B-C Steering box
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2002 6:59 am
Wow, does it matter that much? Nobody is saying that you can't do what you like with your own car. Just as you are allowed your opinion, however, so are others allowed theirs. My advocacy of the original box (though in a slightly modified form to overcome it's admitted inadequacies) is nothing more than an opinion - backed up by experience. I'd much rather see a modified car, no matter to what extent, on the road than have it in the garage for lack of parts. If we can modify them to make them better cars then so be it and if we can hide the mods so that it looks original then so much the better (a large diode in place of the cutout hidden in the original RF95 box is IMHO agreat idea). And who could really question the use of modern brop arms or stub axles. All of these things, including Roger's CWP and oil seal mods are acceptable improvements in my book.
But...we all have our own personal limits as to what is acceptable and how far this should go. I make no more comments on the Datsun box than to question whether it is strictly necessary. And no, I have not driven a car with one. Perhaps I would be convinced if I had, but I don't see the need as I have a car with a B-C box which steers perfectly adequately. Story follows.
When I got the car, in 1966, the steering was atrocious; well down to the worst standards of the anecdotes. But I was young and foolish, and perhaps a bit "macho" (well I was only 19) and I learned to steer a car which was my everyday driver for years which was positively dangerous with around, If my memory serves me correctly, around 3 in. of play on the wheel. I only took it off the road for a complete rebuild (completed 20 years later) when a friend had a drive and couldn't keep it in a straight line. He came to rest sideways accross the road - luckily nothing was coming. It's surprising what you can learn to live with. Sorry this is so long but i've started so I'll finish. After the rebuild (B&G did the box) the steering was stil atrocious (though the slack had gone) - though everything was new and shiny. There was no way the factory would let a car as bad as that on the road, I thought, even just after the war. Carefull tracking and attention to tyre pressures made it driveable but the final cure only came with the replacement of the front springs. The nameless specialists who had done the chassis had reused the sagging, mismatched originals. This mucks up the castor and camber angles. A Tompkins type kit added yet another improvement to provide a perfectly acceptable steering car. Yes it's still fairly hard work, you have to actually drive it, 1 1/2 turns lock to lock keeps you on your toes but that is all part of the fun.
If you have read this far you will see why I do not think the Datsun box is _necessary_ as the correction of my own cars's problems were not focussed on the box itself but on the rather agricultural front end. To finish I will throw in another idea for even more improvement - that of a Panhard rod ot the front. The only one which I have seen was extremely unobtrusive and thought highly of by the driver. It is not a difficult thing to make so I may try it. I believe some of the German lads have tried this and would be interested to hear their comments. Thanks for your patience.
Ian Thomson
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As Richard Bach was picking up his "new" 1929 Biplane (around 30 years ago)
-------------------- talk21 your FREE portable and private address on the net at http://talk21.btopenworld.com/redirect. ... k21.com> -------------------- talk21 your FREE portable and private address on the net at http://www.talk21.com>and promptly tore a rare wheel off in front of the past owner (to which the >past owner offered to take it back right there), >Bach told him "Look, this is my plane now, and even if I get in home in 12 >boxes, Im not giving it back". >Its your car, Viv- Live it up. And if someone at a meet says "gee, why'd you >do that?" You can just say "because its mine!" >Regards from Ohio- >Mark TC8126 >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd" viv@trax.co.za> >To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> >Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 6:07 AM >Subject: [mg-tabc] Here we go yet again................... > > > Hey all you "holier than thou" guys...... > > As an honorary member of the originality police and the owner of 1 > TC with a B/C box hanging in the roof all ready for the next custodian > and a Nissan 1400 ldv box providing both safe and pleasurable > driving and a second TC which bought without any steering - an > obvious candidate for Japanese improvement which has been done, I > need to be advised on the following: > > Why is a B/C box filled with home made springs, ball bearings, > neoprene seals, non-standard castings, adjusting screws and heaven > knows what other valiant attempts at improving a bad and dangerous > design, aided by all sorts of kingpin ball bearing mods any more > original than a neat, uncluttered box which fits non-destructively in the > same spot, looks externally similar to the orininal and works like a > dream? > > We use our cars in mountains, in traffic and in competitve events with > our wives/partners on board. Despite what I said on this list some > years ago. I feel more at ease with a drop arm that won't break, stub > axles modified as per this list and tapered rear shafts from Roger > Furneaux of this list at the rear and knowing that the car will go > approximately where I point it when I point it. In my opinion my TC has > lost none of its character and I can use it. > > I paid US$15 per steering. Having lengthened the column, the rest of > the reversible installation was carried out one Saturday morning in a > couple of hours. The chief instigator was our one and only Murray > Arundel. > > PS. What will the holier than thous say if they look inside my RF95 > regulator box and saw only a printed circuit board in there? > > PPS. What will they say when they discover a Furneaux 4.65 cwp with > tapered roller races? > > PPPS. While we are about it maybe they won't notice the camshaft by > Crane in Florida, the Moss USA rubber kit, the USA made wiring > harness or Joe Curto's hand brake kit or the neatly sewn sidescrren > covers? > > Originally yours > > Viv