Thread: Steering?

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Mocking up my 23 Dodge, but I think the frame is Model A. I'd like to run cross steer if I can pull it off. I thought about notching the crossmember and running the box through it. The box that came on it is junk I'm sure, but I was going to go shopping at the salvage yard tomorrow for something. I'd really rather not run cowl steer if I don't have to. Any Idea what this box is? Also don't know anything about the brakes yet either.

I think you are going to have a little trouble getting a cross steering setup in there. First of all you are right, that is a model a frame. One problem is that they are very weak in stock form, and even when boxed can flex a little when you put a steering box in there that wants to push and pull the frame sideways when you turn the wheel.

Second problem I see is that it looks like you want to run the front end suicide style. What is going to be the issue here is that the spring is going to want to occupy the same space as the draglink and tie rod. If you were not running it suicide, but with the spring directly over the axle, you would have a shot at it.

In either case, you are going to have to run a panhard bar to keep the front axle from shifting on the spring shackles when you turn the wheel. I think you are making a lot of headaches for yourself engineeringwise. A simple box like a 50's F100 or a reversed Corvair would be so much easier to make work IMO.

But that is just my thoughts on it and I could be way off base.

Don

I've thought about this for a few days now. I have a 30 something International pickup steering setup. It will bolt up to the frame just in front of the firewall. I'll have to push a rod to a bracket on the left spindle (I hope I can go underneath the spindle instead of above it like a cowl steer). I also found a International Box truck in the salvage yard this weekend - It is right hand drive. I got the box and column from that too, but the shaft was bent just coming out of the box from the wreck. It could be straightened, but the bearings were rusted out also. Did score a sweet IH steering wheel and turn indicator from it though for $30. I'm generating plenty of steering boxes now, I'll get something to work. BTW, I was reading through your build the other day. I'm not planning on going suicide, but have the spring in the stock area under a crossmember set a little higher than stock. I'll plan on hanging the spring on a gusset on the bottom of the bone. The model A chassis will be replaced with a box steel replica also. I hope to figure out what I'm doing sometime.