Today was devoted to finding a path for the steering in the bellytank. There's damn little room in these things when the total diameter is 29 inches and its gotta get past an engine stuffed in there. We mounted the steering reverser on the firewall, and brought a long shaft out past the front of the engine between the left valve cover and where the intake will be. At the far end (front of the engine) we mounted a bearing to support the front end of the shaft. It is attached to a plate we fabricated to attach the bearing to the motor plate. Then we went foward with a second shaft to the rack and pinion steering box. We used double D steering joints (sweet brand) . Most good builders would use a milling machine to produce the flats on the shaft precisely, but we dont have such a toy so we reverted to the "old School" method. If you take your time with a file and grinder its pretty easy to get a really tight fit in the steering joint. I know it doesnt LOOK like a lot of work, but this is what we have to show for the day's effort. The steering takes two turns lock to lock.
Alas the tank will not make it. Next year is our target, The Strange Days crew will be on the salt though. We'll be hanging around the 7878 Pontiac. Stop and say hi!
The Jalopy Journal
