Topic: Early 67 San Jose steering box and Pitman arm

[CandyAppleRed]

Hi,

I decided to rebuild the steering box on my 67 s-code GT fastback (actual build date 11/23/66). The reason for the rebuild is not wear (28k miles) but the old grease which is like clay.
Since I presume that the steering box is original to this car, I wanted to share a few observations with you.

steering box tag: SMB-F (1-1/8 sector shaft, 16:1 ratio, manual steering) date code: 6L28
casting: C6ZR-3550-A, date code  6H30.

something odd: the pitman arm engineering number is C7ZA-3560-B   refering to the 67 MPC it should be  C7ZA-3590-B. casting error?

after carefully cleaning the parts, some of the black out paint ist still visible. The black paint used for the black out process seems to be very thick and must have been applied with a brush. Some black paint ist visible on the pitman arm and the rag joint. A white paint mark is still present on the housing, no marks found on the Pitman arm.

The sector shaf bearings (Torrington and Bremen) are the same as discussed in this topic: http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=12060.msg73109#msg73109
The rubber seal has a FoMoCo mark.

 I deliberately reassembled the steering gear without restoring the case. It is only original once.

Laurent

[Bob Gaines]

Black out was applied after the box was installed and meant to cover what you could see when looking down from above. It was so flash rust would not be seen on the steering box if one were to look down at it while leaning over the fender. Brush strokes observations seem to indicate a 1"to 2" width brush was used. Paint is what most use to replicate the look but originally I believe it was a product much like driveway seal coat from descriptions in the assemblyline manuals.

[jwc66k]

- something odd: the pitman arm engineering number is C7ZA-3560-B   refering to the 67 MPC it should be  C7ZA-3590-B. casting error?

Ford p/n C7ZA-3560-B is the bare arm casting number; C7ZA-3590-B should be the machined and with the bushing installed number possibly identified by a tag (C7ZZ-3590-B is the service/stock number). It's a paperwork error, not uncommon in mass production that changed yearly. Service departments were not overly concerned if the item they ordered and installed worked.
Jim

[CandyAppleRed]

thanks Bob, thanks Jim for these explanations.

Laurent

[67gtasanjose]

Hi,

I decided to rebuild the steering box on my 67 s-code GT fastback (actual build date 11/23/66). The reason for the rebuild is not wear (28k miles) but the old grease which is like clay.
Since I presume that the steering box is original to this car, I wanted to share a few observations with you.

steering box tag: SMB-F (1-1/8 sector shaft, 16:1 ratio, manual steering) date code: 6L28
casting: C6ZR-3550-A, date code  6H30....

Laurent

Is it just me or do date codes "MENTIONED" conflict with the vehicle's build date and the 6L02 date pictured? (6L02 seen in picture, looks good but 6L28 mentioned, conflicts with the 11/23/66 build date).

Anyways, the white mark on the forward side of the gear box, the evidence I found on the one I am building, seems to be a chalky-white (almost like liquid Teflon) and appears to be largely covering the end cap. Would this description be typical?
Also, (typically) how sloppy might the application of the blackout be?... (how much, if any splash or spatter or swiped brush strokes end up onto any nearby surfaces?)

[krelboyne]

Typo by the OP. 6L02B is what is stamped. B second shift?

[Bob Gaines]

Is it just me or do date codes "MENTIONED" conflict with the vehicle's build date and the 6L02 date pictured? (6L02 seen in picture, looks good but 6L28 mentioned, conflicts with the 11/23/66 build date).

Anyways, the white mark on the forward side of the gear box, the evidence I found on the one I am building, seems to be a chalky-white (almost like liquid Teflon) and appears to be largely covering the end cap. Would this description be typical?
Also, (typically) how sloppy might the application of the blackout be?... (how much, if any splash or spatter or swiped brush strokes end up onto any nearby surfaces?)

Don't over think it. The application was done with a brush leaning over a fender reaching down through protruding obstacles with a brush.With all this in mind , how neat could they be? If you apply the black out in the same way and consider the mind set of the assemblyline person and the time constraints that they most likely had ,you have a high likelihood of not being far off.

[J_Speegle]

Anyways, the white mark on the forward side of the gear box, the evidence I found on the one I am building, seems to be a chalky-white (almost like liquid Teflon) and appears to be largely covering the end cap. Would this description be typical?

White paint on the end of the box (end cap area) applied with a brush is very typical in my documenting of paint marks. Not typically noticed as flat or chalky in my observations

Also, (typically) how sloppy might the application of the blackout be?... (how much, if any splash or spatter or swiped brush strokes end up onto any nearby surfaces?)

How sloppy - can be very sloppy. Dont' often see where they missed the target but if there was an exess of paint on the brush the runs often ran down the sides and onto the frame.

[67gtasanjose]

Sounds like I fully understand. Thanks guys

[CandyAppleRed]

Typo by the OP. 6L02B is what is stamped. B second shift?

my mistake! you are right, the assembly date code is 6L02B

Laurent

[CandyAppleRed]

regarding the extent of black out paint on nearby components, I found some on the rag joint and on the steering column shaft as seen on this post:

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=21975.msg138214#msg138214




 

[J_Speegle]

regarding the extent of black out paint on nearby components, I found some on the rag joint and on the steering column shaft as seen on this post:

Don't believe the subject for that picture or post was to suggest that the piece in the picture was blacked out. from the pattern of paint on it it presents itself IMHO as the results of a rattle can restoration. Notice the shadow and how high up on the shaft has black? NOT something that the factory did.

The focus was suppose to be on the box especially the brighter top plate and tag that in a dark engine compartment would have showed up the most. Not sure why this was important (since its not exposed to the exterior) to some one with power at Ford design when paint runs or unpainted unibody surfaces were allowed anywhere in the engine compartment. One of those things we will likely never figure out