early Mustang steering box

[trackster]

looking at a 1930 Ford with an early Mustang steering box with long shaft, mounted on frame to side steer with pitman arm vertical.   Box is pretty sloppy. don't know if it can be adjusted that much!  Were these boxes modified to use in this setup or will a reproduction box just bolt in?  Not really that familiar with this.

Thanks for any and all input. 

Gary

[kb426]

There was a bolt in mount years ago before the Vega box became the choice. I don't remember if the box was modified.

[rumrumm]

I had a Mustang box in my previous street rod, a '29 Ford Roadster. When I was building the car, I took the box to the local Ford dealership, and they rebuilt it for me. I assume the parts are still available to rebuild one. There was an adjustment bolt on my box where you could tighten up the play. That could possibly take out some of the slop.

[jaybee]

The bearings, seals, and gaskets are definitely available. I'm not so sure about the worm and sector.

[trackster]

Thanks for all the replies. I will check to see what is available for rebuild vs. new.

[enjenjo]

As far as I know there are no modifications needed on the Mustang box. There were some made with a rag joint that allows you to use a different column with a Ujoint.

[jaybee]

Mustang changed over to a rag joint box in mid-1967. As far as I can determine, the steering feel of just about anything so equipped can be helped by conversion from a rag joint to a u joint.

[GPster]

Just a little note, A lot of Ford's mid-sized cars of that era were built on Falcon style floor pans. I know a Maverick uses that similar steering box and they all went from use of steering boxes with column to boxes with "rag joint" and separate columns in the mid '70s. GPster

[trackster]

Thanks for all of the info.  I'm tied up in another situation currently.  I will save this info for a later date.  Trying to get my abone pickup back on the road for some summer cruisin'. That is if it ever stops raining!