Vega steering throttle & advance?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Vega steering throttle & advance?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jon Allen on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 12:26 pm:

Ok, so you need better steering in a speedster. So I did it. Vega box from Speedway Motors. Here is a picture:



Here is one a little closer:


Ok. So the question for you speedster guys is how do you hook up the throttle and advance rods so that they still work with the standard rods on the steering wheel?
I will be using a two u-joint (double D) connector rod to hook the T steering rod to the Vega box.
Any ideas or experience greatly appreciated!
Thanks & Regards,
Jon


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Walt Berdan, Bellevue, WA on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 01:00 pm:

First, get the top u-joint as far forward from the firewall as you can. If you are lucky you may be able to get away with a single u-joint. All depends on the angles and what flexibility you have with your mounting brackets for the steering box. Then it's a matter of making a couple little brackets to support the timing and throttle rods. I didn't plan that ahead and would need to remodel things to make it work on my car. I only used one u-joint but it's too close to the firewall and blocks the control rods. I'd planned on a foot throttle anyway and use a choke cable to control the advance. It would be nice to have the levers functional though even if you have a foot throttle.

You may find it necessary to add another brace between the steering box and the engine pan to limit the flex in the frame. A simple cross bar worked for me (although I used a VW rather than Vega box).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jon Allen on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 01:55 pm:

Thank you, Walt. That bolt-in frame bracket for the Vega box is a modified '34-'41 Ford bracket (Speedway Motors). I modified it by moving the bottom shelf up a bit so it would fit inside the T frame. Fortunately there IS a bottom shelf (not visible ) that has two more frame bolts in it. So maybe it will be stable enough. I had to make a small notch in my pan to provided a bit more clearance for the Vega box.
Maybe I can make a control rod base that will bolt in down near the Vega box. That is, of course, what Ford did on the stock T.
The T steering shaft will be cut shorter and machined for a double D u-joint. That will be either hooked directly to the Vega box or connected with a short double D connector rod.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Jon


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Barrett on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 02:50 pm:

On the cars we have built I left enough room below the firewall to attach levers on the spark and throttle rods. We use choke cables to operate those functions.
Walt is correct about a link to secure the frame. The steering box will twist the frame when you turn. I use a short link with aircraft heim joins on both ends between the steering box mount and one of the oil pan bolts.
Looks like a nice car in progress. Chaffin Rajo? I have one, have not run it yet.
Erik


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jon Allen on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 07:53 pm:

Yes, that is a RAJO kit from Mark Chaffin.
Erik and Walt - do you have a picture of the mount from the steering to the pan bolt?
Thanks for the ideas.
Regards,
Jon


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 09:31 pm:

I was thinking a choke cable for the spark and foot feed with a choke cable on a slide for cruising.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 09:33 pm:

I am doing a right hand drive speedster with a distributor, that choke cable idea may be the just the ticket for that one.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andy Clary on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 11:39 am:

Choke cables are usually a solid wire in a wound housing. for the foot throttle you would want smoother movement. A motorcycle shop should be able to set you up with a throttle cable for not much money.

Andy


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