The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 54 Chevy Steering box swap

Hey all, I'm doing some mods to my 54 chevy 3100. I'm keeping the original front axle and steering column. But I want to swap the steering box out for another manual steering box but without the shaft going into the box. Has anyone done this? I'm wondering if a box from a 60-66 truck would work. My reasoning is I want a new box so its tight and I can swap out the original column if I want to while still working with my original axle. if this all makes sense.

It would probably cost less and create less work to have the original box rebuilt. The sector shaft comes out the bottom of the 60-66 gear box, so pitman arm and drag link mods would have to be made. Also some sort of mounting bracket would be needed.
Many street rodders use a Vega box on 30's cars, so that may be a possibility. There are flex joints available to use an aftermarket column. It still would require a drag link and pitman arm to connect to the original steering components.
Fred

Rockauto.com sent my 1954 steering box to Lares. Rockauto's price, with shipping, was better than dealing directly with Lares..

More important: Lares does not know what a 1954 truck steering assembly looks like (check their web site). They were almost rude with me when I demanded they take the incorrect unit they sent me. They assured me that I was wrong - that I must have the optional power steering option (in a 1954 1/2 ton truck ).

They will prime the rebuilt unit or paint it semigloss black.

Some members have rebuilt their steering box - maybe they will describe how difficult that would be. Rebuild-parts kits/parts are available from reproduction parts vendors listed in the vendor list in the Links section here. Classic Parts and Jim Carter and maybe Chevs of the 40s - maybe?

Wow Lares sounds like a bunch of uneducated clowns! Well I guess I will have to probably mod my original box and have it rebuilt. Maybe my kingpins are bad again. I think what I could do in cut the shaft and at a u joint to the box. or just leave it the way it is hahah!

The two 1954 steering boxes/columns that were rebuilt by Lares look and feel real good.

My only problem was when I bought a rebuilt "1954" truck box/column from them. Do not buy an earlier A-D box from them, 47-53 steering columns are different from 1954/55st steering columns. If you use Lares, call Rockauto and ask if you can send in your box/column.

I'll gladly vouch for how easy it is to just rebuild your original steering box. Most vendors in our Links section carry the *correct* rebuild kits (I got mine from Jim Carter and it came with instructions that made it very easy to do) It's not hard at all, and if you replace worn ball joint ends and king pins while you're at it, the steering becomes very tight and easy.

There is nothing wrong with the original set up, and very easy to make it like new again.

And, as most of these people will be very quick to tell you, I'm no mechanic. So if *I* can do it, then it must be easy.

John

Thanks so much for all the input! I will probably rebuild mine