Thread: Steering issues: 40' Ford on S-10 frame

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I've got some steering issues on my new project. It's a 1940 Ford on a Chevy S-10 frame. The steering box on the S-10 frame is at angle such that it hits really high on the firewall. Much higher than where I want it to connect to the 1940 ford steering column. If I drop it lower, it hits the a-arm. if I move it over it hits the exhaust manifold on the V8 motor.

I looked into one of those Wizard Fab offset steering deals, but they want $600 for the cheap one. I can't justify that.

Has anybody done this or fixed this problem before?

My only idea would be to flatten the pitman arm and drop the box. Make a channel in the cross-member for the shaft to go through and pray for the best with the manifolds.

Definitely could use some advice.

THX

Johnny,

Anytime you mix-n-match auto makers you'll run into problems like this. Right now your column is pointed at a spot between the firewall and the front tire. The S-10 steering box is mounted ahead of the front tire. The cheap-n-easy way out is to change your column to a shorter GM from a van or pick up, and run it through your firewall at a higher point, so that it points directly at your seering box. There are companies that sell mini steering shaft universal joints, so that you can re-route around your manifold. Classic Performance Parts is one of them.

www.classicperform.com

Thanks, but the problem isn't as simple as running the steering column higher. Even if I did, it would place the coulmn at a wierd angle, that might only be solved with tilt steering.

I'm a firm believer that hot rods don't have tilt columns or power steering.... streetrods do.

The problem is the interferance with either the exhaust or the control arm. There is not a lot of space on a S-10 frame for a V8 especially if you are squeezing it into a 40' Ford.

Thanks for the advice though.

borgenson sells all you need. a shaft support and a couple of ujoints is all it takes.

No need to change the angle of your column. Just use a shorter one, or cut yours shorter. Then use a U-joint and a shaft coming out of the firewall at a higher place. Then use all the U-joints, shafts and shaft supports you need to re-route it to the steering box. It can be done, I've seen guys run the steering shafts along the frame.