Gary: I'm sure you are correct about changing to a smaller wheel for faster steering... however, I'm also pretty sure that it will build additional arm muscle when trying to park!

Paul

So '56 box is interchangeable and a little bit faster than '59?



Is there any aftermarket steering box for '59?



13" Wheel might look pretty funny in big cabin like mine so maybe I go for 15".



I got nothing against big boobs and steering knobs, but Finnish goverment got.

Knobs are illegal in here(luckily big boobs are not).


Hyvinkää, FI

I'm not sure the 56 steering box is interchangable with the 59 ford or not. I'm speaking about the steering being about one inch shorter which will help somewhat in the ratio being slightly quicker and not really changing much in the way it feels as being harder. I always thought the steering wheel in my 56 sunliner was too big so I changed too a smaller 56 tbird and what a pleasure to drive, it feels so much MORE normal. You might try a 57 tbird steering wheel to see if it helps. The bird steering wheel in the sunliner looks so natural you would'nt know it was'nt original because the horn ring fits perfectly and the bird wheel looks alot better than the passenger car style.

-Gary Burnette-

Isn't faster steering inherently more difficult unless it's power assisted?


Lawrenceville, GA

Only on low speeds.*Smileyface*


Hyvinkää, FI

Charlie, the larger steering wheels get combersome to work with, For instance my wife complained about the larger steering  wheel being somewhat harder to deal with because they seemed alittle slow in making turns and a little more movement with the hands in going straight. After installing the slightly smaller tbird steering wheel not only did the ratio seem to feel a little quicker but the size of the wheel felt better and A LOT BETTER to deal with when parking, driving straight, and felt better driving around our mountain curves. Maybe my cars just drive great. My 56 bird steers beautifully with the original wheel and no power steering, so if things are not wore out there seems to be no reason the other cars want do as well as mine. I'm not counting the 1955 model year because of there quicker ratio in the steering box. 56, 57, 58, 59s if things are right should'nt be a problem. I'm assuming the car in question steers fine but just wants alittle quicker ratio without having to change the steering box.

-Gary Burnette-

I have one of the big boob type on my car and it doesn't help the steering,but I have convinced my missus that it does.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

That must be how they got the name of suicide knobs! Watching that instead of the road!

Jim (site owner)
'56 Club Sedan - Ted Eaton built 429 hp '292/318, '54 Sunliner - stock '302

Hmmm... maybe I get one of those big boob things at my passenger seat, not to steering wheel.


Hyvinkää, FI

on a 56 ford you can use a steering arm from a t bird  for a faster steering ,goes from a 43/4 turn to a 33/4 turn lock to lock.you can also use a 55 ford station wagon front stablizer on the cars to stiffen them up.the stablizer bar on a 55 wagon has a larger diameter than the full size cars     Carl  Ohio