weak shoulders

[CarlG]

... I drive almost daily so I installed a 56 F1 steering box and a short pitman arm. That combo makes it almost like power steering. That is as long as you have a bit of motion before you try to steer. I also run 600 X 16 tire so I'm not fighting the grooves in the road. It is doable.

Same here with the exception of the tires: I'm running 550R19's. Drives like a dream!

 

[Charlie Stephens]

Thanks Charlie, I still do all my own work because I love the challenge. There are just certain things I can't do anymore. But hey, I find another way. It might be slow, but it gets done. Turning a door knob and cranking on a steering wheel are two big no-no's.

Send him the parts from your unit that he needs and get the complete assembly back. I had the opportunity to visit his shop (garage) and he showed me what he was doing. I think for the amount of work he puts into the assemblies I would buy a complete one rather than try to duplicate it. Of course I am saying this not knowing your skills or what equipment you have available.

Charlie Stephens

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

Like Marshall said, a properly rebuilt complete steering system makes all the difference. After that, if it's still too stiff for you, then add the shorter pitman arm.

Modern wide tires also make a car harder to turn, so keep the original ones.

 

[H. L. Chauvin]

Mr. Wingski,

Like with Mr. Carl G's mentioning "Drives Like A Dream" in response No.21, I also have Coker 550-15 "Radial" tires.

I think if you ever had a chance to experience and drive your, or any other Model A with Coker 550-19 Radials you would see and experience a difference like at least that between fresh chicken crap in a paper cup and Baskin Robbins ice cream in a paper cup ..... it is really that much different!

Coker's technicians describes driving with Radials as getting rid of the "white knuckles syndrome" where a Model A driver is always squeezing his steering wheel to where he is almost extracting juice out of the steering wheel to keep it from wandering at every seam in the road or with every gust of cross wind.

Just for Life Safety, and comfortable driving, I would never again drive with regular 19" "bias" tires even if these tires were free.

Can you drive your modern car ..... do you have to squeeze your modern steering wheel constantly fighting wandering ....... does it have radial tires?

Radial tires, (550-19's), on a Model A can relieve lots of constant driving stress and allow driving to be as comfortable as driving a modern car.

Hope this helps.

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Well, looks like I'm a MINORITY of ONE!!
IF drivin' it would cause MORE DAMAGE to my POOR OOOOLD BODY, I'd dump it a FLASH!---Po' OLD bodies are SLOW & DIFFICULT to heal up!
I'm 81 & had Polio & every kind of CHASSIS SURGERIES, that you can imagine!
I'd get another Dog & stick to FUN Workbench ProjectsETC.
YOU'LL GET OVER IT, IT AIN'T THE END OF THE WORLD & you'll git a lots of SYMPATHY, (Like, WOE is you)
Think about your SLEEPLESS nights, when the PAINS are goin'--ZOING-ZOING-ZOING!!!---(Whar's my ANTI-PAIN-PILLS?)
Bill W.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

It's pretty modern, but my 1950 Studebaker Champion sure steers easy, just in case you want to change cars.

 

[wingski]

Hey Bill, you really hit it right on the head with “Zoing, zoing, zoing. The thing I hate most about those zoings is they wake me up and I’m angry. Not at anybody or anything, just angry. The Ford Barn helps me get over that so I can go back to sleep or not.

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Hey Bill, you really hit it right on the head with “Zoing, zoing, zoing. The thing I hate most about those zoings is they wake me up and I’m angry. Not at anybody or anything, just angry. The Ford Barn helps me get over that so I can go back to sleep or not.

Wingski,
It's HARD to console someone who's in PAIN. I just tell them "Been there & done that, & I KNOW the HELL you're going through"!
Bill W.