Has anyone dealt with RIGIDSTEEL.COM? M38A1 sector shaft kit

[jeepscott3]

I am trying to rebuild the steering gear on my M-170 and so far it seems like most of the parts for the M-38A1 sterring are hard to find NOS with a few repro parts out there. RIGIDSTEEL.COM shows that they carry a sector shaft kit for M-38 and M-38A1's and the part number they show is correct for the A1 but I have heard that the different models use different steering gears.
I am trying to figure out if they have the part that I need. Anybody out there have experience with this company?

[jeepscott3]

Quick update: I called this company and found that they no longer have the sector shaft available. Neither does Rapco, or any of the other places that had it listed on their websites.
Does anyone know where I can find one?

[Ryan_Miller]

Did you try Midwest Military, Army Jeep Parts or Peter Debella?
_________________
Ryan Miller
MVPA # 22010

[jeepscott3]

Midwest Military probably has them, but I was told basicaly that the only way I could get it was to buy a rebuilt steering gear assembly from them. DeBella and AJP don't list them which probably means that they don't have them and if they do it may cost me my soul. I've actualy had good dealings with Peter Debella, he just knows hows to adjust prices for the market as most good buisness men do.

I'm currious who was making the repros? I'm guessing it was just one place since all of a sudden no one has them anymore.

[brachus12]

Any updates to this? I had just begun looking at rebuilding the M170 steering box. Steering is extremely difficult and the box seemed dry when I added the GO.

Seems like a MAJOR situation if there are zero M38A1/M170 sector shaft replacements available anymore.
_________________
47 CJ2A "Bugger"
42 Ford GPW
62 Willys M170

[jeepscott3]

I finaly gave up looking for a new one and rotated the pins on my old one. Probably not the best long term solution, and won't work if the shaft is worn but I lucked out and mine wasn't that bad.

[evanso1975]

Surplus City and Willys Jeep Parts both list them on their sites:

http://www.surplusjeep.com/M38A1/M38A1_Lead_Page.htm

http://www.willysjeepparts.com/Steering_Gears.htm

Price on request, so they may not have any left. Worth a phone call though. You might try some of the dealers in Holland, too. A lot of them advertise on Milweb:

http://www.milweb.net/home.php

Also, I got some NOS parts for my M38 from Dirk Leegwater:

http://www.lwdparts.com

He does mainly WW2 CMP parts (a lot of my 11-cab Chevy parts came from him), but he does have quite a bit of M38 & M38A1 stuff. Wouldn't hurt to drop him an email.......

Wbr,
Owen.
_________________
Owen

1951 US Air Force M38
1944 F-1 1/2-ton Airdrome Trailer
1940 C15 Chevrolet CMP 11-cab
1939 DKW KS200 Motorcycle
MVT # 19406