Steering Problem on the Tuna Boat! UGGG

[Dave]

Someone was repoping them there rag joints don but i cant remember who it was.. Remember google can be your friend although i couldnt google a good restraunt in woodbridge VA last week but in 30 seconds i found the state liquor store was only a block and 1/2 away.. Imagine that.     .
Im gonna make an educated guess here that the bolt for the clamp on the rag joint was loose inducing free play both up and down and back and forth in the joint because it wasnt tight on the splines. Dont stand in front of the car with the boy driving and dont * him off before you try this
I think your on to the root of the problem.
Dave
oh i shower all the time and your still trainable but dont get too smart.



http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+400574+115+4294815103

Try that link .. made by ididit and sold by summit racing and no i dont know ehat spline your box and shaft has but if you can hold it closer to your monitor ill take a guess.......

[Dave]

if its a 605 replacement box the look here

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/F-1955-1956-1957-CHEVROLET-RAG-JOINT-FOR-605-STEERING_W0QQitemZ4649127277QQihZ002QQcategoryZ34200QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem


Dave

[enjenjo]

1) I used the term "flex" when describing the steering box when it is under load, meaning it moves a tiny, tiny bit.. like any mechanical device when its under load. I am gonna have the kid do a little driving in the drive way and in front of the house, while I walk along side and see if it moves.

The flexing may be in the frame, as it was not originally designed for the loads it is seeing now. It can be fixed if that is the case, but it's a job for a pro.

2) Where do I purchase a rag joint, and I assume that is not the official name of this steering shaft /universal joint/ rubber dampener?

You can get just the rubber part of a rag joint at most auto parts stores, to get the conplete joint, you may have to see a dealer.  A common misconception is that a rag joint will act as a Ujoint. They will not last if they are misaligned. They are there to dampen vibration feedback from the steering. If the shaft is misaligned at the steering box, a Ujoint with vibration damper from Borgeson, or Flaming river is a better solution.

3) Ugly Olds typing skills

His real problem is he can't spell. He went to a small country school, and the teacher only knew 11 letters, so that's all he knows. Also, he can only count to 7

4) Dave's showering habits.

No help here.

[slocrow]

Hey Don, what was actually done for you by that helpful HAMB'er, a little while back. You remember, wife was out of reach, kid had to be to a new job, you were at a track.............Wasn't there some repair done to the steering? Maybe it was just a temp fix. CRS has settled in.......Frank

[msuguydon]

Hey Don, what was actually done for you by that helpful HAMB'er, a little while back. You remember, wife was out of reach, kid had to be to a new job, you were at a track.............Wasn't there some repair done to the steering? Maybe it was just a temp fix. CRS has settled in.......Frank

As mentioned before, the power steering box that I have on my car is not a 1958 assist.  

So welded to the inside of the frame rail is a metal mounting plate and the power steering box is bolted to this plate and through the frame rail.

What happened was that the weld broke along the top of mounting plate and frame.  This break allowed the steering box to move all over the place but it stay attached to the frame as the top bolt held.

We unbolted the steering box from the frame and steering shaft then
Rooman, Hamber and professional chassis builder re-welded the mounting plate back to the frame rail, added some gussets and we re-bolted the steering box in place.

[Dave]

Hey Don, what was actually done for you by that helpful HAMB'er, a little while back. You remember, wife was out of reach, kid had to be to a new job, you were at a track.............Wasn't there some repair done to the steering? Maybe it was just a temp fix. CRS has settled in.......Frank

As mentioned before, the power steering box that I have on my car is not a 1958 assist.  

So welded to the inside of the frame rail is a metal mounting plate and the power steering box is bolted to this plate and through the frame rail.

What happened was that the weld broke along the top of mounting plate and frame.  This break allowed the steering box to move all over the place but it stay attached to the frame as the top bolt held.

We unbolted the steering box from the frame and steering shaft then
Rooman, Hamber and professional chassis builder re-welded the mounting plate back to the frame rail, added some gussets and we re-bolted the steering box in place.

Ya ok so lets look at that rag joing and fix it or get a new one or as Frank suggested maybe better to put a regular ujoint in there.. And yes we got the picture thats its not a 58 box so im guessing its a 605..
Get off the computer and get out there and get r fixed..  
   :!:   Dave

[enjenjo]

Don, looking back at the pictures, it appears to have cracks in the frame near the top of the steering box.

[58 Yeoman]

Frank, I think that what you are seeing is the 'boxing' of the frame from  the factory; there are actually two layers there.  Mine is the same, only has a little more welding done along the joint.

[Dave]

Don, looking back at the pictures, it appears to have cracks in the frame near the top of the steering box.

Good eye Frank im seeing the same thing. :?:  :?:  :?:
dave

[Charlie Chops 1940]

You guys got better eyes than I do...if there is cracking maybe there isn't a crush tube or tubes where needed inside the frame rail. If not, tightening the bolts that go all the way through only crush the frame rail and loosen up because the rail moves in under use.

Charlie

[sirstude]

Frank,  You looking at the one that is about at the rag joint and appears kind of rusty, or the line that runs out of the small hole about 2 inches in front of the rag joint?  I think the rusty one is just a double layer too, but I would be tempted to weld it anyway.

Don, like Charlie says, are there crush sleeves between the 2 sides of the frame where the steering box bolts?  Or is the frame drilled and the bolts only go through the plate that you had welded up?  

Doug

[UGLY OLDS]

WOW    Look at all the letters  :!:  :!:  :!: I'm still working on my rep

[Fat Cat]

I think that the area enjenjo is talking about is this one.

[enjenjo]

At the right end of the top rectangle, there looks to be a crack that does down the inside of the frame. Also, what they said about the crush sleeves.

[msuguydon]

I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th.  Lots of rain here, but we did have a chance to grill some steaks and take a dip in the pool!  

Spent most the day installing interior windshield and door garnish, man I hate those * interior window felts and the stupid staple attachment .... but the new pieces make the car look NICEer!

Crush tubes, I am no frame guy but there are round openings on the outside of the frame and inside portion of the frame rail. I can reach into them and feel metal material, some of the tubes are bigger, some are smaller, I assume these are crush tubes, if so, they are there.

Cracking... I have done my best to really look at this section of frame, I believe what you are seeing are seams from the 2nd skin.  They are all welded in place, I see NOO cracks.  

I made an inaccurate statement earlier, the steering box is held in place by 3 bolts, however only one goes through the frame, the top bolt.  The others mount to little ears, that are welded in place to the bottom of the frame and to the mounting bracket,  this was an area that Rooman added gussets and rewelded in place.  The did not break, but he cut them out and added some stuff and re-welded in place.