Milwaukee Midget

[Milwaukee Midget]

How about the inside of the steering rack?

That's how Jaguar did it on the '92 XJS-R. 

We should talk more. 

Geo

Oh, dear - If I'm beginning to think like a Jaguar engineer, maybe I should reconsider my fix . . .

Yes, talk more, and drink more, too!    

[fordboy628]

How about the inside of the steering rack?

That's how Jaguar did it on the '92 XJS-R. 

We should talk more. 

Geo

Oh, dear - If I'm beginning to think like a Jaguar engineer, maybe I should reconsider my fix . . .

Yes, talk more, and drink more, too!    

Shaft collars on the steering rack main tube, inside of the ball joint which connects to the "tie rod", is the time honored & traditional way to limit wheel and tire angularity on race cars using stock type steering racks.   Works on everything from Formula Fords (Triumph Spitfire rack) to McClaren Can-Ams (E-type Jag rack I think).

JUST ONE CAUTION, DO NOT DRILL INTO THE RACK MAIN TUBE!!  VERY BAD IDEA!!

Fordboy

[Milwaukee Midget]

Here's what I went with -

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=34309

Just didn't much feel like disassembling the front end this year.

[fordboy628]

Here's what I went with -

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=34309

Just didn't much feel like disassembling the front end this year.

Perfect.

I've seen rack main tubes break off after being drilled for "stop bolts" or locating pins.   I'm sure the failure isn't fun at low speed..........

Fordboy

[manta22]

MM;

Thanks for the link to that Fastenal shaft collar.I looked everywhere for a shaft collar with a 13/16" ID and couldn't find any-- and there it is! I need a pair for locating my anti-roll bar so now I know where to get them.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[Milwaukee Midget]

Gosh, Neil - I'd have expected you to whip something up out of your extensive stocks of ultrararium NASA spec alloys you have lying around in your garage! 

Happy to help. 

[manta22]

Unfortunately I'm out of round stock unobtanium. 

[grumm441]

I believe I have some cheesium stock here somewhere here
and of course, some ultra light weight, Swiss cheesium.
G

[Milwaukee Midget]

I believe I have some cheesium stock here somewhere here
and of course, some ultra light weight, Swiss cheesium.
G

Elactoplated dairy metal.

[USFRAMONTE]

I think all salt flats vehicles have a bit of swiss cheesium in them after running out there a couple of years!!

[Captthundarr]

Down here at the coast (salt water) we have found the swiss cheesium is primarily formed in an alloy compisition that starts with opious amounts of concentrated sodium compound and water.....or spilled beer

[Dr Goggles]

Oh, dear - If I'm beginning to think like a Jaguar engineer, maybe I should reconsider my fix . . .

Were you waiting for me to say something?

[Milwaukee Midget]

Oh, dear - If I'm beginning to think like a Jaguar engineer, maybe I should reconsider my fix . . .

Were you waiting for me to say something?

After seeing the steering set up on YOUR Sprite? 

Well, that was remarkably easy.



There was a tweak necessary on the driver's side.  The casting that holds the pinion has a cup shape on the outside.  The original screws sent with the collars stuck out and hit on it, and I suspect they would have eventually cracked it, or at least compromised the casting.  I took a pair of ¼ 28 beveled machine screws with a smaller hex, and ground them down.  Now the collar clears the inside of the cup and hits flush with the inside of the casting, bottoming out flush.



I'm down to 1 ¼ turns lock-to-lock, but with an 80" wheelbase, I don't think I want any more.

My gymkhana days are over, and I don't have the guts to drive it like a roadster.

Sent off the firebottle for recert, and ordered up a second one for the engine.  Let the plumbing begin.

[Milwaukee Midget]

Crank came back today - all shiny and polishy.  Cleaned, brushed, cleaned, blown out, cleaned, rinsed, cleaned, wiped down, WD40ed, bagged and tagged.

Did I mention that I cleaned it?  Oh, and I cleaned the bag, too.

Dropped off the block - taking .012 off, should yield a pop-up of ~ .008.  Won't take the head in until I can do a quick mock up.

Dropped off the crank trigger wheel and mount with Fordboy last night for the snout mock-up he's putting together.  There was this really cool oil pump he was positioning - I suspect I'm being encouraged, as a dry sump pan for a Spridget was also in plain view.

Made arrangements to drop the car off at a chassis builder north of town in two weeks.  Seems my 1/2 inch tubular gussets have been deemed unsuitable.  I'll have him re-weld the seat belt attachment, install the net and notch the front crossmember to clear the Gilmer setup.  That will coincide with my annual 20-day crunch of double shifts and stupid overtime.  If things go according to plan, I should be able to pick it up on day 21 and jump back at it with both feet.

We've got a pretty good handle on what the cam should be.  Just waiting for the blank.  

[manta22]

MM;

Check to see that your crank grinder chamfered the oil holes in the crank and that they are 'fingernail smooth". Any burrs left there will score your bearings.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ