Flathead A Roadster

In this pic you can see a pitman arm. I would say there is a drag link connected to the tie rod.
This arrangement can be problematical if the tie rod can twist, causing lost steering motion. (A friend tried this many years ago). I would be interested to see the drag link/tie rod connection. Mart.
 

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Mart said:
In this pic you can see a pitman arm. I would say there is a drag link connected to the tie rod.
This arrangement can be problematical if the tie rod can twist, causing lost steering motion. (A friend tried this many years ago). I would be interested to see the drag link/tie rod connection. Mart.
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When I built the chassis for the Green Hornet this steering setup had already been road proven by Walden Speed Shop and Johnson's Hot Rod Shop. I used a stainless tie rod from Johnson's with the drag link eye built into the tie rod. Dale has over 8000 miles on the car including a trip from Minn to the LARS last summer. Check Johnson's website for a picture of the tie rod under suspension parts.
 
Mart said:
In this pic you can see a pitman arm. I would say there is a drag link connected to the tie rod.
This arrangement can be problematical if the tie rod can twist, causing lost steering motion. (A friend tried this many years ago). I would be interested to see the drag link/tie rod connection. Mart.
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I can see Exactly how a twisting moment would be exerted on that rod if it had a threaded end on the right that became loosened. Talk about a loose goose with a screw loose. That's a lot of slop....I see the advantage of that fixed eye.
 
The application shown on the A roadster and I talk about works fine if built correctly, is perfectly safe and does not make the car squirrley to drive. When I have done it in the past I've used only the best components and my machine shop is the best. I would not risk someones life with shoddy parts or workmanship.
 
Mart said:
In this pic you can see a pitman arm. I would say there is a drag link connected to the tie rod.
This arrangement can be problematical if the tie rod can twist, causing lost steering motion. (A friend tried this many years ago). I would be interested to see the drag link/tie rod connection. Mart.
Click to expand...


There's no doubt that it's been done in the past, like this Jeep application, and the one below. I was just curious about how they did it on this extreme example.


Coop


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Krylon32 said:
This type of application hides the drag link under the car. Clean look on a fenderless car
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Clean for sure. Depends on the look you are going for. Looks great on this car.

That said, these types of things are leaning closer towards street rod vs. hot rod in my opinion.
 
This Model A roadster sure as hell ain't no street rod and I don't consider most of the 100's of chassis I've done for customers over the years street rod rod chassis. I tried to keep them headed in the hot rod direction. Every old car built doesn't have to have a banger or Flathead with wish bones, side steer and 36 rear bones to be a hot rod. Some times I wonder why I comment on this forum. The Ford Barn may be beyond my area of expertise?
 
Krylon32 said:
This Model A roadster sure as hell ain't no street rod and I don't consider most of the 100's of chassis I've done for customers over the years street rod rod chassis. I tried to keep them headed in the hot rod direction. Every old car built doesn't have to have a banger or Flathead with wish bones, side steer and 36 rear bones to be a hot rod. Some times I wonder why I comment on this forum. The Ford Barn may be beyond my area of expertise?
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Gary,

I didn't mean to offend you and it was not intend as a shot toward you or your work. My comment is simply my opinion.

The need for two u joints to line up a steering box is not traditional in any sense of the word. That type of stuff lives is the world of street rods in my opinion.

I will admit that I have a narrow view of what makes a car a traditional "hot rod", but in the end it is just my opinion.

You have every right to not agree with it. To be clear, what I said is that type of set up is leaning towards street rod. I didn't say it was a street rod.

My comment should not take away from the car as I said repeatedly it is a clean build and looks great.

Tim
 
Krylon32 said:
The application shown on the A roadster and I talk about works fine if built correctly, is perfectly safe and does not make the car squirrley to drive. When I have done it in the past I've used only the best components and my machine shop is the best. I would not risk someones life with shoddy parts or workmanship.
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And from one Gary to another... The intent of my comment about 'loose steering' was that with a thread at each end and and the lock nut became loose there would be lost motion. I would be the last one to criticise your's or any number of the other barners skills or the suitability of one's project as fordbarn material. Don't forget who introduced the barn to a cobbled together half Japanese frankentruck. Talk about breaking the rules! End of rant.
 
Tim Ayers said:
Gary,

I didn't mean to offend you and it was not intend as a shot toward you or your work. My comment is simply my opinion.

You have every right to not agree with it. To be clear, what I said is that type of set up is leaning towards street rod. I didn't say it was a street rod.
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Gary .... I KNOW what kind of stuff you build, and for sure, it ain't STREET RODDISH! I know that I place a mighty high value on the way you do things.
Plus remember this: That roadster up above ain't got no lawn chairs nor a can of wax in the trunk, so it CAN'T be a dang street rod! Anybody that puts 409 water pumps on a flathead has to have his head in the right place!!

Coop

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This is a beautiful piece of art and superb craftsmanship. The only thing I see that bothers me is the pitman arm and the connection to the draklink under the scrub line. It is only my opinion.
 
Love the car, The only thing that I am not a fan of is the cross steering. I know I'm a bit fussy, but a drag link and side steering is what I believe is necessary for that true hot rod look up to 1934. I know, like four bar it works better, but isn't happening on any of my builds. JMO
 
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