Steering box bolt redesign
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
Steering box bolt redesign
I know the NCRS guys would flip out on this, but have any of you considered tapping your steering box to use bolts with hex heads (or welding nuts/thread inserts) on the steering box so it can be mounted like every other steering box on the planet?
I have my box out right now, installing a brand new unit, and these three cruddy carriage bolts from 1968 look to belong in the trash. Pretty much every other GM box from 1963 to the 80s ran a 7/16-14 bolt and the box was threaded.
I have side pipe headers, and getting the back nut off was a pain to swap the box. Otherwise swapping the box is like a 20 minute job.
Aside from "judging" I can't think of a reason not to.
I have my box out right now, installing a brand new unit, and these three cruddy carriage bolts from 1968 look to belong in the trash. Pretty much every other GM box from 1963 to the 80s ran a 7/16-14 bolt and the box was threaded.
I have side pipe headers, and getting the back nut off was a pain to swap the box. Otherwise swapping the box is like a 20 minute job.
Aside from "judging" I can't think of a reason not to.
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Other than the tire will hit the bolt head on full lock with a standard bolt head. There is a reason they used the carriage head bolts. . . . . tire clearance.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
This must have been an "oh crap" design change.. The tire hit the bolt heads, so they decided to step down to a 3/8 carriage bolt.
-- Joe
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Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Virginia
Yes, really. I have standard bolts, and the extra stiffening plate, with the Borgeson box conversion in my 79. The tire absolutely rubs on these bolts. There is an adjustment that can limit the steering angle and prevent this, but the carriage bolts were certainly GM's fix for this issue.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
Yes, really. I have standard bolts, and the extra stiffening plate, with the Borgeson box conversion in my 79. The tire absolutely rubs on these bolts. There is an adjustment that can limit the steering angle and prevent this, but the carriage bolts were certainly GM's fix for this issue.
I wonder if running button head torx bolts would be a good solution.
-- Joe
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,947
Likes: 4,506
From: Virginia
IIRC, they are 5/16" bolts, so 1/2" hex head? I forget. They came with this kit:
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/RideT...te,461306.html
The button heads are a good idea, if they come in grade 5 or 8.
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/RideT...te,461306.html
The button heads are a good idea, if they come in grade 5 or 8.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
IIRC, they are 5/16" bolts, so 1/2" hex head? I forget. They came with this kit:
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/RideT...te,461306.html
The button heads are a good idea, if they come in grade 5 or 8.
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/RideT...te,461306.html
The button heads are a good idea, if they come in grade 5 or 8.
I think I'm going to weld some nuts to the box and run button head bolts.
