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By oldcarmark - 14 Years Ago
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Is there a way to identify the better 3 tooth sector shaft box by the casting # on the housing without opening up the box?I am trying to get someone who has a box for sale to tell me which box he has.
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By aussiebill - 14 Years Ago
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oldcarmark (4/25/2011)
Is there a way to identify the better 3 tooth sector shaft box by the casting # on the housing without opening up the box?I am trying to get someone who has a box for sale to tell me which box he has.Over here most of the 2 tooth sector boxes have a large blind adjuster lock nut that conceals the thread, the 3 roller sector just has a normal flat nut with threaded screw sticking through.
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By marvh - 14 Years Ago
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The sector shaft for the 2 tooth is 1.125" diameter above the spline where the pitman arm sits. The 3 tooth is 1.25" dia in the same location. The OD of the seal is proportionately larger in the 3 tooth box.
If it is a Canadian 2 tooth box most I have seen were mfg by a separator company and have AB___ number cast in the casting.
I have only seen the 3 tooth boxes in converts, crowns or the high end cars and late year cars. The customlines and mainline got the 2 tooth box. The same 3 tooth sector shaft and steering box was used in the 57's. The worm shaft length is different between a 56 and 57
marv
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By oldcarmark - 14 Years Ago
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Hey Marvh! Its an American car.Casting # is AF 3550.I would like to get hold of a good used(?) 3 tooth box to replace my 2 tooth box which jams up once in a while.Kind of unnerving when it happens.Is that casting # any help.My engineering to part# cross reference book doesn't go back that far.
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By marvh - 14 Years Ago
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Mark
If you measure the sector shaft it will tell you if 2 tooth or 3 tooth. The 3 tooth is 1/8" larger diameter than a 2 tooth. 3 tooth should be 1 1/4" diameter. I will check the numbers on my car tomorrow as it has the 3 tooth box.
marv
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By DANIEL TINDER - 14 Years Ago
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[quote]oldcarmark (4/25/2011)
Is there a way to identify the better 3 tooth sector shaft box
Just curious, but is the faster steering ratio on '55 birds due to the # of teeth, or some other component change in later models? Was the 3 tooth upgrade for improved strength/durability at the cost of slower steering?
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By PF Arcand - 14 Years Ago
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I'm not sure about the steering ratio situation, but 55,56 - 2 tooth boxes had durability issues. They tended to develop flat spots. A friend had a 56 club sedan years ago that had a major flat spot in the box. However, the later boxes incuding the 57s weren't ammune to that problem either, I know from experience. 1958 & later boxes are a resirculating ball design. However,they don't just bolt into earlier models. One issue is the horn design which is totally different...
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By oldcarmark - 14 Years Ago
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There ia listing on Ebay for a completely reconditioned integral type power steering box modified to mount the same as the original 55-56 box.You have to shorten the existing upper shaft and use a coupler to join together like the later model Fords.Pricey though at $600.00 plus shipping.
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By skygazer - 13 Years Ago
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marvh (4/25/2011)
The sector shaft for the 2 tooth is 1.125" diameter above the spline where the pitman arm sits. The 3 tooth is 1.25" dia in the same location.
I just acquired a 3 tooth steering box from a 1957 t-bird with a 1.125" diameter sector shaft. Will post pics w/update.
Number on casting is AF-3550-A
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By marvh - 13 Years Ago
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I think you are mis-reading your vernier.
If I see correctly the dial is between the 20 and 30 and looks past what would be the 25...more close to 26 so would be the 1 inch on the slide scale plus the 0.26 on the dial so would be a total of 1.260 inches. This would be a 3 tooth shaft. Congrats on the bird part find.
Here is a pic of a 3 tooth I took this AM. The reading I got was 1.2495 which is 0.0005 under 1.25 or 1/2 thou less than 1 1/4 inches.
1.125 equals 1 1/8 inch
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By charliemccraney - 13 Years Ago
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Marv, The dial indicates the hundredths and thousandths. It is indicating about 1 1/8"
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By marvh - 13 Years Ago
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Marv charliemccraney (1/14/2012)
Marv, The dial indicates the hundredths and thousandths. It is indicating about 1 1/8"
Charlie:
I could not read the slide scale well enough from the picture. Thanks for the clarification.
If the reading is 1 1/8" there is something wrong. The only place I could get a 1 1/8" reading or more exact of 1.270" was on the spline area.
The 3 tooth has a raised step from 1 1/8" to 1 1/4" just above the spline. The 2 tooth sector shaft does not have this raised step to a larger shaft it is 1 1/8" straight through, both were machined to accept the same pitman arm. The 55/56 cars 2 tooth and 3 tooth with or without PS took the same pitman arm.
The birds according to my parts book have a different pitman arm each year and the 57 cars had a different pitman arm for PS or non PS.
Here is a pic of the spline and step on a 3 tooth. This sector shaft came out of a 57 bird also.
marv
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By skygazer - 13 Years Ago
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The 3 tooth has a raised step from 1 1/8" to 1 1/4" just above the spline.
I didn't notice the step, since I didn't remove the sector shaft. It may be very close to the bearing. I measured 1.127 just above the spline. Sorry for the crappy original pix. I will look for the step when I get home tonight.
The birds according to my parts book have a different pitman arm each year and the 57 cars had a different pitman arm for PS or non PS.
Interesting. Do they all fit the same splines on the 1 1/8" shaft? In other words, will my '55 Pittman arm fit my '57 box? If so, the logical question is... which one is longest, and will give the fastest ratio steering?
Thanks for the follow-up, guys! This forum is great!
Edit: The actual sector shaft size is 1.25" after all. The step down to 1.125 is under the lower bearing housing, so I didn't see it. It was kind of hard to measure, but I could just get the caliper tips in the gap between the shaft and the housing. Thanks again for the info.
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By lyonroad - 12 Years Ago
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Mark, here is the post that gives the sector shaft sizes. I didn't know how to bring it forward other than to reply to it.
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