Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

Hi Folks
I have not posted for a while.
I just bought a rolling chassis from a hot rodder who pulled the tudor body off to build his rod.
It is in Australia but the story goes it was restored in las Vegas in 2012. everything look like it was replaced at the time new bolts everywhere new chrome etc.
New cast iron drums with no wear however the new studs are welded to the flanges and not swaged to the drums, is this going to cause trouble down the track?
When I had it on the jack to look at the hubs I noticed the chassis twists very easily, video(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFWyhdVBYsM) seems like a lot to me, it has a float a motor and the front and center cross member are bolted in, I cant remember what my roadster was like when the body was off?

I pulled the oil tube and its as clean as a whistle inside I think I am on a winner.

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

Welded studs to hubs are a bad idea. Will it work if you know what you are doing, yes. But most people use the regular studs and they will end up being longer because they are not swaged. Meaning your lug nut might bottom out. The other issue is that the weld bead on the backside will hit the emergency brake linkage pins, unless it is tack welded. Another problem is that the hub is hardened, which makes it more difficult to weld so who knows the integrity of it. After welding most of these hubs become scrap.

There was a recent thread on bolting in crossmembers, basically they have to be riveted in because rivets flex more. Bolts will loosen up eventually or cause the whole crossmember to move. This may be be part of the problem with your chassis twisting too much.

I hate to say it but I would be suspect of other work too. It does look like it was actually restored though, and not just repainted or left as is. But spots look older than 2012 to me.

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

My bare 31 frame I could pick up one corner of the frame about 6 inches, I didn't do anything and has work ok for me.

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

Rivets fill the holes in the frame when swedged for a secure fastening. Bolts should not be used unless they are tapered and fit into tapered holes. Same thing for the studs in the hubs. I recently repaired a hub for a friend that that had 2 welded studs. The weld for one had come loose and the studs were holding off the lug nuts so that they were not tight against the wheels.

Ford designed his cars with flexible frames. It was part of the suspension system for the poor roads at the time. Modern cars have rigid bodies or frames that work better on modern roads. Hod rodders will box in the frame by welding in a plate to make the frame a box section rather than a C section. That will stiffen up the frame and works better with more powerful engines and modern suspension components. Stiffer frames started appearing in the mid 1930's.

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

I notice the cut off switch is in an odd location. Cables can rub on the pedals, and the preferred cable is the ground cable.

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

These frame do flex a lot.

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

I agree with all the previous replies, especially about your hubs/drums. Consider going back to original type or a set of the beautiful new cast iron drums. That's an odd looking water pump! Maybe because I'm not too familiar with 28's-'29's?

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

I have 4 or 5 of those water pumps.I call them a tubular pump.Whenever I come across one I buy it.Couple of bucks at the swap meets.The F-1 steering box is a nice extra.I don't know how much I would worry about the bolted crossmember,it will never get the abuse it had back when it was young.A good road then was worse than a bad road now.

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

Is this an F1 steering box?

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

I think the steering box is one of John Kovar's EZ Steer POS.

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

I rebuilt my F-100 steering box recently. They are similar to the F-1. It is really a nice design. Instead of teeth against the worm it has a rolling member with a number of rings, sort of like a gear. So there is no sliding. A rolling worm against a rolling gear.

There is one adjustment. You push the rolling gear closer to the worm gear to take up any wear.

Very low friction plus a lower gear ratio. I have no problem turning the wheel while stationary.

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1635226847

Model A Chassis etc saved from destruction.

Re: Rolling chassis purchased from a hot rodder twisting
 

POS -- I second that motion.