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Projects The Flathead Flathead

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Jeff34, Aug 30, 2021.

  1. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    Starting to look like my idea of a hot rod…
    IMG_1864.JPG IMG_1865.JPG IMG_1866.JPG
     
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  2. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    I have an issue that I'm trying to track down, and could use a little guidance/help. Last Sunday as I was driving home from an event across town, I made a right hand turn, and the car turned HARD right much more than I had turned the wheel. Startled me, but I got it straightened up and home. I lifted the front off the floor and tried pushing and pulling to see if something was obvious, but I didn't find anything. I'm pulling the Tie Rod and Drag Link to clean up all the parts, replace the seals, cups, and springs to see if that makes an improvement. I'll adjust the steering box (again) to see if that helps and check toe-in (again). Other thoughts on what might be causing this? I know bump-steer could be contributing, but there wasn't a vertical motion component during the turn. Could just the roll of the body cause this type of reaction?
     
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  3. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    Tail.jpg Also got the tail light mount cut down to size and mounted to the back with the plate.
     
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  4. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    Additional information on steering. With the Tie Rod disconnected, the play in the front wheel is significant. If I turn the wheel half way to the right stop, and pull the back of the wheel out, it moves significantly more than expected. I tightened both of the adjustments on the steering box VERY tight, and it still happens. I think something is happening inside the steering box, so I'm going to pull it and tear it down. I think that's fine since I need to replace the gear oil that's in it with some cornhead grease. Of course, if anybody has another suggestion, please let me know since I'm not looking forward to tearing the box down...
     
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  5. Dedsoto
    Joined: Jan 7, 2014
    Posts: 320

    Dedsoto
    Member
    from Australia
    1. Aussie HAMBers

    I had a similar experience on an old farm hack I picked up, had excessive play in the king pins
     
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  6. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    I decide to take a deep breath and check things out a bit more last night before I pulled the box out. Looks like a lot of work, and if I can avoid it, that would be great. I disconnected the drag link from the pitman arm. When I pushed on the pitman arm, it didn't have too much slack, but I noticed that the steering wheel would move in and out as I pushed harder allowing the pitman arm to move further. It took more force to drive the worm axially, which might be why it happened during the turn. I took the worm adjuster screw out, and noticed that the screw wasn't landing on the flat on the upper race housing, but rather on the O.D. Whoever put the box together didn't get them lined up. So I rotated the race housing until the flat was aligned with the hole, put the screw back in, and adjusted the axial play. Now the movement of the Pitman arm is minimal. I reconnected the drag link, and movement of the wheel is minimal. Now I just need to get the rubber seals for each end of the tie rod, reassemble everything, and adjust toe. Hopefully this solves the problem, and I don't need to pull the box to figure this out. Fingers crossed.
     
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  7. Nobey
    Joined: May 28, 2011
    Posts: 1,489

    Nobey
    Member

    Jeff, you might try moving the wheel back and forth just enough to start everything moving. If you
    can have someone move the wheel for you, while you watch every component start to move, by doing
    this you will see what is slack, this is done while the wheels are on the ground. You might have a broken
    spring in the tie rod end. Next jack each wheel up and grab the tire top and bottom moving it to determine
    king pin play. Good luck.....
     
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  8. rusty valley
    Joined: Oct 25, 2014
    Posts: 3,883

    rusty valley
    Member

    Nice solid lookin roadster, congrats. I believe that red horn is supposed to sound like a cow, have you "honked' it yet?
     
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  9. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    Thanks, Nobey. I pulled all the springs out and cleaned them up. They are all intact. No play in the kingpins. There is a bit of wear on the rod end balls, but not bad. Hoping that the end play on the box will "fix" it. Should know more when the new seals arrive and I can grease it back up and drive it. I'd also like to check to see what the caster angle is. I know it can't be changed, but maybe there's something funky going on at the wishbone mount.

    Thanks RV. Yup, sounds like a cow!
     
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  10. Nobey
    Joined: May 28, 2011
    Posts: 1,489

    Nobey
    Member

    Sounds good Jeff. Some other things to check would be the wishbone ball, some have springs on the cap and
    can come loose. Look at the U bolts for tightness and make sure the spring didn't shift and the spring bolt is
    still seated in the cross member. Stock wheels can be a problem as they crack around the spokes at the center.
    Lug nuts, axle nuts tight. Something went wrong for sure, so don't trust it until you find it. Are you going to
    pull the box apart and check the sector? Sound like there was a problem with the box assembly. I'm confident
    you'll find the problem, you just have to check everything. Good luck Bud....
     
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  11. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Ahh...Pucker moments...Death Wobble sucks...anything loading metal in shear is worrisome...chasing slop...thou's at a time...Even if the Cars Solid doesn't mean all is A-Ok and your Near Mobile...Boy you're really going Prewar...
     
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2021
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  12. Nobey
    Joined: May 28, 2011
    Posts: 1,489

    Nobey
    Member

    Yeah Stogy it can be frightening, the car sat for a long time and it could be something as simple as a stuck spring
    shackle that let go in the turn.....
     
  13. carpok
    Joined: Dec 29, 2009
    Posts: 552

    carpok
    Member
    from Indy

    Great story enjoyed the read will be following along.
    I’m really glad the deal with the boat and the trip all worked out. A few years ago I made a 600 mile one way, trip with a two place car trailer and a pocket full of cash to buy a couple old cars. Two separate owners and ended up coming home with a empty trailer. Neither car was close to being as advertised what a let down.
     
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  14. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    Removed the top and “refinished” the belt line wood. I was going to fill all the holes and try to make it look “pretty” but I think that would have been too nice. Decide to give it a quick sand and put some cutting board finish and furniture wax on it. I like it. IMG_1891.JPG
     
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  15. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,544

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Great deal!---You scored good on that swap!---Wish I had that old bull horn!
     
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  16. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    Looking at the axle more closely. I tried to measure caster, and it appears to be 0 degrees. I also noticed that both ends of the axle are angled backwards by a bit. I looked at my 34 pu axle and it’s straight. Bent axle?
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Here’s the right side
    IMG_1939.JPG
    And the left
    IMG_1940.JPG
     
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  17. Nobey
    Joined: May 28, 2011
    Posts: 1,489

    Nobey
    Member

    That is not good Jeff. You need a straight axle, you can check them with a straight edge. They also
    make cones with rods that go through the king pin and perch holes so you can see if all four holes
    line up. Most of the axles that you find a swap meets are bent. Also check that wish bone, it too might
    be bent. I will look in the barn today and see if I have a straight A axle for you.....
     
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  18. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,407

    alchemy
    Member

    That last pic shows a bent tie rod. You should replace that immediately. They are not really thick walled tubes, there is a slug in the end to provide support for the threads. Any significant bend like that is a future bend or break point.
     
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  19. Nailhead A-V8
    Joined: Jun 11, 2012
    Posts: 1,343

    Nailhead A-V8
    Member

    ^^it's not just bent but slotted and worn through...axle is bent time to find a dropped axle
     
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  20. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    Pulled out the front end yesterday. Pretty shabby workmanship all around. Once I had it mostly apart I noticed that the spring perch bolts are loose in the axle, and the nuts holding them on aren’t even spring perch nuts, just flat bottom castle nuts. Axle wobbles around on the wishbone. Who does this shitty work on a car?
    Once I get it all apart, I’ll have the axle straightened and put it all back together properly. Hopefully that fixes the steering issues.
     
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  21. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    I got my 16” wires back from powder coating last week and found these on my porch yesterday. 16x6 F and 16x6.5 R. I’ll get them mounted and installed and get you more pics. Excited to see these Blockley’s on the roadster. AB3413CB-DCCC-4F3B-8D07-69A708AC617F.jpeg 55905F65-6BA8-4338-A17B-E728C02FB798.jpeg 640B0A41-A334-49B3-A024-FC729FFFCFE2.jpeg
     
    JalopyJimbo, Tim, Outback and 11 others like this.
  22. 101Scout
    Joined: Oct 30, 2009
    Posts: 54

    101Scout
    Member

    Great looking roadster! Hopefully straightening the axle will sort out your steering issues. It would look great with a dropped axle or lowered using all old Ford parts with the mechanical brakes. Love it!
     
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  23. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    851D183C-38F6-436E-88FC-85528930E532.jpeg Got my tyres mounted and installed. Me like!
     
  24. Nobey
    Joined: May 28, 2011
    Posts: 1,489

    Nobey
    Member

    Man, that's a good looking tire. Time for a test drive.....
     
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  25. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    done! Drives and tracks much better than before. I have caster now and it feels good. Still going to straighten the axle. Took some pics of the stable mates earlier today. 029284D5-4454-41C8-B9B9-B5146A738CF7.jpeg 34E11BD5-2341-4ED3-9B00-62922C709E63.jpeg 20590E89-C5EF-411C-B4D2-673227AFA926.jpeg 403FD80E-37B6-4D5F-9627-D1C82B0B3CDB.jpeg F4B92F89-4D7E-4D4B-AEF7-2EF76813AB83.jpeg 74AA0B4C-E4E8-4D68-BC14-4749A752F1FC.jpeg A215047A-70C7-411E-B09B-2761CFB7C4A1.jpeg
     
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  26. Rickybop
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 9,606

    Rickybop
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Sweet little Jitney now.
     
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  27. Nobey
    Joined: May 28, 2011
    Posts: 1,489

    Nobey
    Member

    If you put a couple of those shots in black and white, it would look like 1940 Wow..... We must be related Jeff,
    in my barn is a 34 pickup and a Model A roadster. Only difference is your A is running. Ha!
     
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  28. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member

    Like this :)

    1.jpeg
     
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  29. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 904

    Jeff34
    Member

    Had the roadster out for a drive today. Went to the warehouse district for some pics.
    F6AFCAA6-9CCC-4285-8D92-7473F46C60D9.jpeg B7985F2A-DDE2-4311-8F78-1D9B1F0ABD86.jpeg
     
    JalopyJimbo, Tim, wcben and 9 others like this.
  30. Craig Owens
    Joined: Jun 28, 2006
    Posts: 464

    Craig Owens
    Member

    Lookin' good, Jeff!
     
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