Thread: One way to build a '32 sedan

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One of the things I want in this car is a Schroeder steering. I think the cowl steering will look correct with the style of the car. One of the problems with this type of steering system is its size, it eats up the foot room real quick. To get the geometry even close to have as little bump steer as possible you have to mount it low in the car. They make these systems so you can flip them over, so you can have the bulk of it high or low in the car. The problem is if you put the box on top the steering arm is really long, and that's no good if you put it on the bottom you loose your foot room and have tight quarters for your pedals. So, I wanted a short steering arm with correct as possible geometry with lots of foot room. Well, that isn't possible, or is it?
I am using a Ansen style pedal assembly with the '68 Chevy truck master cylinder on the outside of the firewall, to help with the room under the dash problem. The steering unit I have was the perfect length when I got it. I was told it was out of a late '50's style Indy Car with the 17" steering wheel. I decided to shorten it 2" and put a chain gear on it and then I could put the other gear anywhere I wanted it. Nice and low so when it came out of the cowl I could keep the steering some what bump steer free. So that's what I am going to do. I ordered the shorter shaft from Schroeder, now i can start making the frame work to hold the gears and the steering box.
What all this means is I can keep the steering box high under the dash then drop the steering arm low coming out of the cowl.
There is a company that makes this kind of drop for conventional steering but not for the cowl steering. If this doesn't make sense I will take lots of photo's.
Ken

Good plan on the steering Ken... That old Schroeder box takes me back a ways, cranked on one of them big old wheel lots of nights wheelin the old Super Mods and Sprinters... Funny story, must have cracked the main shaft one night bouncin off a wall, didn't find out till the next Saturday night when it broke in half coming into turn one at a ridiculous rate of speed!!!!

Ken and others

A rocker stud will work when you need a 7/16 x 3/8 bolt, but not available in SS

Hi Ken,

If I am getting the picture correct you are going to mount the Schroeder high for foot clearance then use a chain box to drop the steering low on the cowl to exit the cowl to a near horizontal position for the drag link. Although for a different steering set up, that is similar to what I am using, a steering offset box to clear the headers, for my 34 3 window re build. My prototype box uses a three gear set up but I will build the final box using a chain drive that I think will work better and will be easier to build. Keep up the great posts.

Jack.

Originally Posted by Jack F

Hi Ken,

If I am getting the picture correct you are going to mount the Schroeder high for foot clearance then use a chain box to drop the steering low on the cowl to exit the cowl to a near horizontal position for the drag link. Although for a different steering set up, that is similar to what I am using, a steering offset box to clear the headers, for my 34 3 window re build. My prototype box uses a three gear set up but I will build the final box using a chain drive that I think will work better and will be easier to build. Keep up the great posts.

Jack.

Jack,
Would really like to see yours if you have any photo's.
Ken

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Ken and others

A rocker stud will work when you need a 7/16 x 3/8 bolt, but not available in SS

That would be to long for where I was going with mine. I would rather use something already available than going to all the trouble of making one. I will polish mine when I tear it apart to detail it.
Ken

Ken,

I don't have a pic of the open box, just this one of the box mounted on the firewall. It consists of the input shaft and gear connected to the steering column, idler gear, and output shaft and gear. This one works but I will make a better (stronger) box for the final version that will be a chain drive. Will use this till the other box is made,

Jack.

I had missed this thread before. Great sedan I need to go back and spend some mor time reading the whole thing but that is going to be a great looking car . love the Ardun are you running orgional head or repos?

Rex Rogers

Jack F-Thanks for posting this.

rexrogers- These are just plastic replicas.


I got a little more done. I'm doing the pedals, dash, and steering kind of all at once. They all will get strength and rigidity from one another.
First thing was to get a piece of 3/4"x.120 wall tubing bent to match the inside of the cowl, so I used the firewall as a template. then welded it inside of the cowl. Then used the master cylinder for a template to drill the fire wall. Then made a wooden template of the 3/4" plywood for the curvature of the bottom of the dash and bent a piece of 1"x1/4" flat bar.
Ken

Then made a paper template of what the mounting bracket should look like. Transfered that drawing on to a piece of 1/4"x12"x12" steel plate and drilled all the holes. welded that to the tubing and mounted the pedals. Then put the lower dash mount went in, before I welded that in I laid out the holes for the steering drop and drilled and tapped that. bolted the steering drop in and clamped the dash in just to see if it all limed up. Bolted the master cylinder in everything fit, thank God
Ken

Next comes a ton of bracing and the Schroeder steering.

Looking good Ken, always nice to see a three pedal car! Going to mount the Shroeder with the pillow blocks like we had them in the sprinters?

Dave,
Yes, but it is going to be a real bear. There is a lot going on under their!! Ah, if it was easy it wouldn't be interesting
Ken

Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

Dave,
Yes, but it is going to be a real bear. There is a lot going on under their!! Ah, if it was easy it wouldn't be interesting
Ken

Heck, if it was easy everybody would be doing it~!!!!!!

Nice progress Ken. Looks pretty solid! How are things? Haven't seen you around here lately.