Here is a little update and a steering question. This is a on the ground mock up Here is what the steering looks like now (the rod is used for mock up, to get an idea of the drag link angle and setting up the axle position in the wheel well Now for the question I'm going to remove the stock pitman arm off the stock 67 steering box(but the car is a 63) replacing it with a Vega pitman arm, but the hole for the heim joint will be at a angle should I heat and bent the pitman arm to where it is parallel to the ground? Or is it save to leave it at a angle? Thanks
mock it up but i think you have to bend 'em so you are not at the end of the travel on whatever rod ends you are using. plus if you leave the wheels in a stock location I think there is oil pan clearance issues. That will be a cool car though. What motor?
Maybe you can check out some pics & see some things that will work for you. http://public.fotki.com/1badnov/nova-drag-pics/62-67-altered-front-ends/
This is the best picture I can find of the steering angle in my Comet. 3000 miles so far with only a few white knuckle moments. The axle end is about 2" down and 1" forward of the steering box end.
I moved the wheels back to the stock location, yes oil pan clearance will be an issue, but that is why they make pans with notches! http://store.summitracing.com/partd...871271+4294908216+4294907681+115&autoview=sku I ended up keeping the stock drag link, removing the tapered stud and running a 5/8 bolt through it. Now I was told by another car builder to run the fixed shackle in the rear not in the front does it really matter? Here is what I have so far. Axle in stock location The swing shackle I need to finish setting it up with more of a load on it, Drag link with bolt drag link bolt with sleeve This was taken before I moved the axle back, The angle on the dragling will be under 10* at ride height.
we just did one and used about the same stuff only didnt change pittman arm or go to heim ends on it.
I've heard from some people not to put the shackle in the front, but I'm not sure that it actually matters. Jeeps came with the shackles in the front, as well as many 4x4 trucks. I put mine in the front in order to get the camber I wanted without excessive height. I didn't want a street freak. And I think it looks *****in with the shackles hanging down under the front bumper.
I think that I'm going to leave them in the rear (swing shackles). I hope to get all the finish welding on both front and rear frames done in the next couple weeks.
looks like a nice build. So are you able to use your original steering column and box? And i was also wondering where you got your axle setup from? Thanx.
The axle set up is from speedway, 46" I should have got the 48". MII disc with GM metric calipers. I am using the stock box, but out of a 67 and not a 63,as for a column I'm going to use a column from speedway also. I have not got much done on the car a lately but here is what I have so far. I removed two leaves for each spring to get the ride height to where I want it to be. Yes that is snow on the ground. Has two feet of snow on the ground and this is what blew under the door, along with temp's in the mid teen's, I did this work ins December.
Just an FYI for those not familar with the early Novas. The 67 steering box is the ONLY year(of early nova's) that does not use an intregal shaft through the steering column allowing you to use an aftermarket or other steering column.
Hey I just bought the speedway axle kit for my chevy II. I am running the 49-54 chevy spindles and brakes and was wondering if anyone had any problems with the spindles and bearings not fitting around where the kingpin goes through axle hole? I am just wondering if I can grind the top of each side down till it fits? Or am i doing something wrong? Jay.S
I was told by another car builder to run the fixed shackle in the rear not in the front does it really matter? My 2 cents worth - it could matter - as the spring deflects (straightens) it 'stretches' towards the shackle. One end is fixed, one end moves - but the steering box is fixed - wouldn't you want the steering box/pitman arm/drag link closer to the fixed end? Potential bumpsteer? Maybe I'm overthinking it? Gonna be a *****in' car either way!
This same thing was discussed on this thread http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=296954
I don't think you're overthinking it at all but I don't think it matters much with a cross steer arrangement. But if your drag link runs fore and aft you should have the shackles on the end of the spring that's farthest from the steering box. So, if the steering box is ahead of the axle the shackles should be at the rear. I also think it's a good idea to have the drag link on an angle that resembles the arc of the springs. If for example your steering box is mounted behind the axle somewhere near the rear spring eye, the shackles should be at the front of the spring and the drag link should be on an angle that mirrors the arc of the rear half of the leaf spring when viewed from the side. That way when you hit a bump and the spring flattens out it will push the axle forward a little and at the same time the drag link will also become more parallel to the ground. The car should go straight and you shouldn't feel any movement in the wheel. Of course there's other ways to set up a fore and aft setup but this way's probably the simplest. Most large trucks use the kind of geometry I described. On a cross steer setup, you should try to get the drag link as close to parallel with the road as you can, but it'll still steer fine if it's on an angle, as long as the angle isn't extreme.
hey anyone got any pics or ideas on how and where to mount shocks to a speedway axle? i was looking at dragrcr50's photos, but i would like more then one pic. Any help?
This 55 had the shocked angled (25-30*)back toward the movable shackle, witch male sense if you think about it. He justed had a piece of angle iron welded to the frame with a hole drilled in it for the stud very simple.
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