Type 1 or type 2 Craftsman steering box?

I’m collecting parts to build a rat rod wheelbarrow tub pickup kart for my grandson. I have a complete LT1000 Craftsman mower with the 6 speed MST 206 trans. Today I picked up some more parts for the project: a Lt1000 frame and a LT1500 with a blown engine.
So, the ‘new’ frame has a type 1 steering box. The original LT1000 I have, which is a complete machine, has the type 2.
Looking at the frames, I think I can transplant everything from the compete machine to the frame I got today and use the type 1 steering box. It looks like it is stronger and will be much easier to work with.



Is this a good plan? The donor frame has a wrecked hydrostat in it now, but the frame appears to be identical except for the steering setup.

I’ll start the build thread for the rat rod soon I hope. Still making decisions and trying to get space in the garage. It is over 100 degrees here daily now, too hot to work outside.

Oh, I am going to stretch the frame between the transmission and console, to make room for the wheelbarrow tub and add a section in front of the engine for the front axle to be extended and the front end to be lowered. Hence the need for two frames. I wanted to use the same material for the extensions.

I could be wrong, but I think most move to the 2nd gen steering.

the type 2 steering box has always been easyer to turn in applications but the type 1 steering has always held up longer for me but the type 2 steering is not has hard to turn and you can turn them faster

I'd say whichever steering box has less slop would be the one I'd use. AYP is notorious for steering play, mostly because people don't grease the teeth.

i would go with the type 1

I run the 2nd Gen on mine with 19” front tires. It holds up fine.

I’m going to stick with the type 2. Less work, mobetta. I will find a home for the type 1 somewhere.