Topic: "Black out" on steering box for 1964 1/2 Mustang

[CharlesTurner]

It's not unusual to see paint markings under the blackout.  If you remove the steering box and clean it, probably find more marks.

[66RavenGTCoupe]

So if the box had no black out what finish should the steel cap, the adjusting bolt and 3 mounting bolts be please?

[J_Speegle]

So if the box had no black out what finish should the steel cap, the adjusting bolt and 3 mounting bolts be please?

Box is cast iron with brighter machined surfaces

Cap at end of the shaft is zinc or cad

Cover is bare steel - fresh plate steel

Three retaining bolts I've always made them heat treated

Adjustment shaft dare fresh machined

[66RavenGTCoupe]

Thank you Jeff. Appreciate it.

[66RavenGTCoupe]

Hi again and thanks for the info so far. Just wondering how this part should be finished. It seems that the thread should be bright like a machined finish then the centre is cast but I'm not sure about the top cylindrical bit is it cast or machined and if it is cast the very top bevel seems to have been machined?
Thanks
Dan.

[J_Speegle]

On the top one with wire brush the threaded area (looks like it already has been and oil

On the bottom pictures I would

Red arrows - Brighten by passing a very fine sand paper over the surface. Could use it in a band form - might make it easier
And leave the other surfaces the cast color - Did look for any pictures of the ones I've done recently but hard to get the details in a picture. Either its too dark to show the differences our too bright and the reflections produce an odd look - or even hide the differences between the finishes

[66candy]

Here are some black paint runs and a blue paint mark I found on my steering box:

[J_Speegle]

Here are some black paint runs and a blue paint mark I found on my steering box:

Erwin what plant?

Guessing this is from a spring 66 Mustang - ?

A top picture might be of special help since that is the most visible surface once installed

Thanks for sharing

[66candy]

Jeff,

Sorry no top pictures  . It's a SJ car, scheduled build date is 24L. Tag on top is 5L17B which would be correct but that number compared to the casting date tells me the box is not the Original one  .

[J_Speegle]

Jeff,

Sorry no top pictures  . It's a SJ car, scheduled build date is 24L. Tag on top is 5L17B which would be correct but that number compared to the casting date tells me the box is not the Original one  .

Don't see a time gap of 4 months between the case being cast and being assembled as a completed assembly as a big red flag.  And since your projected date of November 24  is just a guess, car could have been built in Jan, it might be a fit.

[66candy]

Don't see a time gap of 4 months between the case being cast and being assembled as a completed assembly as a big red flag.  And since your projected date of November 24  is just a guess, car could have been built in Jan, it might be a fit.

Thanks Jeff, now I'm sure that at least something is orginal on my car. I'm pretty sure my car is build arround the 24th of november: original owners manual...a Hertz car 



Don't want to steal this topic but here are some more paint marks I found:

[Hipo giddyup]

Just wanted to ask if this is definitely paint runs and not any type of undercoating?? It looks like undercoating on other parts of the steering box???

[CharlesTurner]

Just wanted to ask if this is definitely paint runs and not any type of undercoating?? It looks like undercoating on other parts of the steering box???

Definitely paint runs, seen a bunch exactly the same way.

[ChrisV289]

What was the purpose of blacking out the steering gear box when on light colored interiors you could still see the steering column coming through the firewall?

[Anghelrestorations]

Here is a steering box that I restored that is December 1964.  You can see the original paint dabs and some small evidence of blackout applied.  I try to document as many of the steering boxes with original paint markings as possible that I rebuild.  At this point I have restored close to 50 of the steering boxes and I would say maybe about 30% show signs of a blackout applied.  So in my opinion it should not be any deduction either way on a car if it has or doesnt have the blackout because it varies too much.  I personally dont like to add the blackout because it hides all the detailed work that goes into restoring one of these....but thats just my personal preference.  I let people add it themselves if they want.