The T in my head, thoughts?

[Gerry]

Should be relatively simple to get a glass supplier to cut and have a flat sheet screen like your toughened, if that's the way you want to go.

I was told for a screen in glass, go for toughened, not laminated. Laminated cracks really easy on a fibreglass T Body due to it flexing. Toughened can resist quite a lot of flexing so long as its mounted in/on rubber. Use old inner tubes bits on the bottom corners and the top ones.

 

[Spanky]

Here in the 'colonies,' some places require what we call "Safety Glass" which is the laminated stuff for windshields. Tempered glass is OK for side/back windows, but I believe the regulations call for laminated glass in front. Just sayin' . . .

 

[Mykk]

Although we are still working through this pandemic as it hasn't officially hit our area, work has been slow enough that I left after a couple of hours and went to my shop to get some more work done on the project:

Cut down and mock mounted the steering column and wheel by tacking the steering shaft to the steering gear input spline.









Column and wheel from a '67 Corvair

 

[DonnyRay]

California governor Gavin Nuisance has ordered all Californians to stay home. Your windshield looks great.

 

[Spanky]

Column and wheel from a '67 Corvair

Great looking wheel; that one is overlooked, but to me is as appealing as the '40 Ford wheel that a lot of rodders choose. Will you keep the horn ring, and if so, will it be functional?

 

[Mykk]

California governor Gavin Nuisance has ordered all Californians to stay home. Your windshield looks great.

We haven't received that order (yet) in Arizona, but it's coming.

 

[Mykk]

 

[choppinczech]

You have some serious skills.

 

[DonnyRay]

Looks good Mykk.

 

[Mykk]

My plan for steering, as of this moment, is to TIG & gusset this part of a cut off drop pitman arm to the steering arm on the spindle. To raise the tie-rod contact point above the steering arm.



This will hopefully reduce the otherwise extreme steering rod angle from the gearbox.



I think the important thing for this steering arm modification to work is to not go over center of the tierod angle, like it would in this pic:



I still need to find a pitman arm for the steering gear, which is tougher then it sounds. Then see where the full lock to the one side puts the steering rod in relationship to the steering arm, because the wheel max turning as of now does put the angle over center.

 

[Mykk]

Side note: On a positive, I can step in and out of either side without actively trying to not touch the exhaust. My legs aren't near the pipes. I'll still heat wrap the pipes & mufflers where they get close to the body and of course permanently mount that heat shield.

 

[Mykk]

Hit a snag with the cowl steering & turning headlights:

TIG'd the steering arm together:





However, moving the steering tie-rod out of the spindle axis made for an un-even turning Right vs Left ratio.

I set up a tape measure, marked the center of the steering arm and then turned the wheel in each direction:

Left - one turn of steering wheel, steering arm moved 1 3/8" from center. Two turns of steering wheel, steering arm moved 2.5" from center.
Right - one turn of steering wheel, steering arm moved 1 3/4" from center. Two turns of steering wheel, steering arm moved 4.5" from center. And the steering rod was susceptible to going over center.

So, for now I removed the turning headlights. Modified the other steering arm for a raised contact for the tie-rod in the spindle axis.





Of course it's in mock up, I'll need a different steering arm to modify (tapered for the tie rod instead of threaded) and I don't think my big headlights are going to fit.

 

[DonnyRay]

I think you'll figure it out.

 

[old round fart]

Is the front end alignment close? Looks like a lot of toe out from the picture.

 

[Spanky]

I don't think my big headlights are going to fit.

That'd be a shame. Gotta figure a way to mount those - they're keepers!

 

[Neshkoro]

I think it's missing the tie rod.

 

[Island Girl]

Hit a snag with the cowl steering & turning headlights:

TIG'd the steering arm together:





However, moving the steering tie-rod out of the spindle axis made for an un-even turning Right vs Left ratio.

I set up a tape measure, marked the center of the steering arm and then turned the wheel in each direction:

Left - one turn of steering wheel, steering arm moved 1 3/8" from center. Two turns of steering wheel, steering arm moved 2.5" from center.
Right - one turn of steering wheel, steering arm moved 1 3/4" from center. Two turns of steering wheel, steering arm moved 4.5" from center. And the steering rod was susceptible to going over center.

So, for now I removed the turning headlights. Modified the other steering arm for a raised contact for the tie-rod in the spindle axis.





Of course it's in mock up, I'll need a different steering arm to modify (tapered for the tie rod instead of threaded) and I don't think my big headlights are going to fit.

You need to connect the steering arm where the light mount hole is and then add a forward bracket for the light, (if there's clearance) . . think sort of mirror image of what you have.

The rotational angle of the spindle has to be the same on each side of the center point per linear distance travelled by the steering arm.

That set back mounting point bolloxed that up big time. . . . . You can see where it gives more leverage but less travel turning left, while giving less leverage with more travel turning right. . . . plus the setback length being greater than the perpendicular distance to the pivot point allowing for the connection to go over center.


If you can move the lights forward to where you can use the normal connection points for the steering rods, you should be OK

 

[Mykk]

I made a thing, it's big & goofy and totally works for the intended purpose.







Just a bit more grinding around the spindle area and it'll bolt up. The gusset is fully TIG'd on the underside, I'm thinking of adding tapered dress up holes to match and blend in with the rest of the vehicle.

Correct pitman arm and steering rod on order. Still need to make headlight perch's off the frame now to fit under the steering arm. May even still have clearance issues with those big headlights.

 

[DonnyRay]

Looks like you might've figured it out Mykk.

 

[Spanky]

I'm thinking of adding tapered dress up holes to match and blend in with the rest of the vehicle.

I really like that idea, Mykk. Turn a "big & goofy" thing into a work of automotive art.