Thread: 27 chevy p/u

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UPDATE
the 64 f100 steering box needed a rebuild
they wanted around 600 yes SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS for a kit.
for some reason the 64 's were a transition period and the boxes as well as components are stupid expensive.
we cut the box off and threw it away.
i went to a local junkyard and got a $45 box from a 71 chevy sumpin or other truck
anyway it is a saginaw and works great.
doesnt even need a rebuild either!

here are the latest pics of the new steering box and another interior shot along with the bear claw latches .
(i found some antique doorknobs for the interior.)
i am test driving it this weekend. WOOT!






click on this for movie.
oil 50psi at idle

the seats ,belts are in.
it needs windshield glass and front turn signals.

I forsee some serious bumpsteer in your future... Has that Pittman arm been cut and rewelded near the spline?

YES IT HAD TO BE CUT AND WELDED.
j.p. has been building cars and racing them for 48years.
we will see tomorrow if he has screwed up.

Billy, Is that a power steering box? I might have a manual box that would work better. I'd give it to you. I will check and see if I saved it. Since I just shot off my mouth, I may have tossed it. I figured I'd never use it and it was in the way, but I may have put it in my storage bld.

Sounds like he and I have been at it for about the same time. Built my first hot rod chassis 44 years ago and my first stock car 42 years ago... Anyway, too bad you couldn't keep that first steering box; the geometry was much better with it. Disregarding the bump steer, did he gusset the weld on that steering arm? It could be easily done by wrapping a piece of 1/4 or 5/16 round stock around it, overlapping the weld joint and welding it solid. After welding you could dress it by grinding lightly. The gusset "strap" would eliminate any flex that could cause the main weld to fatigue and break.

Sorry for sticking my nose in your business; I don't want to see you have safety issues later...

Later on, if you want to change that box again, take a look at mid-80s Ford Ranger boxes. They require kind of an ugly bracket, but are used with the Pittman arm in the down position like your original box.

bumpsteer
thats what i keep hearing from folks online.
i wonder why a guy with all these years experience would build something that either wont work or would be dangerous?
i will see him this weekend and see whats up.
thank you for your concern.

Probably because bump steer isn't that big of an issue on dirt track cars, some of the older cars and builders never addressed the issue at all. Bump steer gets worse as the amount of suspension travel on the front end increases, doesn't look like your's is going to have a lot of travel on the front.....

Originally Posted by J. Robinson

I forsee some serious bumpsteer in your future... Has that Pittman arm been cut and rewelded near the spline?

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Probably because bump steer isn't that big of an issue on dirt track cars, some of the older cars and builders never addressed the issue at all. Bump steer gets worse as the amount of suspension travel on the front end increases, doesn't look like your's is going to have a lot of travel on the front.....

i asked j.p.if that arm had been gusseted.
he said nope it didnt need it
he ground down almost 50% of the thickness.
then filled it up with weld.
he also pointed out that he builds all his cars like he will be the driver.
i thought that was a good point.

Originally Posted by J. Robinson

I forsee some serious bumpsteer in your future... Has that Pittman arm been cut and rewelded near the spline?

Originally Posted by billy zz

bumpsteer
thats what i keep hearing from folks online.
i wonder why a guy with all these years experience would build something that either wont work or would be dangerous?
i will see him this weekend and see whats up.
thank you for your concern.

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Probably because bump steer isn't that big of an issue on dirt track cars, some of the older cars and builders never addressed the issue at all. Bump steer gets worse as the amount of suspension travel on the front end increases, doesn't look like your's is going to have a lot of travel on the front.....

you guys had me worried about the bumpsteer issue.
i have installed a stabilizer.
and now that it is legal to drive i have been blasting around on the bumpy laplata hwy.
i went over some rr tracks at around 60mph
and i didnt have any real problems
it stayed pointed where i wanted it to go.
after every drive i look at welds and bolts etc.
but i am probably just being a worrywart.

Originally Posted by billy zz

you guys had me worried about the bump steer issue.
i have installed a stabilizer.
and now that it is legal to drive i have been blasting around on the bumpy laplata hwy.
i went over some rr tracks at around 60mph
and i didnt have any real problems
it stayed pointed where i wanted it to go.
after every drive i look at welds and bolts etc.
but i am probably just being a worrywart.

That's Great............... Sounds like you're having fun, thats what it's all about. As for bump steer it looked like it would give you problems. But if the axle and drag link move in the same arc, or really close, thats all that counts. And if your front spring is stiff, the less axle travel over bumps the less bump steer you would have even if not perfect. Looks like your guy knew what he was designing even if it looked questionable. Hope everything works as planed. It's alot more fun when you can drive the snot outa it and not have to redo somthing.......... Have a blast...........

Bumpsteer is more of an aggravation than a danger; you will learn to compensate for it somewhat as you drive the car more. Little bumps in the road will have little effect; big dips or waves in the road will be more noticeable. The setup you have will tend to pull right under acceleration and left when braking. You will learn to correct for it with steering input. As Dave said, the amount of bumpsteer is directly proportional to the deflection of the front suspension. I am more concerned about that welded Pittman arm; just make sure it's gusseted properly and you'll be good to go.

update
i took it on a bumpy county road
(shhh dont tell on me)
2 observations.
1 i didnt notice any bumpsteer
2 this thing WILL get on it!

Hee, hee! Fun, ain't it? Nothing like driving an overpowered, lightweight vehicle with no fenders. That's hotrodding at its best!