1950s 1959 Steering box

[60eldo]

 Wondering if the 59 steering box will fit on a 60. I red in the 60 manuel that the pitman arms are different. But I pulled the 59 box with its pitman arm, will that fit the 60 . I also notice a 2 inch looks like a ground wire on the 59, theres none on the 60,,thanks

[59-in-pieces]

Jon,

Manual, is that the new Authenticity Manual.
There are 2 Pitman arms, the 59 design was subject to a recall and was replaced with a different design.
Make sure you have the proper, newer version.

Have fun,
Steve B,

[Big Fins]

There is a code stamped on the top side of the arm. Someone here knows the designation, I have forgotten. I do remember looking with a can of BrakeKleen and a rag, along with a flashlight and a mirror.

[60eldo]

OK, on the 1959 looks like   R  88 ,    I didnt check the 60 yet Im reading from the 60 manuel. Im thinking that if I put the 59 box in my 60 it will work if I also use the 59 pitman arm, correct me if Im wrong.

[David Greenburg]

I'm the pitman arm guy (see Jan. 2005 Self-Starter article for all the grubby details). Bottom line is that the defective arms can be on both '59 and '60, and both years were subject to the recall. So you should check yours. If your arm has "1036" or no 4 digit number, it is potentially defective. If it has "1038" it is the strengthened arm.  The longer part number on the arm is, surprisingly, irrelevant. There is only one part number.

As for the steering box, I don't know if both years have the same part number, but I would bet they do (I don't have access to my parts book at the moment). It was a number of years ago, but I transplanted a '60 box into my '59 and it looked and fit identically. I don't think they changed those boxes often. The rebuild kit covers a wide range of years, like 25 IIRC.

[Clewisiii]

I think I used a steering gear from 67 on my 61. I was told it provided tighter steering. It mounted up the same.

[Big Fins]

1967 started the Variable Ratio steering box.

[60eldo]

 The part # on the 59 box is 5687962 if that helps, I need to crawl under my 60 and check the # on that one

[dn010]

Interchange manual says 1959-1965 all (exc. Edlo Broughm), and 1966 75 & commercial chassis all interchange. This is for the box only, not the pitman arm.

[60eldo]

Just checked the pitman arms on both. Part# stamped on both 5672806. Same # BUT the shaft coming out to the pitman is slightly smaller on the 1959, so manuel is correct pitmans are not interchangable. So I should be ok to put the 59 box on my 60 as long as I use the pitman from the 59.

[David Greenburg]

I have switched the arms between a'59 and a '60 with no issues. And I'm pretty sure the replacement arm sold by Rare Parts fits both years although I have not personally installed that arm on a car.

[Moody]

Does anyone know of an actual failure on these cars? I read your article years ago, David, and I remember checking mine, but I need to check again.

[David Greenburg]

After writing the article, I received a letter from a CLC member who had had a failure, and sent pictures, but that is the only "modern" failure I am aware of. Also, it is important to remember that of all the documented failures in connection with the recall, there was only one that appeared to occur  "at speed."  The rest were all at very low speed, high stress (on the arm) situations, such as parking maneuvers. Of course the vast majority of these cars are no longer on the road, so statistically it is not surprising that there have not been recent failures that we know of. And if it does happen at this point, it seems like most people unaware of this issue would be likely to dismiss it as simply another part on an old car that failed. Because as we all know, stuff happens with old cars.