Thread: 34 going up on jack stands for a while

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Hoping it won't shrink . . .

Nice to see you out driving it. Too bad it's raining though. It looks so awesome though!

Tell me about it! Last week, I ran a clay bar over the whole body, cleaned and polished all the chrome & aluminum and waxed everything. Oh well - rain happens.

I have to recalibrate the Vega steering box. It tried to wander like a 4-year old in a candy store.

The A/C is C.O.L.D. The guy did excellent work.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

I have to recalibrate the Vega steering box. It tried to wander like a 4-year old in a candy store.

Check yer toe in first.

I'll do that, Don. Thanks for the tip. I did have it set on a machine before I put it up on the jack stands, and haven't driven at all since then.

Caster = +5.7* (Pete & Jake's spec +5.0*)
Toe = +0.16" (Pete & Jakes spec +0.125")
Camber = -0.7*

The steering wheel feels overly tight when the box is centered, and I have some play in the steering that I don't like. I just need to go through the whole steering setup front to back to see if I've forgotten to tighten something.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

I'll do that, Don. Thanks for the tip. I did have it set on a machine before I put it up on the jack stands, and haven't driven at all since then.

Caster = +5.7* (Pete & Jake's spec +5.0*)
Toe = +0.16" (Pete & Jakes spec +0.125")
Camber = -0.7*

The steering wheel feels overly tight when the box is centered, and I have some play in the steering that I don't like. I just need to go through the whole steering setup front to back to see if I've forgotten to tighten something.

Jack, my Vega box has some free play at the center, too, so I'll be interested in what you find. With a 13" wheel I've got about 3"-3.5" of "slop" at the center point.

Roger, I didn't have any free play in the wheel. It was just that if I made a slight correction to the right, the car would to move right too quickly. I thought that might have been something loose downstream of the box. I have less than an inch of play when the wheel is centered, however, the wheel was too tight when centered.

I couldn't find anything loose downstream of the box, so I loosened up the Vega box a bit so that it's firm at center, but not overly tight. Then added a touch more of toe-in, and increased the caster a bit. I haven't had it up to interstate speeds yet, but it steers much better than before.

When I get some more time, I'll take it out for a higher speed run. Right now, I'm hot and tired and done for the day.

Jack----------you said that it was firm at the center??????? possibly the quickness comes from the steering gear going free from the tight(firm) spot-----I have found that a lot of catchy, quickness, etc in steering systems comes from tight spots (maybe just a little firm?) in everything from old Ford, Allis wide front tractors , trucks (semi also) go karts, to top fuel funny cars/dragsters---------also the front wheels need to be of a spacing that the king pin line to the ground should pass thru the center of the tire contact patch----------in the pics yours seem a little wide?

Today at noon, with the final turn of a screwdriver, it is done.

I started this project in 2003, and have NEVER taken this long on one before. But, with the car in storage for more than three years while we were moving to and returning from Italy, then time out for selling our old house and moving into a new one - not to mention a couple of time outs for my wife's health problems - here it is. Done. Completato. Fertiggestellt. Terminé.

I'll probably post a few more photos, and perhaps a video.

I also owe a lot of thanks to members - present and past - of this board for help, suggestions, and for just listening to me complain.

Thank you all.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

Tell me about it! Last week, I ran a clay bar over the whole body, cleaned and polished all the chrome & aluminum and waxed everything. Oh well - rain happens.

I have to recalibrate the Vega steering box. It tried to wander like a 4-year old in a candy store.

The A/C is C.O.L.D. The guy did excellent work.

Henry one thing that made a big difference in the handling of my coupe was to get a four wheel alinement ... i checked and rechecked putting it together and thought it was dead on, but when he put the laser lights on each wheel it was off about a 1/4'' in front and almost the same in the rear.. the sec. i drove it i could tell how much better it handled ..

Wow, Jack! Declaring it D O N E !! Congrats on the milestone, and on all the fit & finish details. The car looks great, top to bottom, and now you can enjoy it. I told you once back around 2008/9 that I had captured a side shot of your car and had it as my desk top background at the office, for inspiration. It was a long time coming, but as you say with some extended "pauses" along the way that weren't planned back when you started and you kept pushing to the end. Well done, my friend, well done indeed!

One more huge attaboy Jack!!!!

Wow! I didn't think street rods were ever done! lol! Congrats on getting it finished. We all know it's a great feeling. Enjoy!!

Originally Posted by parkwood

Henry one thing that made a big difference in the handling of my coupe was to get a four wheel alinement ... i checked and rechecked putting it together and thought it was dead on, but when he put the laser lights on each wheel it was off about a 1/4'' in front and almost the same in the rear.. the sec. i drove it i could tell how much better it handled ..

Wayne,

I had it on a 4-wheel alignment machine, and everything checked out within tolerance. It's much better with the slightly increased caster. I may have a bit of a problem with scrub radius, but I haven't been able to measure that yet.

So you got negative camber, a wide king pin to contact patch, and only a minimum of toe in----------