{"id":110,"date":"2026-04-11T21:32:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T01:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modelasteering.com\/?p=110"},"modified":"2026-04-12T10:39:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T14:39:08","slug":"how-this-got-started","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modelasteering.com\/?p=110","title":{"rendered":"How This Got Started…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Last May – 2024 – I realized a long dream and purchased a 1930 Ford Model A Standard Tudor.<\/strong> \u00a0An old friend, Pat Gillis, purchased a 1928 Sport Coupe back in the late seventies. \u00a0He and I drove from Central Florida up to nearby Macon, Georgia and picked it up, towed it home, and had a blast with it. \u00a0His yellow Sport Coupe took us on many adventures and from that time on I decided that I wanted my own. \u00a0It only took about fifty years for me to finally get one for myself.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So I joined our local Model A Club, the Crankin’ A’s of Daytona Beach. \u00a0They helped me learn about Model A’s and when I found one I liked, they helped me know what to look for – and I got a great car.<\/span><\/p>\n

The car runs well and has very few issues. \u00a0However, one of the issues that needed to be addressed was the steering box. \u00a0It has a two-tooth box that had a “hitch” in the steering – a spot where the wheel would turn about an inch with no resistance whatsoever. \u00a0A rebuild would be needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

I needed a new worm and sector, but they were not available. \u00a0No one had new parts. \u00a0So I dug. \u00a0And dug. \u00a0I read forum posts. \u00a0Talked to folks in the club and out. \u00a0Searched the internet. \u00a0It seems that the source for these parts used to be somewhere in South America, possibly Buenos Aires. \u00a0But the company making the parts went out of business several years ago and the parts were no longer manufactured. \u00a0No more worms and sectors. \u00a0Used parts were the best we could do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then I found them. \u00a0The company that used to make the parts for our steering systems was still making steering system parts.<\/span><\/p>\n

It seems that they never went out of business, but instead the importer who brought us the parts from South America went out of business.<\/span><\/p>\n

So I got them to send me samples, and I rebuilt my steering box. \u00a0Others familiar with the “older” parts looked them over and verified that the quality of the parts is good. \u00a0They are the same as what we used to get.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then in a stroke of luck, a guy named Cristian Delaport from Argentina came by the Crankin’ A’s and hung out for a couple of weeks. \u00a0Cristian drove his ’29 Model A Fordor from his home in Argentina to Prudoe Bay, Alaska! \u00a0Then back to Los Angeles, then across the country to Daytona Beach to visit with his son. \u00a0(Look for the article about him and his trip in the Model A News this summer.) \u00a0Lots of stories…but then one day at lunch I asked him about my source in Buenos Aires! \u00a0He provided not only a great recommendation in engineering and manufacture, but they were great friends! \u00a0So…<\/span><\/p>\n

So after some discussions we formed Model A Steering LLC with the State of Florida. \u00a0We capitalized the company, set up imports, and made the deal to be the exclusive US distributor for Model A steering components. \u00a0Our website, ModelASteering.com, went live on April 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"It has bothered me that the only real alternative to a worn-out Model A Steering Box has been to weld up a truck steering box. \u00a0There are some good conversion components out there, but for those wanting stock steering for their Model A’s, there was nothing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that has changed.<\/strong> \u00a0We are bringing in rebuild kits for two-tooth boxes now, and by summer will have seven-tooth box rebuild kits in stock. \u00a0We will then follow that with sets of worm, shaft and sectors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stock rebuilds of Model A steering boxes can now begin again. \u00a0We are not going to become another vendor of “all things Model A”, but instead try to fill the hole that has kept us from making our Model A steering systems safe.<\/span><\/p>\n

We will begin shipping kits by May 15, 2026 – probably earlier. \u00a0Our goal is to ship orders within two working days, shipping UPS. \u00a0Your kit will arrive via UPS in a box 48″ x 6″ by 6″ to your door, normally within a few days shipping from Florida.<\/span><\/p>\n

The website is full of warnings about measuring the shaft length in your two-tooth steering shaft to determine whether you have a 43″ or 44″ shaft. \u00a0Read and heed these warnings and please do not order until you can verify the length in your steering shaft. \u00a0Once you order we will do our best to get your rebuild kit to you as soon as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks for stopping by.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kevin Duffy, Vice President, Crankin’ A’s of Daytona Beach<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last May – 2024 – I realized a long dream and purchased a 1930 Ford Model A Standard Tudor. \u00a0An old friend, Pat Gillis, purchased a 1928 Sport Coupe back in the late seventies. \u00a0He and I drove from Central Florida up to nearby Macon, Georgia and picked it up, towed it home, and had…<\/p>\n

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