Rocky, I have a '36 high cab that I've owned since 1965. When I first got it I made a daily driver rat rod out of it with a sbc and B & M Hydrostick and drove it about 50,000 trouble free miles like that over a period of mamny years. Later I restored it back to original.
Set up both ways the original steering box worked fine. I tuned up the steering box by replacing the worm gear bearings and pitman shaft bushings, machining the pitman housing for an oil seal and running gear oil for a lubricant. I also replaced those clunky ball and socket tie rod ends with Moog ES29 R & L on both the tie rod and drag link.
Does your pickup have the original 3-speed trans?
