Another build thread? Yep, my track-style T

[J. Robinson]

Well, I have reached the point in this project where I must mount the steering box and linkage. The problem is, I want cowl-mounted steering as was common in the old track roadsters and I also have to contend with the pedals. Remember, I'm running a stick in this car and I have to make room for 3 pedals... So, I kind of have to contend with all of it at once.

I began by cutting a piece of 1 5/8" tubing about 6 feet long. I welded a piece of scrap steel over the cut end and then filled the tube with wet sand. I tamped and packed the sand as tight as I could get it and then capped the open end with a pipe cap. I measured to find the center and then put a mark 11 inches out each way to indicate the approximate center of the bends (determined by measuring the bending dies).

I moved the rollers of my bender out to the second hole, centered one of the tubing marks on the bending die and began pumping. At about 45 degrees of bend, the jack was starting to get pretty reluctant, so I relieved the pressure, moved the rollers out to the next hole, and completed the bend.

All went well, so I moved on to the next bend. I figured that it would be more prudent, time-wise, if I just left the rollers in the 3rd hole to start with and I should be able to make the bend in one shot... WRONG! At about 60 degrees of bend, the tubing kinked! (See 3rd pic)

OK, lesson learned. I took another short piece of tubing, welded a piece of scrap over one end, filled it with wet sand, etc,etc... With two nice bends in hand (after dumping out the sand and cutting the welded end off), all I had to do was make them into one piece of the appropriate size. Some trial & error and a little measuring to get the right width, and I was ready to put the two halves together... Splicing tubing together is no big deal; all you need is a sleeve for the inside of the splice. Leave a little gap between the main pieces so the weld penetrates all 3 pieces and weld it home. Properly done, the splice will be the strongest part of the tube.