Ford Stick Shift steel?

[Rick Baum]

Curious to find out if anyone can tell me what kind of steel the shifter is made from . It came off of a T18 tranny which came from a mid 70's Ford truck. My customer brought me the steel but neither of us know it's composition.

A file skates off of it and it sparks like a son-of-a-gun. I'd be inclined to guess that it's 5160 or one of the 10XX steels. (just a gut guess)

Normally I only use new steel that I am familiar with my customer wants me to make something from a piece of his truck for sentimental reasons.

Thanks in advance.

Rick

 

[Bill Burke]

So since he don't know use good steel for the knife and the shifter for the fittings. I wouldn't stake my reputation on mystery steel.

 

[sunshadow]

or spend 75 or more dollars to get it analyzed. Bill's advice is sound

Ford was notorious for using the cheapest materials that would do the job, I wouldn't make a blade out of it

-Page

 

[Rick Baum]

Thanks guys.

I did some research and found that Ford contracted NASA to produce the shifters. Apparently, NASA had an overabundance of meteoric iron left over from their run of Mercury Comet steering columns in the early 70's. This being the case, I guess I would have to make a James Black Bowie and more than likely I'd need to quench it in Panther oil. Do you think I need to align the blade to true north or magnetic north for the quench?

Seriously, I like your suggestion Bill for using it to make the fittings.

Thanks guys!

Rick