Steering column bracket

[vern hodgson]

How was the steering column bracket installed? Looks as though it was soldered and riveted to the tank! So the only holes would be the four rivet holes?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by vern hodgson

How was the steering column bracket installed? Looks as though it was soldered and riveted to the tank! So the only holes would be the four rivet holes?

That is correct. The solder was used to seal the plate in case of weeping. The issue I find is most of the ones that are weeping have cracks radiating out from the rivet holes where the metal is fatigued. The correct way to repair it is to weld the cracks and the holes solid and re-drill. That way the steering column is rigid again. Lots of vibrations are transferred thru the column.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

That is correct. The solder was used to seal the plate in case of weeping. The issue I find is most of the ones that are weeping have cracks radiating out from the rivet holes where the metal is fatigued. The correct way to repair it is to weld the cracks and the holes solid and re-drill. That way the steering column is rigid again. Lots of vibrations are transferred thru the column.

Wouldn't welding burn off the Terne plating inside the tank and leave it vulnerable to rust? What then?

[WHN]

I assume your talking about the 28/29 cars.

I would remove the tank and use a good quality slosh sealer. With the 29 we have had now for 40 years we sloshed it three times before putting it back in car. No problems for 30 years. Keeping our fingers crossed.

If you follow the directions, it should work well. Follow instructions! Enjoy.

[aermotor]

However you fix the tank get rid of the column to tank bracket. Use the later model one that attaches to the dash rail. Not only does the tank to bracket flex causing the tank to crack it puts stress on the steering box to frame attachment bolts and will cause the frame to wallow out at the mount bolts. Use a little creative engineering if the later model bolt holes don't match the existing dash holes.

John

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by WHN

I assume your talking about the 28/29 cars.

I would remove the tank and use a good quality slosh sealer. With the 29 we have had now for 40 years we sloshed it three times before putting it back in car. No problems for 30 years. Keeping our fingers crossed.

If you follow the directions, it should work well. Follow instructions! Enjoy.

I've had good success by simply using a later style bracket (that mounts to the dash) to take the load off the bracket on the tank and some of that "slosh sealer". I've never welded or resoldered one not had one leak again.
BTW, RHD support brackets are not available from the vendors. I belive they were used in 1931. As far as I know, no Model As came to this country in 1931.

[monto]

Mine is mounted to the dash -- no problems..

[Badpuppy]

The dash mounting plate fits only mid-30 and later cars. Earlier tank yokes were 3/8" longer, placing the steering wheel against your pudgy thighs. This is somewhere on Steve Plucker's site, but I can't find it now -

http://www.plucks329s.org/index.htm

[katy]

Tern

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terne

[Apperloo]

It looks like the PO had some issues with gas weeping thru this mount area.
As a newbie I was not looking for these kind of issues when I purchased the A.
It does not leak now, at least not with a partial full tank, but it will be very likely I will be tugging on the wheel at times while cramming myself behind it.
Does anyone have a link or pic to the 31 mount installed, or even the correct parts I need to get this possible issue dealt with? A quick search shows the main part as being out of stock or discontinued on macs.........

[Tudortomnz]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I've had good success by simply using a later style bracket (that mounts to the dash) to take the load off the bracket on the tank and some of that "slosh sealer". I've never welded or resoldered one not had one leak again.
BTW, RHD support brackets are not available from the vendors. I belive they were used in 1931. As far as I know, no Model As came to this country in 1931.

Ford Aust. did produce & sell Model A's in 1931 & 1932, it is just that they were 1930 models. They would have had enough inventory due to low sales that there was no need to use the '31 parts, although I believe some '31 engine numbers are recorded.
Canada did have a RHD '31 column support, it was available here in NZ. My neighbour who had a late '30 still has a spare one but not cheap [$100 NZ].
Cheers. -Tom

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Wouldn't welding burn off the Terne plating inside the tank and leave it vulnerable to rust? What then?

How much original finish does one think is left before the repair?

[Steve Plucker]

Here is some information on the brackets:

http://www.plucks329s.org/pdf/gastan...31gas_tank.pdf

Pluck

[Apperloo]

This is helping to get my head wrapped around it, but not really answering my question.
Is this 31
bracket an easy swap?
Does the older one attached to the tank get zipped off or left for strength?
Or should I just leave the original bracket as is for the purpose of keeping the truck original?
Thanks for the input.
L

[john in illinois]

I left the original bracket with out the rubber support and used the 31 from the dash.the lower support shoud not touch the column. Loosen steering box to align.

For 28-29 a 1/4 “ spacer is needed. There is a diagram on this somewhere,maybe someone has it.

John

[Railcarmover]

Even back in the late 20's and early 30's lawyers controlled the corporate narrative,Ford had numerous issues in court regarding the cowl tank.from the tank screen to the steering column bracket the engineering was unsettled,forced by exposure to claim.

[Apperloo]

Originally Posted by john in illinois

I left the original bracket with out the rubber support and used the 31 from the dash.the lower support shoud not touch the column. Loosen steering box to align.

For 28-29 a 1/4 “ spacer is needed. There is a diagram on this somewhere,maybe someone has it.

John

I like the idea of leaving the old bracket for originality, as long as it does not look like a leftover.
Where does the new one attach to the dash?

[Tudortomnz]

Originally Posted by Railcarmover

Even back in the late 20's and early 30's lawyers controlled the corporate narrative,Ford had numerous issues in court regarding the cowl tank.from the tank screen to the steering column bracket the engineering was unsettled,forced by exposure to claim.

Can you provide me with specific references about any íssues in court' in this period. Most cars in this era had rear mounted tanks, just as precarious a position regarding safety as a cowl tank. Ford liked the cowl tank as it did not require a fuel pump which they would have had to pay for or the right to use the design. But it did hamper body design & by 1932 even Ford gave up on it & relegated the tank to the rear with a fuel pump.
The cowl tank was not a flaw in the design of the Model A & in fact added to the simplicity of design & long life of the car. People had been sitting on the tank in open Model T's & up to the mid '20's, motorists routinely travelled with boxes of spare fuel tied to the running boards & fenders when on long trips. Cheers.

[john in illinois]

Originally Posted by Apperloo

I like the idea of leaving the old bracket for originality, as long as it does not look like a leftover.
Where does the new one attach to the dash?

There is a rail under the dash with bolts holding parts together.
You use 2 of these bolts to hold the new column drop.

John

[father-son]

Just did this for a 29 Tudor. We found that an 8" long adapter gave use a little more room to drill the holes. It looks like the column support bracket is on national back order. We got ours from Steve at Berts Model A in Denver. Good luck!