What is Inside Mustang Steering Box - 1969 Mach I Cobra Jet Steering Teardown - Why Did It Break?

[@budsodalsky]

So wonderful, to see the insides of a steering gear box! Who else would be so detailed to show us amateurs how to understand this! You are wonderful. My 55 chevy has one that looks very similar - never serviced all orig.

[@bitsofwisdom460]

Glad you enjoyed it! I expect that your steering box is very similar to the Ford box. In my study of the Mustang steering box, it appears that it was designed and manufactured by Saginaw Steering Division in GM. When I worked supplying parts to Ford years ago, they had a policy that the major parts they purchased had the Ford logo on it rather than the manufacturers logo.

[@budsodalsky]

@@bitsofwisdom460 Mine had a yellow pen mark to mark whether or not the adjustment screw on top was ever turned. My car, 55 chev, you have to turn the steering wheel 4 times one way and 4 times the other way to completely turn the wheels. Very long ratio - I guess because those cars did not have power steering and and that made it easier to turn.

[@bitsofwisdom460]

Yes, the standard manual ratios are fairly long to keep the effort down. I had another Mustang with regular manual steering that was about 4 turns lock to lock. That is a roughly 20:1 ratio box. The power cars have a 16:1 ratio that is a little over 3 turns lock to lock. Ford used that same 16:1 as the high performance / competition non-power gear in the Mustang Mach1 and some others. It is very high effort when you're moving slowly (parking), but not bad when you're moving down the road. Yes, the adjustment screw normally should be left alone, because you can damage the box if it is adjusted improperly. Marking it was probably a good idea. I think I mentioned in the video that there is a special procedure to adjust it that requires very sensitive inch-lb torque wrenches.

[@mikebruegger8654]

Nice, I was thinking about rebuilding my I Roc box but it isn't so bad yet.. I noticed you were wearing a dress watch? You still have the other one? Just noticed cause I'm a watchmaker and those things stand out to me. Those boxes look like a fun challenge for sure...

[@bitsofwisdom460]

Ah yes, the watch. My regular one came to an untimely end. I was working on my lawn tractor, changing blades and took it off to not damage it. I set it on the foot rest then forgot it when I went to mow the yard. It was run over on the driveway, the band ripped off and the case damaged. So, I have been using this one for now. I usually keep it for more special occasions. There is a story to it, it was a gift from my VP of Engineering. In the late '90s I was the engineering business manager for an Executive Director in GM Powertrain product engineering. That job was defined to help manage the technical and business needs for that Director's staff. Each of the 9 Executive Directors had one. GM Powertrain was transitioning from the days when all the car divisions did their own engines and transmissions to a central function. The team of 9 business managers had a special assignment to relocate all of the engineers and support staff from different cities to a few major offices. I was responsible for relocating 400+ people to the proper facility (and specific desk) that would meet the business needs while also minimizing the impact on each individual as some would need to move their residences or commute longer distances. When the project was complete, the VP gave each of the team members one of these watches. It is a "Jiminey Cricket" Disney watch selected because that character's role was the conscience and we had acted as the "conscience of the organization" to do our best for the people we were serving.

[@mikebruegger8654]

Wow, watches always have a story. The one you usually wore also has an impressive one now .... Sad to see it go that way If you have one that is not behaving as it should, send it my way and I will straighten it out for you. I owe you after all for all the help you provided me. What Brand and type was your daily watch? Send me some pics... Fixable? Have a great day Dan.

[@bitsofwisdom460]

Hi Mike, Thanks for your offer. I don't know what might be done, but I can share some information now that I'm back in town. It is a Casio Wave Ceptor. The back says 3747 and WVA-106HA. The case is a combination of stainless steel and plastic that was once plated or painted silver / chrome. The plating is mostly worn off and one end is cracked with the bent pins still inside the plastic. Then the ends of the band are rather deformed. I could send pictures to your email. If you don't want to post it, get mine from the "about" section of my home page and send me a note to answer. I kind of expect that it's just worn too much, but the movement itself still works well.

[@mikebruegger8654]

That link will not work? The youtube/@bitsofwisdom460

[@bitsofwisdom460]

You Tube doesn't make it easy, I think to protect the email addresses from spammers. Try on my home page, in the channel description under the banner, there is a link that says "more" that will pop up the "about" box. In that box there is a link to see the email.