Broken mounting tab....

[Miranthis]

My 66 Barracuda had the original fast ratio manual steering. In the 1970's the case tab cracked (see the red line on the attached picture) due apparently to a casting defect. It was replaced with a standard 24:1 box. Are the boxes interchangeable? If so, should I have someone weld a repair on the original box or can I just swap out internals?

Jeff-in-KC

 

[Murray]

Do you have the original broken piece?

 

[toolmanmike]

My 66 Barracuda had the original fast ratio manual steering. In the 1970's the case tab cracked (see the red line on the attached picture) due apparently to a casting defect. It was replaced with a standard 24:1 box. Are the boxes interchangeable? If so, should I have someone weld a repair on the original box or can I just swap out internals?

Jeff-in-KC

View attachment 1716275057

Fast ratio manual steering. Do you know the option code for that on the fender tag? Is it aluminum?

 

[A56]

My 66 Barracuda had the original fast ratio manual steering. In the 1970's the case tab cracked (see the red line on the attached picture) due apparently to a casting defect. It was replaced with a standard 24:1 box. Are the boxes interchangeable? If so, should I have someone weld a repair on the original box or can I just swap out internals?

Jeff-in-KC

View attachment 1716275057

Fix it if the broken piece is available, but I'm sure someone could come up with a repair solution.

 

[Miranthis]

Fast ratio manual steering. Do you know the option code for that on the fender tag? Is it aluminum?

It is Aluminum and looks like it fractured on a casting defect.

The order code for fast ratio manual was order code 628, but I am not aware of a fender tag indicator of this one. It will appear on the broadcast sheet by order code.

Jeff-in-KC

 

[Miranthis]

Do you have the original broken piece

Do you have the original broken piece?

Sadly, no. It was lost on the road in the 1970's.

 

[cudamark]

If you have the broken piece, or, a chunk of aluminum to take it's place, sure, have it welded back on. You can also swap out the worm gear to make another box a 16:1 box. That's the only difference between them.

 

[72bluNblu]

The internals of the 16:1 box will swap directly into the case for the 24:1 box.

The only thing I’m not 100% sure of is if a roller bearing manual box can have its bearings swapped into a manual box that originally had bushings. But my understanding is all of the A-body manual boxes were bushed anyway and only some of the B-body manual boxes had bearings.

Even if it was the case that the bushings and bearings have different OD’s it would be a simple job to have the case machined. But I don’t think that’s even an issue with an A body manual steering box case.

As far as welding goes, yes, you could have the case welded to put a corner back on it. Even if you didn’t have the piece it would not be terribly hard to make one. I will say that having welded on one of the aluminum manual steering cases before, it’s not super easy. The cast aluminum is quite porous, so, it absorbs oil and grease. So welding on an old cast aluminum case can be tricky because contamination is a pretty big issue with aluminum welding.