Hello everyone, I finally am getting to working on my 28 Tudor suspension, I have the split 37 Bones ready, and recently acquired a 4" Drop Axle and Reverse eye spring for it. What I am wondering is on a Vega style Steering, do you have to have the frame Boxed, or can you mount it inside the C channel of the Frame to Gain some more room? I plan on using the Unisteer Rack setup, which uses the Vega mounting. Just looking to get the most room out of the engine bay as possible, for headers and what not.
The frame will flex if not boxed. I added a panhard bar and bracket to the vega box mount and still some frame flexing. The panhard bar keeps the axle centered with the split bones setup. I have a large diameter wheel so sometimes a lot of work dodging Ontario pot holes.
You can use the mount as a boxing plate by welding it to the frame so it mounts flush with the inside of the rails, or make your own mount/boxing plate from some 3/8ths thick plate. Then drill all the way through the frame to mount it in double shear. Like Steves29 said, it will flex and crack sooner or later if not boxed.
The unisteer will want to mount further forward than the Vega. You can retrofit a Unisteer into a Vega car but not the reverse. I am not a fan of the Unisteer. Limited turning radius and really ugly. They stick out on the drivers side so watch for radius rod interference. You need to box the frame with either box.
X2!! I took off a real vega box (GM) and put on a Unisteer! No difference in driving feel and what Andy said about turning radius and it is butt ugly!! The most important thing is to get a high quality box(GM)!! Borgenson has to real GM boxes!! More expensive than Unisteer but looks allot better!! Unisteer is a fine product but if looks are inportant then a Vega box is the way to go!! IMO! Pete
It will have fenders and running boards, so no one will see either setup, I just cant bring my self to pay $500.00 for a steering box that isn't a power steering box. I am not to picky either way, I just dont want the thing to be impossible to turn. I will have a 14" steering wheel, since im a fat guy and big wheels interfere with mu belly.
Next question is on the Drag link and steering rods, is there any issue with going Aluminum? I have a bunch of Sprint car radius rods/ steering rods laying around, and I could use them but want to make sure they are safe enough to use.
From personal experience, I can affirm that without boxing the rails, the frame will flex. You can see it for yourself when the car is sitting still and you turn the steering wheel. Regarding the aluminum parts, I have an aluminum drag link on my cross steering. It's been on for over 10 years and no problems.
Well at least that is good news. Looks like vega box w/ Aluminum steering rods it is. I'll h as very to pull the body apart after all. So I can get the frame out from under this bad boy and box it. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
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