I got a box ford that I'm going to start building, I'm wondering how everyone does their steering knuckles. I've always ran mopar where I only used 1 knuckle, I see the custom shafs have 2 knuckles, How do you secure them to still keep the knuckles "straight" without sliding and binding themselves and falling down in the car? Pictures would be great, Thanks!
The 2 knuckles will keep themselves supported like a driveshaft, As long as the steering wheel end of the shaft is in a fixed position. The bottom will be supported at the box connection.
X2......
but if you set up the steering wheel end to have some travel in it to accomadate for the car bending wouldn't the knuckles have slop to move side to side up and down etc..... Do you set them up to have the heim supports say at the firewall and at the dash bar? or how do you guys set them up?
One simple way is to use a later model Astrovan (with composite headlamps) stock steering shaft. It fits right on a Ford box with minimal fabrication and has about 5 inches of travel. Any variation of this type of setup will work. I have used the stock GM and Ford slider portion to fabricate my own set up with an aftermarket lower u-joint to the box on large GM boxes. I think there is no limit to the possibilities of possible combinations depending on what supplies you have available. Some people even use square pipes that slide snugly inside of each other and then add u-joints. It does not matter as long as it has some colapsability and ample articulation. JMO
same way mine are set up .......I use the stock steering column and use that same set up stromi posted . works like a charm everytime
If you dont want to use the stock column just add a plate to the dash bar and use 2 pillow blocks 5 inches or so apart or 1 pillow block and a piece of tubing a little larger than the shaft.
I'm following what you guys are saying, Thanks. When these cars bend the front comes up pushing the steering wheel back correct?
swine155 wrote:
I'm following what you guys are saying, Thanks. When these cars bend the front comes up pushing the steering wheel back correct?
not to say the steering wheel wont push back but generally the shaft itself will collapse
I have seen plenty of steering setups without a colapsable secton, never on any of my cars. The thought of the steering wheel in my chest is not a plesant one. I suppose if you used a solid shaft design with enough u-joints in it it could bend at the joints instead of coming straight back, however you cannot get much simplier than an Astro van setup...JMO
I will have to look for the collaspable steering, we just junked some astros about 5 months ago, figures!
what year astros do you need the column out of? are the steering box end splins the same?
swine155 wrote:
what year astros do you need the column out of? are the steering box end splins the same?
The Astros with the composite (plastic) headlamps I believe 95 or newer. The spline count is the same but the Astro is 11/16 and the Ford is 3/4. You will have to spread it open a 16th with a hammer and chizel to slide onto the Ford box. Then you can put the bolt back in and tighten it up just like the stock setup. The older Astros have the same shaft but they are 3 inches shorter. If you are at the junkyard and take a look at some Astros you will see the difference. Unfortunately they are covered up by a inconveinent weatherproof boot that has to be removed to gain access to the shaft. 
WeCrash is the #1 source for information on the sport of demolition derby. Events, vendors, parts, drivers and fans are all in here.
Please contact WeCrash for information on how to advertise to the demolition derby community. info@wecrash.com