Goodbye Kansas

[ERA2076]

They are beautiful - not like you just go to Tire Rack and order up a set.

[ERA2076]

We want to stiffen the steering linkage so we opted to go with some Howe Racing stuff and have been beating around how to attach.



While browsing around here for a solution to some other problem, I came across an ERA owner who added a cross brace so he could add down tubes.

We got hold of some .062 rec tubing and mocked it up. We are going to weld a plate between the firewall tube and the new tube and then mount the steering column to that. We are going to use 3/4 x .120 DOM tube for the steering shaft to the rack.

There is 8" of collapse/extension in the column so I should be able to put the wheel right where I want it in relation to the seat, screen, and pedals.

The Street Dash goes right back in - maybe a little wiring re-route, but nothing really.

[ERA2076]

The drivers foot box shows some stress cracking from the steering, but not at the bearing. The bearing we are putting in is larger so we must modify the box to accept it.

I am thinking of sandwiching the box front wall between aluminum sheet and riveting together. I would cover a larger area than the stock mounting surface to spread load.

The lower inside corner shows stress. Add some sheet here? I don't care about the cracks, but want to stop flexing.

Things to know?

x-cliff

[ERA2076]

We got some more work done this week.

We installed the rear cradle assembly and dialed it in so that wheel back spacing and shock length could be determined. We have some adjustable blocks we use for setting frame height. With the frame sitting at ride height, we cycle the suspension to check for clearance.



These are steel wheels 15 X 10 X 4.5 BS. There is plenty of room to run 4.5 BS on the inside, but a brake package would not work. I purchased 4.5 so I could shim back out checking for interference e.g. caliper clearance, body interference, etc. The 10" wheel increased the tire section by 1/4"



A 3.890 Backspace yields 2.1" of Bump
A 3.700 Backspace yields 1.8" of Bump

The calipers will be very close to fitting at 3.890, but I think will interfere with the inside of the whee barelyl. I will shim out as needed to get clearance. I do not have the calipers yet so I cannot final fit. Wilwood sent me a mockup caliper, but if I scratch it I own it so I am unwilling to mount it in the car. They are building a set with Thermlock pistons.

This picture is 3.700 BS with 1.8" bump. The calipers will fit with this BS, but I will try to shim the least to preserve bump. Tires are Avon. The Avons and steel wheels are laughably heavy.





I built a lid for the reservoirs



I had to bulid a new floor plate. The Tilton pedals come with a pedestal under each cylinder. The pedestals under the gas and brake are used to fasten the pedals down. I did not think about the one under the clutch until I tried to adjust the pedals all the way forward. We added an extension to the steel plate for the clutch pedestal and cut a new slot for it to slide in. You see it on the left.

[ERA2076]

I installed the new bearing into the foot box. The box is clearly being stressed at the bearing you can see the fractures in the gel coat.



I folded a 3 sided box shape and attached it to the inside corner of the box.



I am hoping the roof connection will stop the stress along the bottom, but I may bend some alum and attach to these two surfaces.



Started messing with the new dash.

[DanEC]

I'm surprised you are getting some stress cracks in the footboxes - they are pretty stout and the steering column bearing shouldn't be transferring any great loads to them due to the universal joint and the column brace. But, a few stress cracks are not an indication of pending breakage with fiberglass. It looks like you have it well reinforced now.