- Joined
- Sep 12, 2015
- Messages
- 7,656
- Reaction score
- 2,778
- Location
- SW Ontario
- My Car
- 1971 Mustang Mach 1, M code, 4 speed.
@ Bentworker
I was not able to locate your thread on rebuilding and or converting a Saginaw power steering box, but I have questions I'm sure you could answer for me.
Currently, I have an SPA-T variable ratio box in the car, a 71 Mach1. I had this rebuilt by an "Expert" (and I say that with reservation) and I won't go into all the details here. In short, the rotational valve was bad, no power on right turns and he didn't replace it. I got a SPA-T box from OMS for parts, took it back to the clown as I didn't want to screw it up. Well guess what he screwed it up and I re-did it myself. It's in the car and working fine albeit with a bit too much s/wheel play than I'd like. In the interim, I picked up a SPA-S fixed ratio box that was working and have had that in the car for most of last year. I just replaced the "T" box yesterday, so I thought Id like to put a back-up "T" box together from the best of parts from the 2 I have.
Ok finally the questions;
1/ One casting, the "T" box from OMS, I think is shot, the ware marks from the Teflon rings on the rotational valve are deep and irregular. Can they be honed or hard chromed or otherwise repaired? The "S" box casting look much better and likely what I'll use.
2/ the rotational valve from the S box is good, but is the torsion bar the same as in the T box? It did feel easier to turn the wheels, so I wondered.
3/ Number of balls; I know there are 24 in the v/ratio box and I only had 22 in the fixed ratio, 11 of each. If I had an odd number I would know there was some missing. Is this correct?
4/ From my playing around, I came to the conclusion that the only real way to remove free-play is to change the ball diameter to a larger size. Are these available and from where? Just tightening the sector shaft preload or the input shaft preload is not the answer.
Any help or suggestion are most welcome. PM me if you prefer. Sending a box to the US for rebuilding is not a good option for us in Canada right now, but there is a company in the Toronto area I may contact. I'd like to do it myself if possible though.
Thanks,
Geoff.
I was not able to locate your thread on rebuilding and or converting a Saginaw power steering box, but I have questions I'm sure you could answer for me.
Currently, I have an SPA-T variable ratio box in the car, a 71 Mach1. I had this rebuilt by an "Expert" (and I say that with reservation) and I won't go into all the details here. In short, the rotational valve was bad, no power on right turns and he didn't replace it. I got a SPA-T box from OMS for parts, took it back to the clown as I didn't want to screw it up. Well guess what he screwed it up and I re-did it myself. It's in the car and working fine albeit with a bit too much s/wheel play than I'd like. In the interim, I picked up a SPA-S fixed ratio box that was working and have had that in the car for most of last year. I just replaced the "T" box yesterday, so I thought Id like to put a back-up "T" box together from the best of parts from the 2 I have.
Ok finally the questions;
1/ One casting, the "T" box from OMS, I think is shot, the ware marks from the Teflon rings on the rotational valve are deep and irregular. Can they be honed or hard chromed or otherwise repaired? The "S" box casting look much better and likely what I'll use.
2/ the rotational valve from the S box is good, but is the torsion bar the same as in the T box? It did feel easier to turn the wheels, so I wondered.
3/ Number of balls; I know there are 24 in the v/ratio box and I only had 22 in the fixed ratio, 11 of each. If I had an odd number I would know there was some missing. Is this correct?
4/ From my playing around, I came to the conclusion that the only real way to remove free-play is to change the ball diameter to a larger size. Are these available and from where? Just tightening the sector shaft preload or the input shaft preload is not the answer.
Any help or suggestion are most welcome. PM me if you prefer. Sending a box to the US for rebuilding is not a good option for us in Canada right now, but there is a company in the Toronto area I may contact. I'd like to do it myself if possible though.
Thanks,
Geoff.