rusty old nail to sow's ear
- Thread starter sparkywig
- Start date
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Operation late bay steering box started this afternoon.
Well, after a couple of cups of tea anyway.
Crush tubes removed.
I'd show you a pic of the other side of the chassis leg trimmed ready for the conversion plate, but it was so awkward to cut the excess metal out I couldn't be bothered to take one tonight.
Well, after a couple of cups of tea anyway.
Crush tubes removed.
I'd show you a pic of the other side of the chassis leg trimmed ready for the conversion plate, but it was so awkward to cut the excess metal out I couldn't be bothered to take one tonight.
aspro
Well-known member
Pig of a job Si. Definitely not for the faint of heart. Hats off to you for pulling it off. Steering like a boss now?
toffo24
Well-known member
Hi Si
Are you using one of Neils brackets?
Small cuts the order of the day tomorrow
Are you using one of Neils brackets?
Small cuts the order of the day tomorrow
Si,
I've not looked at your gallery for a couple if months and am well impressed with the changes you have made. I just can't believe how quickly you get things done. Hat off to you mate.
Sent from my GX64 SatCom phone using Tapatalk
I've not looked at your gallery for a couple if months and am well impressed with the changes you have made. I just can't believe how quickly you get things done. Hat off to you mate.
Sent from my GX64 SatCom phone using Tapatalk
Thanks chaps.
On with the steering box conversion.
After last night's messing about cutting out the chassis, I thought today would be straightforward.
Was I wrong about that.
Chassis plate lined up and ready to go.
Maybe not then. Note the difference in the plate between the next two pics.
And the way the bolt holes line up, or not in this case.
Plate tacked in place, note modification to inner valance to allow steering box to sit over location holes.
And not forgetting to enlarge the round hole in the other side of the chassis leg.
Welded in place, ground down and rust treated.
Now to sort out the hole misalignment by redrilling the crush tubes.
Late box finally in place and clamp plate modified and fitted.
To be honest, if the late box mounting plate had fitted properly it would've taken about 4 hours less to do the conversion, and if I'd checked everything before starting the job it would've been less stressful as well.
But if you buy a plate ready for the job you would expect it to fit first time, wouldn't you....
Anyway, it's done now and the difference is unbelievable. Much lighter and more responsive steering, no play or wandering and I now know where I'm heading rather than take a vague stab in the general direction.
Oh, and swapping from 5.5" wheels and quality tyres to 4" steels and budgets makes a large difference in handling when you launch into the first roundabout at the usual speed, believe me. :shock:
On with the steering box conversion.
After last night's messing about cutting out the chassis, I thought today would be straightforward.
Was I wrong about that.
Chassis plate lined up and ready to go.
Maybe not then. Note the difference in the plate between the next two pics.
And the way the bolt holes line up, or not in this case.
Plate tacked in place, note modification to inner valance to allow steering box to sit over location holes.
And not forgetting to enlarge the round hole in the other side of the chassis leg.
Welded in place, ground down and rust treated.
Now to sort out the hole misalignment by redrilling the crush tubes.
Late box finally in place and clamp plate modified and fitted.
To be honest, if the late box mounting plate had fitted properly it would've taken about 4 hours less to do the conversion, and if I'd checked everything before starting the job it would've been less stressful as well.
But if you buy a plate ready for the job you would expect it to fit first time, wouldn't you....
Anyway, it's done now and the difference is unbelievable. Much lighter and more responsive steering, no play or wandering and I now know where I'm heading rather than take a vague stab in the general direction.
Oh, and swapping from 5.5" wheels and quality tyres to 4" steels and budgets makes a large difference in handling when you launch into the first roundabout at the usual speed, believe me. :shock:
68_early_bay
Well-known member
Nice work 8)
gninnam said:Nice work (eventually....) :mrgreen:
So you would recommend I take it. On the list of things to do then
Oh yes, the difference is astonishing.
The steering is light and nicely weighted compared to the last two early steering boxes that have been fitted to the bus.
Now I can look forward to fitting the stroker and gearbox.
Steering, brakes and a decent gearshift, it'll be almost like driving into the 80's.....
:msn4:
aspro
Well-known member
sparkywig said:
Decent gearshift Si? Tell us more.
You'll have to wait and see.
aspro
Well-known member
sparkywig said:You'll have to wait and see.
I don't do suspense, suprises or pateince well. I'm guessing you've submitted to the GB hype or have gone against the grain with a bugtech monster dildo.
:lol:
creationblue
Well-known member
Maybe that bracket was for something else :lol:
Probably a lhd..... :roll:
There was a bit of a late pick up and type 3 vibe this morning at the yard.
So much so that I was relegated to the land opposite....
Oh hang on, there's more....
So much so that I was relegated to the land opposite....
Oh hang on, there's more....
Myvanway
Well-known member
Looks like a cool little meet there.... Might be that you parked your bus next to them motors for sale!
How much for the bus mate!? 8) :lol:
How much for the bus mate!? 8) :lol:
For sale?
I don't think so.
It may be an old shitbox, but I'll never part with it.
I've had a whiff of fuel recently after about 5 minutes driving, so after a bit of investigation I found all the fuel pipes to be like this.
The rubber had hardened and just pulled off the brass stubs on the fuel pump even with the clamps fully tightened.
That's R9 rated fuel hose 3 years since being fitted.
As a temporary measure I replaced the section between the pump and pressure regulator, and cut the end off all the other joints and refitted them. It should last long enough until I swap engines in a couple of weeks time.
I don't think so.
It may be an old shitbox, but I'll never part with it.
I've had a whiff of fuel recently after about 5 minutes driving, so after a bit of investigation I found all the fuel pipes to be like this.
The rubber had hardened and just pulled off the brass stubs on the fuel pump even with the clamps fully tightened.
That's R9 rated fuel hose 3 years since being fitted.
As a temporary measure I replaced the section between the pump and pressure regulator, and cut the end off all the other joints and refitted them. It should last long enough until I swap engines in a couple of weeks time.
