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Since this v8 swap is requiring a new steering box anyways, has anyone tried a cross steering set up with the stock beam axle?

I have no idea what you are referring to. Maybe if you explained it further someone might be able to help you out.

I think he's talking about rack & pinion steering mounted to the axle. Yes, it's been done. No, it isn't a good idea! By the time a big, heavy enough rack is acquired to be safe and reliable with the front end weight of a pickup with V-8, the unsprung weight is too much, the sliding coupler you have to fabricate for the steering shaft is downright dangerous, and the whole thing is butt-ugly. Other than that, go for it!
Jerry

He's talking about using a Vega or similar style steering box.
Cross steering is more responsive with less bump steer than the original "side" steering.
The drag link "crosses" to the passenger side wheel parallel to the axle.
I think somebody here has done this with good results...maybe it was with a International Scout box? I'm sure someone will check in with more info.

Yes, this is what I am refering to.

As a point of interest..."Unisteer" has come out with a new cross-steer unit. It replaces a Vega steering box in a cross-steer configuration. It's available from Speedway Motors and CPP. Don't know if they make one that fits your configuration. Good luck

That would be me and yes you are correct I used a scout steering box I am not on the road with it yet but getting close. You can see pictures at my web shots page it is on the 56 6400.

Hi Vic and welcome.

I bought a kit for cross steering complete with Vega mount, rods and ends. It worked beautiful and if I recall, not very expensive. The cross steering is a good idea with excellent results. Stock or aftermarket replacements of the Vega box are readily available also.

Dave

Thanks for ringing in Dave.
I would like some more info on the details of your set up. Typically it seems that in a setup like this, the box is far enough behind the front axle as to have the pitman arm point forward and still be behind the tie rod. With the cab being as close to the axle as it is in my little '49, this won't happen. What I was looking to do was put the box in the same spot as it is stock, roughly over the axle, and then have the pitman arm point rearward thus positioning it behind the tie rod. For this though, a box with a rotation opposite that of a Vega is nessecary. I curious therefore how you set up yours up so that you could use a Vega box as those are much more plentiful than the reverse type.

My set up was for a 35 Chevy truck, I think it was mounted toward the cab 11" from the center of the front axel. If memory serves me correct, it used the vega box with the original pitman arm facing directly forward. I bought this setup from "BUTCH'S ROD SHOP" several years ago. Let me see if I can get you some more information.

Dave

Not to be blasphemous but you might check out the Fordbarn street rodder site. Every single chassis offered by TCI, Pete & Jakes, Progressive, etc. has the cross steering for cars of the 30's and 40's. The Vega box is good for lighter cars and the Saginaw 525 for heavier ones. Both are small and mount the same. Since these guys use this set up on nearly all their straight axle rides they would be a good source.

Hi Vic,

I looked into BUTCH'S ROD SHOP and found they are no longer in business. The business was bought and is now called DEATH ROW PRODUCTS. I will try to find this kit and the information. I am sure there is a kit for this type of setup, its very popular and as mentioned above, used by lots of aftermaket chassis builders both Chevy and Ford alike.

Dave

I talked to someone from Butch's a couple years back. The problem with this (or any) cross-steer kit is that the c-channel frames flex too much. He said he wouldn't recommend any kind of cross steering unless you're going to fully box the frame. I'm planning on using the CPP power steering kit, it's a front-to-back design.

That's what I did on my 52, now installed in my 48.

Works great, over 10,000 miles now. The steering box is mounted right at the front cross-member, so frame is plenty strong.

[IMG]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/63/63/0/76/81/484207681ppdzRr_th.jpg[/IMG]

Grigg

And mine is a copy of what Grigg has done but my axle is stock and the center link is at the bottom behind the axle so I had to build a steering arm for the right side for the drag link to attach.

Thanks for posting the pic Grigg. I scoped out the pics in your web gallery as well. For some follow up questions; it seems that your tie rod arm is facing forward? and well, I had more but I can't think of them now.

Yep, my tierod is in front, and above the springs, not a factory setup for my truck, as it has a later model axle.

The pitman arm is facing forward, because with the steering box I used it has to for the truck to turn right when you turn the wheel right.
The arm moves left to right as you steer.

My setup is often called a "Y" type steering, because the draglink actually connects to the tierod near the right side, forming a "Y".

It works fine, but had I known about a different axle with the tie rod on the back below the springs, and a drag link parallel to the frame like original, I probably would have found a suitable steering box and used that axle. And I may still, as I just bought an axle, the one I should have to start with, and eventually I will use it. I have not decided if I will use the crossover steering, or switch gear boxes and use the front to back drag link?

Grigg

I'm sure compared to the severe bump steer of a stock trucks system, the minor C-channel flexing you might experience with the Vega style cross-steering system would hardly be noticeable, and the entire thing would probably feel like an enormous improvement. If it improves the handling on a Model A, with a much lighter frame, I'm sure it would on a truck too.

I would personally like to do a rack and pinion on my truck, but if I do, I will make a custom support for it and not try to attach it to the front axle. And being a rear-steer system, I doubt if you would even notice it behind the stock solid front axle.

....Butch's Rod Shop sold excellent steering/chassis kits, sadly they are no longer in business and I don't know anyone who took over their line of parts. Speedway Motors sells a lot of steering components, including cross-steering setup parts.