Not having much luck with searching the archives. My 57 Bird seems to steer well enough (for a 57 vehicle) but noticed the sector shaft adjusting screw is pretty far down in the thread travel of the lock nut. Maybe an eighth inch or so. Doesn't seem the way it should be. I suspect this indicates some excessive wear inside the box. First, can I remove the sector shaft housing cover and have a look while the box is still mounted in the car without troubles? The Ford manual isn't very clear about this. Second, there appears to be only 2 or possibly 3 gasket shims under the upper cap. Will removing shim/gaskets change the sector shaft adjustment significantly? I need a little educatin'. Thanks.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

[quote]MarkMontereyBay (4/16/2013)

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Not having much luck with searching the archives. My 57 Bird seems to steer well enough (for a 57 vehicle) but noticed the sector shaft adjusting screw is pretty far down in the thread travel of the lock nut. Maybe an eighth inch or so. Doesn't seem the way it should be. I suspect this indicates some excessive wear inside the box. First, can I remove the sector shaft housing cover and have a look while the box is still mounted in the car without troubles? The Ford manual isn't very clear about this. Second, there appears to be only 2 or possibly 3 gasket shims under the upper cap. Will removing shim/gaskets change the sector shaft adjustment significantly? I need a little educatin'. Thanks.[/quot

Mark, remove locknut, remove top hold down bolts and screw adjuster down, this will lift top free from box, taking care to free gaskets, then you can look into box, normally only 1 top gasket fitted. Mostly the case hardening on the steering worm chips off and causes low spot in center, then if readjusted to lessen slack, just agravates the situation. regards bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Thanks Bill, no high spot on my steering but a little play which I thought was the bigger and wider radial tires effect. Not enough play to worry over. 57 Bird gearboxes seem a little pricey and really don't want to send mine off to be rebuilt. I just looked a Gil Baumgardner's book and there is a photo with the adjuster screw set down about the same amount in the nut as mine. Maybe just the way it is.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto