Re: Straight axle steering

I agree the axle is too narrow for a street driven car. Speedway is your best bet for a replacement that will be wide enough. As far as your steering is concerned you need to lose that monster steering box and replace it with a smaller GM (mid to late 60's) manual box and it needs to be located lower on the frame. The drag link needs to be parallel with the tie rod in both the horizontal and vertical plains in order to keep bump steer at a minimum. Also and probably more important you need to make sure you have between 7 and 8 degrees of positive caster in the axle. Your camber angle will be built into the axle but running anything less than 7 degrees of positive caster you'll risk the dreaded death wobble... ask any street rodder who runs a straight axle (as I do) and he can tell you all about death wobble.

I agree the axle is too narrow for a street driven car. Speedway is your best bet for a replacement that will be wide enough. As far as your steering is concerned you need to lose that monster steering box and replace it with a smaller GM (mid to late 60's) manual box and it needs to be located lower on the frame. The drag link needs to be parallel with the tie rod in both the horizontal and vertical plains in order to keep bump steer at a minimum. Also and probably more important you need to make sure you have between 7 and 8 degrees of positive caster in the axle. Anything less than that and you risk the dreaded death wobble... ask any street rodder who runs one and he can tell you all about that.

On Friday, November 7, 2014 5:36:19 PM UTC-6, pallconservices wrote:

I am still trying to get my 62 belvedere ready for the nostalgia track but the steering worries me. Not sure where it came from originally but very poor steering and turning radius.
Everything now done except steering.
If you were doing a complete do over and price was no object , what would you recommend as the very best.
Thanks
Pics below
David