ConcoursMustang Forums
1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1966 Mustang => Topic started by: Building 3 on September 06, 2015, 07:03:03 PM
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1966 MY: Is there an internal or external difference between the 16:1 ratio manual steering box HCC-AX in the handling package and the 16:1 power steering ratio box HCC-AW? It seems odd that Ford would offer two boxes with the same ratio instead of one. Perhaps the Handling Package box is more heavy duty?
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The difference was in the preload specs. The torque required to turn the shaft is higher on the manual steering box.
I think they did this because the forces on a manual box are higher than on power steering.
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Physically both the HCC-AX and the HCC-AW are the same, and as such - interchangeable but, as noted, have different preload torque specs. There was a local shop that specialized in steering box rebuilding (I think he is gone) and years ago, when I asked him about rebuilding my GT box, what the differences were between a 16:1 PS box or a 16:1 manual box told me he bench tested them the same. The real world vs the design spec world.
Jim
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Thank you very much. That makes sense and it is a really simple reason. The same box but with difference specifications.