steering box

[joegood]

Does anyone have a full size template for putting a Lark Saginaw steering box in a 56 power hawk? Thanks

[StudeRich]

There are 109 Pages of maybe 250 Studebaker Tech. Tip Topics that's 27,022 of them on the Bob Johnstone Website.

I found no way to search for his good, detailed instructions on cutting and welding the Upper Steering Shaft to the improved Recirculating Ball Type '61-'66 Lark and Lark Type Saginaw Steering Gear Shaft and making the adapter Bracket and installation help.

It's here somewhere on his humongous Website!

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/archive/index.php/f-8.html

[RadioRoy]

Check the length of the steering wheel shaft. Lark sedan shafts are shorter than Hawk shafts. If you figure out how to do it, let us know. It seems like 56 was heavier steering than others..

[StudeRich]

OK, here you go, I found this this good Link that bezhawk (Brad) posted on 05/15/2016:

http://www.studebaker-info.org/TW/tw1098/tw1098p28.html

Yes you do have to cut & join by a Certified Welder, the early type Hollow upper Shaft to the Solid Shaft Late type shaft on the Saginaw and make the length match your Old setup on any C or K Model.

[joegood]

Thanks for the info!

[345 DeSoto]

Me too...Thanks.

[bezhawk]

Last time I did the conversion on my 53 Commander HT, I used the whole Lark setup. column, and wheel, and all. You ONLY need to cut and weld the shaft IF you want to keep the stock steering wheel. To me that was not a priority. The only tricky part is making a drag link. That required welding.

[Studeous]

I like Bez's solution. The deeper dish wheel will off set it some. Or go with a deep dish wheel like on a 56 Ford or a 59 Oldsmobile. Will probably require modification, but should be safer. Ford came out with the deep dish collapsible steering wheel in 56, along with other safety features. Studebaker went with a deeper dish in 57. I think ford should be applauded for their attempt. That didn't go unnoticed by Henry Ford II. He reportedly quipped: 'McNamara is selling safety, but Chevrolet is selling cars.'