The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 37 Pickup steering box replacement?

I have a 37 Chevrolet 1/2 ton and the sector and worm gear seem to be worn out in the steering box. I thought that it was just the sector that was worn so I found a NOS sector shaft and was trying to get the box all back together and adjusted only when I get the play out of the steering in the centered position it gets very tight at the extreme ends of motion. I imagine that the worm is also worn more in the center then at the ends. So I have two thoughts, rebuild the stock box with a NOS sector (which I have) and worm (which I dont have and haven't been able to find) OR can I use a later Recirculating ball type from a slightly later truck in it's place? I saw a 40's box that looks like it may work. OR does anybody have any other Ideas? By the way this all was started because of a shimmy that I couldn't get rid of and the last thing to deal with was the play in the steering box. Thanx Jaysin

This guy advertises Chevy steering box rebuilds in Hemmings.
This guy advertises non model specific rebuilds in Hemmings.

There are several more in Hemmings if you do a search there.

You can go clear up to '46 for a bolt in gear box. The steering wheels changed in '40 or '41 to a spline instead of a keyway like your '37 has so a little modification might be needed. You can cut the shafts and swap ends or just us the later steering wheel. You have a few options on how it can be done. The '41-'46 gear box has roller balls and I believe a little different steering ratio. Also the later wheels have a little better top mast bushing and horn set up. The only draw back is the later wheels are made from a cheap war time product and don't hold up as well as the older ones do so getting a good one will be kinda hard to find, atleast it was here in the midwest, plus the offset is a little different so the wheel will be closer to your chest then the '37.

I had one for a awhile but sold it because the truck drove funny with it, turned out the caster angle was wrong on the axle and the easyer steering gear box just added to it. With the axle set right now, it would be nice to have back!

Joe

I just went through my '37 box again and replace the sector with a NOS one. It gets tight at the far ends just like yours, but it drives much better since its tight in the center now. Mine was really worn, so this is like a new truck to me.