Tilt Steering Column in a 65

[bnichols04]

I got a flaming river tilt steering column but my gearbox is shot. My question is does it matter if I get a new gearbox that has the long saft or the short one? I know I have to cut the long shaft shot but I don't know if it has to be cut longer than the shorter shaft gearbox. If that makes sence. Thanks for the help

 

[dbfarr]

The problem with using a later model --68-70-- gearbox is the sector shaft diameter. The early boxes have a 1" sector shaft while the later boxes use a 1 1/8" sector shaft.

The question is, are you going power steering or manual?

Using the later model box would require the use of a 1 1/8" pitman arm. So mating to your center link or control valve on the other side may not go so well. The male/female relationship between 65/66 and late 67-70 is reversed on manual steering. Using the center link from a later model is out too, they are wider. As far as power steering, you might get away with using a later model pitman arm on the control valve end. Then again, there are probably geometry issues.

Consider the pictures on this link

http://www.mustang-unl.com/keyword.asp?Keywords=center+link&x=0&y=0

Sounds like a tough situation, I don't imagine cutting and machining the input shaft on a new box is a pleasant prospect. Still, if you want to stick with stock steering, it is likely the only realistic solution. As far as purchasing a box goes, Flaming River is dubious in quality consistency, not to mention premium priced. Consider Borgeson

http://www.borgeson.com/67-70-mustang-manual-steering-boxes-brackets.htm

The only other option, though not a cheap one, is a rack/pinion setup, just not flaming river, consider TCP, Unisteer, or RandallsRack. Then its just a question of the proper shaft/u-joint setup, no mousing around there... Rack and pinion has downsides too, wider turning radius for one.

So, good luck

 

[bnichols04]

The instructions that came with the column said that if i have the gearbox with the long shaft to cut it and gave me this adapter after it is cut: http://www.flamingriver.com/index.c...tegory_id=116/home_id=82/mode=prod/prd208.htm So i guess that my only option is to get a new gearbox with the longer shaft.

 

[bnichols04]

does anybody know of a power gearbox that has a 1" sector shaft that will bolt in place of the orignal gearbox?

 

[dbfarr]

According to this site: http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/DanJonesSteeringBoxRatios.html

2. Late 1967 through 1970 are the short shaft style. There is a couple

between the box and the steering shaft. This change was made to meet

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) which required a

collapsible steering column. Sector shafts were either 1" or 1 1/8".

There are four different '67-'70 short worms used (2 ratios, 2 sector

shaft diameters).

I guess this means there is an early 67 box with a 1' sector shaft. I have never seen one of these offered as a rebuilt or reman box. Your just gonna have to locate one on these 67' boxes, assuming that's what they are of if they indeed exist, and find someone to rebuild it.

I am not sure the nomenclature regarding 67-70 1' sector shafts, it just doesn't make sense. 67 was a weird year because of the upcoming federal mandates for a collapsible steering column. It is my belief that compliance with these mandates is where the 1' sector shaft box comes from. When I was in the market for a 68 column, I mistakenly assumed that the 67 columns were the same. Wrong, there was a 67 only column, not collapsible, but no long shaft on the gearbox... I had to cancel a buy on eBay once myself and the seller learned this.

I've heard decent things about this guy, don't know anything personally though. If anyone would know whether your animal exists, he would.

http://www.stangerssite.com/steering_box.html

If it does exist, and you need a core or possibly a working unit, maybe these guys can help

http://www.classic-cougar.com/

They have a huge inventory of Cougar parts, which, assuming you don't already know, share the suspension and steering components with equal year Mustangs.

Anyway, contact one of the previous, they would likely know one way or the other.