man, havnt posted on here in a while.... I was wondering what year vw steering box eveyones using thats similar to the f-1. I was told 68-73, but wanna confirm before i order one. thanks wes
I never heard of useing a bug box. I always heard to use the VW bus box which are actually quiet expensive to get one if you don't already have one. I guess a bug box would work but I think your pitman arm would have to point upward instead of down.
man ive been looking at the prices of these bus boxes online OUCH. anyone got a cheap source or one laying around?
I got mine out of a junkyard that wasnt a VW specialist,so he didnt really know what it was worth. was still $80 and i pulled it myself.....not a fun job on a bus. greasy german shit. they are often worn so disconnect the tie rod first and check the play around the straight ahead position.rebuilding them is possible but silly money. find a good one and youll save hundreds of bucks. the early ones have a fixed shaft, the later ones..maybe 68 on(?) have a seperate steering column with a rubber joiner.this is the one i used.
Wes, try Pomona, hit the VW section, you can find rebuilt ones there for about $200, I know that ain't cheap, but it's freakin BRAND NEW rebuilt, so you'll get your money's worth out of it, the Bug box works if you set it up cross steer style, and they're miles cheaper, check one out Skip PS- call me sometime
So does the bug box work like the vega sytle boxes?? Sounds like that is what you are saying. That could be good news 'cause they ain't to spendy around here. Thanks for any more info.
seems to me that the main problem of using a bug box on a rod is the way that it mounts. on a bug chassis it clamps around the top torsion tube of the front end whereas the bus box bolts up against the frame rail like most american steering boxes. also the pitman arm shaft on the bug box comes out the bottom so you'd have to flip it on it's side whereas the bus box has the shaft coming out the side already. btw, the last couple of years of the bugs had a neat little r&p that could be adapted over.
Here are some pics of a 67 and older bus box, the one shown is a Ross, most were built by ZF, as stated earlier, the pitmon arm must be installed in the 'up' position. In 40 plus years of using these, I found one that turns the opposite direction, I am using it a an A/V8, with the pitmon arm down.
The Vw bus box you can use runs from 1955 to 1967 but are as already said oftan expensive or heavily worn and not easy to refurb as they have a pig tail worm drive as in it isn't constant in size all the way through it tapers. The only difference between the earlier 1955 to 1961 box and the 62 to 67 box is the track rod end that goes into the swing arm is larger girth on the later box.
I sell VW parts for a living so have used a few of these on various rods, great box with a nice steering ratio. The pre 67 box is out of the split screen bus these are complete with the column and have a key way the same as early Ford so you can bolt any number of steering wheels straight on. Later boxes are from the bay window 1967 to 1972 is a cast box 72 to 79 is a nice aluminum box that can be polished. These have a separate column in the past Iv used these with a UJ and a Limeworks column or just used the standard rag joint and column. Pete
I have one in my '31 roadster. The car isn't quite running yet, but I love the function and look so far. There's some cool ($$$) vw bus banjo wheels available as well. I'm out of tow, but can post pics when I return.
For side steer applications, unless you're committed to the VW box, take a look at '61-'66 Ford Econoline van and '64-'69 Dodge A-100 van. The Dodge van box is a Saginaw, haven't looked at the Saginaw boxes in '60s Chevy/GMC vans with straight axles, but they are side steer too and may be same or similar to the Dodge A-100 box.
Wes, the member who posted this original VW steering box question, posted it 8 years ago. He last logged onto the HAMB in August this year. If you're posting here as valuable info for all to read, great but I doubt Wes still wonders about VW steering boxes.. Great reading tho.
yes old post i was not on H.A.M.B then so i use a steering box from a vw 411 passenger car dont know year.but i will look this up on internet.works good and have been for 20 years .
ok looked at internet vw type 4 1969-1974 and i found 3 fore sale.it has a hardy (disk)cupling no culum attached
Do you still have any laying around? I need a replacement for the one in my 29 Model A Sent from my SM-G925W8 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The Jalopy Journal
