My Son's T is back on the road

[donsrods]

TCI sent us a brand new transmission and torque converter to replace the one that ate itself up after only 200 miles, and we finally got to reinstall the motor and transmission yesterday. Dan and I worked on getting some changes made to the engine earlier in the week, and yesterday the three of us got together and put it all back together.

He drove it about 15 miles, first with Dan following behind, then with me following behind, and it seems to be fine now. This transmission shifts like a Super Streetfighter should, nice and crisp, the first one never felt that way. We also seem to have cured his "death wobble" issues. He ran the car up to speed and punched it a few times with no shake. He could have never done that before as it would have started wobbling almost immediately.

So, two cars down and one more to go. We just have to get Dans car done and we are ready to cruise. Here are some pictures from last night.

Don


PS: Hey Tripper, I like the new format for posting pictures!!!

 

[Gastrick]

Good deal Don and the car looks great. What was the problem with the death wobble?

 

[donsrods]

Bill, pretty much a combination of everything. We simply rushed building the car and did some things wrong, plus there were some defective parts. Here is what we did:

1) We remeasured the whole car and found the wheelbase was 9/16 shorter on the drivers side. We loosened up all the radius rods and squared the axles to the frame. Now the wheelbase is the same.

2) Too much caster. Our protractor was off so we bought a new one. Had 11 degrees in front, so we took it back to about 6 degrees.

3) Toe in was off, it was about 3/16, took it back to 1/16.

4) Pinion angle was also off because of the defective protractor. We built shims for under the transmission and reset the rear axle. Both are now at 3 degrees.

5) A brand new wheel from Coker was bent on the back, right out of the box. Coker sent a new one that we had to repaint, but it is now straight.

6) We had all the tires rebalanced on a high tech balancer that loads the tires.

7) We installed new spindles. The fronts were chromed, modified Chevy spindles and I found one was turned 6 thousandths too far, the outer bearing was loose on it. We bought brand new forged spindles and put in a second set of new kingpins.

8) We pulled off the heavy GM disc brakes and installed a much lighter set of Wilwood discs. Total Performance told us we would not like the GM brakes because of the heavy rotating mass up front and they were right. Probably the brakes and spindles were the biggest contributors to the problem.

9) The brand new Flaming River steering box had too much slop in it so I adjusted it tighter. It was also not centered on the high spot in the middle, so I readjusted that too.

10) We installed an original Corvair steering arm and impacted every nut and bolt on the car to take up any slack.


Aside from those few things, nothing was wrong!!!!!!!! Now he can one-hand it going down the highway and can really stand on it with no shimmy. It will take some time for his confidence in the car to return, but it seems to be fine now.

That's what we get for building it in 88 days, rushing to make Turkey Run. We are trying to avoid that same rush finishing Dan's car, but we are getting close once again. Boy, a year sure flies by quickly!!!!!!!!

Don

 

[Old Gold]

That's great Don. Having that bond with your boys is priceless.

 

[T2T]

Piece of cake................................

 

[donsrods]

That's great Don. Having that bond with your boys is priceless.

That is actually the very best part of my entire life OG. Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like without them in it and I feel really blessed. Funny part was, I never really wanted Kids before they were born, I was the typical early 20's guy just out for fun. But my life changed in a heartbeat when the Doctor walked into the waiting room with one under each arm and said "Say hello to your Son's Dad!" My life really began at that moment.

Don

 

[gassersgarage]

Glad you got everything squared away. The Rod is looking good. Wish my Dad and lived to see my rods.

 

[donsrods]

Glad you got everything squared away. The Rod is looking good. Wish my Dad and lived to see my rods.

Thanks GG. I know what you mean, my own Dad died when I was almost 12, so it really left a hole in my life. Wish he could have lived to see me as a man and meet his Grandsons. He was also a saxman, so he would have gone nuts hearing my two Sons play. Maybe he's watching though.

Don

 

[bob w]

And, Don, if things work out, you get to have grandkids too.
As you know, there's nothing like a roadster ride when the weather is beautiful and their isn't much traffic.

 

[donsrods]

Well, my Son Don just got a divorce a while back (no kids) and Dan broke up with his GF about the time I broke up with mine, so the chances of Grandkids right now aren't real good. My Sons keep telling me I have Grand Cats though.

Don

 

[hotrodron]

Glad to hear it. I'm sure he's happy to have it back on the road. Nice work

 

[Gastrick]

But my life changed in a heartbeat when the Doctor walked into the waiting room with one under each arm and said "Say hello to your Son's Dad!" My life really began at that moment.

Don

Don,

Are Don and Dan twins?