donsrods
Well-known member
I worked on Don's T for him today. I tightened up some play in his steering box and dialed in a couple more degrees of caster to his front end. Just before we left for Daytona two weeks ago, we installed a brand new chrome pitman steering arm on the Flaming River steering box. Bought it from Speedway and they get them from Total Performance.
Took the car out for a test ride and as I am driving along at about 35 on a 6 lane street I sped up a little so I could move from the slow lane to the left turning lane so I could go back the other way. All of a sudden I heard a loud pop and had no steering! I'm not super religious, but God was watching out for me because the street was jammed with traffic and the T went to the right and into the emergency turning lane. I got it stopped and when I climbed under it I found the new steering arm had cracked in half!
I called Dan and he brought me some tools and another steering arm from the shop and we changed it and drove the car slowly home. This could have been majorly bad. Worst part is that Don was planning on using it tomorrow and it could have happened to him instead of me. I am going to be on the phone with Speedway tomorrow if they are open and raise hell. I am also going to look for an original Corvair arm like I have on my T because it is forged, not cast like this thing.
Here are some pictures of the fractured arm. Tonight I have a special prayer to say.
Don
Took the car out for a test ride and as I am driving along at about 35 on a 6 lane street I sped up a little so I could move from the slow lane to the left turning lane so I could go back the other way. All of a sudden I heard a loud pop and had no steering! I'm not super religious, but God was watching out for me because the street was jammed with traffic and the T went to the right and into the emergency turning lane. I got it stopped and when I climbed under it I found the new steering arm had cracked in half!
I called Dan and he brought me some tools and another steering arm from the shop and we changed it and drove the car slowly home. This could have been majorly bad. Worst part is that Don was planning on using it tomorrow and it could have happened to him instead of me. I am going to be on the phone with Speedway tomorrow if they are open and raise hell. I am also going to look for an original Corvair arm like I have on my T because it is forged, not cast like this thing.
Here are some pictures of the fractured arm. Tonight I have a special prayer to say.
Don