Hey guys. I just picked up a '36 Ford colum and steering box as well as a '41 steering colum and box. the only difference I can see is the '36 column is longer than the '41. Is there any difference? Are these pretty much the same as a '40 Ford column? They look the same as far as I can tell....but just didn't know why the '40 was so popular other than it's simplicity and how well it works. Just wondering....Thanks John
1937-1948 boxes are the same, but shaft length and pitman arms differ and the column tubes/locks differ. 1936 is a different box, more primitive and higher effort. If it looks the same as the other (check out the slanted cover plate), somebody's '36 may have gotten an upgrade.
I was wondering what you ment by "higher effort" harder to turn, because I haven't pick which steering box and shaft I using yet? I have a 35 tk , 41 sedan, and 46tk. 41 and 46 are the same except for the column. thanks,
OK, 1936 boxes were an updated design over 1935 with better bearings. They still have plain gear contact between worm and sector,which causes lots of friction with hard steering and wear as the result. 1937 and up have a roller contact between the gears, greatly lowereing friction and the amount of muscle needed to steer the thing. The difference between a '32 and a '48 in steering ease is incredible.
If you have only the mechanical part, you'll have to distinguish by measuring the shaft length and checking the '28-48 catalog. Many pitman arms have the prefix forged into them--I don't have catalog here at work, but likely the '40 would use a #78 and the '41 maybe 11A. Again, checkable in the good book. Thr sheetmetal columns differ mostly at the top--I think the '41 will have a larger funnel at the top to meet the steering wheel. Lock casting will also differ, and you can figure this part out from a repro parts catalog that sells the on-off plates.
The Jalopy Journal
