Hi Tony,
The vertical link has a large acme threaded screw on the bottom that
is threaded into a socket on the horizontal trunnion. Before you
disassemble anything, take a careful measurement from the very top of
the vertical link to the very bottom of the trunnion assembly. (You
didn't mention what car, but I recently measured this on a TR4 and it
was 11"). This will help you reassemble it correctly. As a double
check, note the distance between the two pieces where the grease seal
is located.
Next, look at the inside, "behind" the vertical link, and you will
find the steering stop, which is an eccentric held on by a 1/4" or
5/16" bolt. Notice how the two ears on the back of the vertical link
bump against it to limit the travel of the steering and the position
the eccentric cam is in. You'll need to reassemble the same position
to correctly set up the steering stop on your car.
Remove that steering stop and you will find you can then unscrew the
vertical link from the trunnion. The lower part is brass, but the
thread is beefy and there is seldom any wear to speak of. Just a good
cleaning should do.
I found the v-link to trunnion grease seal I got from one of the big
suppliers was rather wimpy... a bit too short to really effect a good,
tight seal, definitely smaller than the original seal I was
removing. So I doubled it up with an extra horizontal trunnion seal I
had, slipping the larger one over top, to get a much better fit.
Yes, I'm doing the same as you. On the bare chassis I'm fitting most
brake pipes, fuel lines, front suspension and steering, rear axle,
engine (with carbs and some other externals removed, that would get in
the way dropping the body), radiator, gearbox, driveshaft, exhaust
system, parking brake (except for the handle and in-cockpit trim) and
rear shocks if I've got a set in time. Basically, everything possible
that won't interfere with the body installation. It's much easier to
do a good, neat job fitting these things with the body off the
frame. Think in terms of how these cars were likely originally
assembled at the factory.
Items that have to wait until the body is back on the frame include:
final brake line and fuel line fittings, wiring harness, steering
column, carbs and filters, various frame to body brackets, and a few
other things I'm forgetting right now. Part of the throttle linkage
will be installed on the body before it's dropped onto the frame. On
my car, it's behind the engine and not easy to get to, so why not
install while it's easy to access? Only the link from the lever
forward to the carbs needs to be left off until the body is in place.
Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif.
AMfoto1@aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com/amfoto1/amfoto1.htm
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 11:42:18 -0500
From: Tony and Jeanne <whosgoofy@adelphia.net>
Subject: lower trunion
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