupid until you don't apply the lesson. You were smart enough to realize you had a problem and come to the land of solutions.
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