Early steering box bracing?

[MBF]

Happy New Years fellow Ph'er's. I've got a question I've been meaning to ask. While looking at a converted 1950 PH firetruck last fall, I noticed a brace on the neck of the steering column that appeared to be factory installed. There was a steel ring that clamped on the neck of the box, welded to a tubular bar that went under the oil pan to the right side framerail. This was on the box design that used the bolted on bracket, instead of the later design that bolted directly to the updated factory brace from the front crossmember to the left frame rail. Has anyone seen one of these on smaller trucks, and were they an option? I noticed slight movement in my steering box after swapping in used parts yesterday. A similar brace would fix that problem. Thanks. Mike

[Desotodav]

Have you got a picture Mike? It sounds interesting.

Desotodav

[Dodgeb4ya]

I have that H-duty steering brace on my 48 2-1/2 tonner. I've seen them on J and K series trucks- a clamp on the bottom of the Gemmer box and a solid curved steel 1" round rod that goes under the oil pan and goes through the Rt. frame rail, has two 2" 1/4 " square plates on each sde of the frame rail and nuts inner and outer of the frame rail to adjust and lock it tight. I'll post a pic if no one else has one.

Bob

[MBF]

So this must have just been a feature on the heavier trucks until they did the engineering change to lengthen the bracing from the front cross member to the left frame rail, and mount the box to the extended brace. I don't have a picture, if anyone else does that'd be great. Mike

[Dodgeb4ya]

Happy New Years fellow Ph'er's. I've got a question I've been meaning to ask. While looking at a converted 1950 PH firetruck last fall, I noticed a brace on the neck of the steering column that appeared to be factory installed. There was a steel ring that clamped on the neck of the box, welded to a tubular bar that went under the oil pan to the right side framerail. This was on the box design that used the bolted on bracket, instead of the later design that bolted directly to the updated factory brace from the front crossmember to the left frame rail. Has anyone seen one of these on smaller trucks, and were they an option? I noticed slight movement in my steering box after swapping in used parts yesterday. A similar brace would fix that problem. Thanks. Mike

An update, Here are some pictures of the steering gear re-enforcement brace bars used on certain models of 1948-53 1-1/2 ton to 2-3/4 ton dodge trucks. It was not used on any 1/2 ton through 1 tonners. Suppose it could be put on one though.

Bob