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Blue Top Steering Box Sale

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Bruno2

Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Blue Top is having a sale on our steering gear boxes on Monday. Part no. 2757 will be $20 off if you use coupon code 2018sale.

Whitey: 1996 F 250 XL CCLB 4X4 7.3 DI ZF5 (The Work Horse) Lots of power mods
Whitey Jr: AKA Jr 1982 F 150 CCLB 4X4 351W C6 (Jr Work Horse) respectable power, but not over the top
The Bronco: 1987 Bronco XLT 351W C6 (needs work) Lots of off road mods and plenty of power mods
The Dodge: 2006 Ram 2500 CCSB 4X4 5.9 HO Cummins (The reliable ride that cant keep an AC in itself) (5th AC go around almost complete)

Gary Lewis

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Administrator

Brandon - Do you have a link to Blue Top? And, do you know anything about them?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

Dyn Blin

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Link to our model

http://www.bluetopsteeringgears.com/apps/webstore/products/show/7402333

No experience with them, but eager to hear and learn for my eventual box replacement.

Sonoma County,CA
1982 F150 Flareside XLS
NP435 4x4
351W Motorcraft 2150

Gary Lewis

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Administrator

Mark - Thanks. I hadn't heard of Blue Top, only Red Head. But, it looks like they do similar things to the steering boxes.

It turns out that Ford's design had the end of the shaft running against the cast iron case. And, while it was submerged in lube there was still wear. But when worn out boxes are "rebuilt" by Cardone and others that wear isn't addressed. Presumably they have a limit on the wear that is acceptable and boxes with more than that get tossed. But, a rebuilt box isn't the same as a new box.

Enter Red Head and apparently Blue Top. Red Head explains that they bore out the case and place a bearing where the wear was. And Blue Top says their boxes are "Remanufactured with OE seals and custom fit ball bearings to eliminate play", which I assume means they also bore out the box and put ball bearings there. And that can make a huge difference in the feel of the steering.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Bruno2

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

The guy that runs Blue Top was a lead guy at Red Head for several years. Apparently he wanted to advance,but Red Head considered him topped out. So he went out on his own to make his strike. Blue Top is going gangbusters right now. I called to order a unit today and the owner told me to wait until Monday so I could save $20. Great guy for that IMO. He could've made an extra twenty if he didn't mention it.

Gary Lewis

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Administrator

Good to know, Brandon. I'll pass the word on to Scott, the welder guy from the show, as he needs a new steering box for Red, his '78. Man, the box on that thing is huge! Much bigger than ours as it is L-shaped. The steering shaft comes in to the top of the L and then a long sector shaft goes down, but it is encased in box.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

85lebaront2

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Administrator

I know Gary, I had a 1977 F150, the one I put a 390 in (I didn't want a 400 after dealing with my neighbor's 77 F250 with a 351M) 390 was a Camper Special engine, little bit higher lift cam, Holley 4 barrel (a special model with a strange power valve setup) and a different distributor curve. 3.25 gear and a C6, my design dual exhaust system, thing would haul buggy and get 16 mpg highway. I had a 1975-79 460 radiator in it and added the A/C system. I had a Wolverine 11' slide in camper which it handled perfectly.

Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

Bruno2

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

https://www.placelookup.net/blue-top-steering-gears-inc_3167844

https://www.facebook.com/BlueTopSteering/

I tagged Gary in some reviews and other misc FB videos or posts. He can re post if he feels necessary. One of the reviews I tagged him in was on Red Head's FB page. A very unhappy customer and no dispute replied by Red Head.

Ryan Vigesaa is the owner of Blue Top and he will personally talk with you on the phone as long as it takes to answer your questions.

Gary Lewis

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Administrator

I read the reviews, and I can say that they don't reflect well on Red Head. Were I to buy now I'd seriously consider Blue Top. But I have a brand new Red Head waiting on installation in Dad's truck.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

In reply to this post by Bruno2

Thanks for posting this up. I've been planning to order a new RedHead box for my '84 sometime before spring, but I may give the Blue Top a try. (Since it will be quite a bit cheaper on Monday).

I've replaced my steering box with Napa remans (twice) and they're both sloppy.

1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

Gsmblue

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

In reply to this post by Bruno2

Blue top 2757 is sold out...

So I quickly popped over to redhead and got confused! I assume when they talk about “INCLUDE PRE-TAPPED PORTS & PLUGS FOR HYDRAULIC STEERING ASSIST“ that mean power steering right?

1985.5 F-150 XL Explorer standard cab 5.0 EFI AOD 4x4
Daily Driver. We call her Eunice the Ute.

1982 Bronco XLT Lariat 351W AOD 4x4
Code name Esperanza, or Espy to her friends. Please see my Project thread for the blow by blow.

1984 F-350 XL Centurion crew cab 460 T19 4x4
"Eylza Dual-little"

Gary Lewis

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Administrator

That's surely what it means. But call them and ask? You'll probably want to do that to see if there are any specials going on as they do run specials.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Gary Lewis wrote

You'll probably want to do that to see if there are any specials going on as they do run specials.

I've been following Redhead on Instagram and FB waiting for a sale, but nothing yet. What is the general consensus in the US for when the sales *usually* hit? Thanksgiving or Christmas/Boxing Day? I can wait...not in a rush.

And has there been any discussion in the past year over which gear is better? RedHead or Bluetop? Do we assume that they are basically using the same process to rebuild these boxes?

Any comments from the BTDT crowd?

Rembrant

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

In reply to this post by Gsmblue

Gsmblue wrote

So I quickly popped over to redhead and got confused! I assume when they talk about “INCLUDE PRE-TAPPED PORTS & PLUGS FOR HYDRAULIC STEERING ASSIST“ that mean power steering right?

I assume you found the answer to this question long ago, but the steering assist ports (an extra $100 charge) is if you are running the extra "assist" cylinder that mounts where a steering stabilizer would be. It is pressurized along with with the factory steering gear. Likely intended for the guys with 6 foot lifts and 35" tires.

"PRE-TAPPED PORTS OPTION:
Red-Head offers a porting option for those that are either already running a hydraulic assist steering, or plan to in the future. If you choose to make this upgrade to the box (from the drop down menu), your gear box will come with two pre-drilled and tapped ports with plugs. For clarification, hydraulic assist is NOT something your vehicle would have come from the factory with, rather it is an upgrade that adds a hydraulic ram to the steering linkage to aid in steering. Most vehicles do NOT have this option, thus if you are unsure if you have it, you probably do not."

Gary Lewis

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Administrator

Cory - That was a good find on the explanation. I didn't know that, and someone recently asked me about adding that ram.

As for BlueTop vs RedHead, I don't know. But, most Yanks won't know what Boxing Day is. The day after Christmas, right?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Gary Lewis wrote

Cory - That was a good find on the explanation. I didn't know that, and someone recently asked me about adding that ram.

As for BlueTop vs RedHead, I don't know. But, most Yanks won't know what Boxing Day is. The day after Christmas, right?

Oh...yes...lol. I didn't know that it wasn't a thing in the US.

I'm just curious when I should be paying extra close attention for the sales. The shipping and exchange rate on these steering boxes make this an expensive purchase for me...every penny counts on this one, so I'll wait for a sale.

Gary Lewis

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Administrator

I don't know when they do their sales. But, I'd call and ask.

As for Boxing Day, I ran into the term when living in England. But hadn't heard it before, or since for that matter.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Gary Lewis

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Administrator

But, Brandon/Bruno2 posted on December 30th about a sale at BlueTop on Monday, which would have been New Year's Day.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis wrote

As for Boxing Day, I ran into the term when living in England. But hadn't heard it before, or since for that matter.

Well, Boxing Day, as far as sales go, would likely be our equivalent to the Black Friday sales in the US (Thanksgiving, right?).

Gary Lewis

Re: Blue Top Steering Box Sale

Administrator

Yep, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. But it has now started early, meaning on Thanksgiving, and extended through the weekend. I bought my Surface Pro tablet last Thanksgiving evening on a really good sale at Microsoft.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile