Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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don, you are not posting so you better be working.

Actually, I was. I stopped tonight after work and just got in. Didn't really get anything noteworthy done, but I was working on the cowl rollbar I am going to build into the inside of the firewall to support the steering column.

I ordered some steering parts from Speedway today (u joint, shaft, support bearing and removable steering wheel hub) and those should be in next week, Monday or Tuesday.

Thanks squire for keeping me moving though.

Don

Got an early start today and just got in a little while ago. These 10 hour days really tire me out, but I am seeing some progress on the T.

Today I continued working on the roll bar that is going to be shaped like the inside of the firewall and fit right up against it. I am going to leave it exposed on the interior of the car to give the car somewhat of a competition look.

The reason for the cowl roll bar is simply to support the entire length of the steering column. Most T buckets route the steering box under the floor, so there is no strain on the firewall. In mine I am putting the steering box in front of the firewall, so the dash has to be strong enough to hold the weight of the column and any strain I put on it when steering the car. Fiberglass bodies have very little strength by themselves, and even wooding them helps only a little bit. Certainly not enough to mount a steering column to. So the roll bar will hold the bottom of the steering column (I am going to mount a bearing there on a steel plate welded to the roll bar) and I am going to weld some support arms that go from the roll bar to a piece of 1 x 1 square tubing run the entire width of the dash and fastened to the dash, Then the rear column mount will have a strong place to mount.

I was going to get out the tubing bender and form the roll bar, but I found one of my Sons failed pieces in the scrap bin, and it was almost perfect. I just had to narrow it a little and put one longer leg on it. I joined the two pieces of tubing together by slipping a smaller piece inside of each cut end and rosette welding it in place ( I learned that term from Techinspector 1) Then I fully welded the tubes together into one piece. I also cut some plates that I will weld to the top of the frame and tap for threads. Then the roll bar will bolt to these plates and be removable with the body.

Tomorrow I plan to go to Home Depot and pick up a piece of plywood to start glassing in the firewall so I can then mount the roll bar to it. My plan is for the roll bar to become an integral part of the body when I am done, and unbolt just as the body does.

Here are some pictures of the way I welded up the rollbar, and also the mocked up roll bar on the frame.

Thanks for looking,


Don