Frame on 28 A flexs by steering box

[Indiana A. Lover]

Gentleman - I put my 2 tooth steering box on my 1928 stock model A frame. Turned steering wheel back and forth. My son says pop you are not going to like this. I said what is problem? Son takes over steering back and forth, sure enough frame flexes . This flexing is NOT GOOD! I need advice! Don in a state of cofusion Help will be Beer of your liking.

[Vanspeed]

This might be a dumb answer but is the engine in it? If not I would say that the frame does flex a little.

[bbrocksr]

Originally Posted by Indiana A. Lover

Gentleman - I put my 2 tooth steering box on my 1928 stock model A frame. Turned steering wheel back and forth. My son says pop you are not going to like this. I said what is problem? Son takes over steering back and forth, sure enough frame flexes . This flexing is NOT GOOD! I need advice! Don in a state of cofusion Help will be Beer of your liking.

Float A Motor Mounts?
Bill

[Brentwood Bob]

Is it the frame flexing, or the steering box loose at the frame?

[SeaSlugs]

yea the flywheel housing and factory motor mounts are essentially another crossmember, without engine or at least the flywheel housing bolted in place things are going to flex around.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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Hopefully the frame isn't cracked in that area. My 31 frame has a crack on the top rail of the passenger side. If the body is off then the fix is easy, just weld and grind.

[Indiana A. Lover]

Thank you all for answering my plea for help!!! Yes float A Motor mounts front and Rear. I have not Tightened all the big bolts yet. Should I tighten all bolts and see what happens? All running gear is in frame, Motor trans rear end and front axle, wish bone is bolted solid.Steering box is bolted solid also. Tom I will go over the frame with a fine tooth comb, and see if there is a crack. Gentlemen You are the BEST!! Thank you for being you! Don in Indiana

[bbrocksr]

Originally Posted by Indiana A. Lover

Thank you all for answering my plea for help!!! Yes float A Motor mounts front and Rear. I have not Tightened all the big bolts yet. Should I tighten all bolts and see what happens? All running gear is in frame, Motor trans rear end and front axle, wish bone is bolted solid.Steering box is bolted solid also. Tom I will go over the frame with a fine tooth comb, and see if there is a crack. Gentlemen You are the BEST!! Thank you for being you! Don in Indiana

You will have more flex with Float A Motors because you have lost the "cross member" effect that you have with original mounts.
Bill

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yep, what Bill just said.
Also, I try to never turn the steering wheel unless the car is moving. Otherwise you put undue stress on all the steering parts and the gas tank mount.
Also, one should not grab the steering wheel to get in or out of the car, as this can flex the tank mount and lead to cracks and gas leaks.

[oldredford]

Install the engine with stock motor mounts and I bet the flexing stops.

[Russ/40]

If your in a sitting still bare frame, and turning the wheel it will torque the frame a lot. The integrity of the steering counts on the complete car assembly to reach its full integrity.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Remember, they ARE a skinny, flexible frame!
Bill W.

[1929]

Here we go again with the Float a Motors, many like them, and many hate them. Is there a possibility of getting a 75/25% of factual proof of which is better, instead of the normal 50/50??? Just curious, why have they been in existence for such a long time?

[bbrocksr]

Originally Posted by 1929

Here we go again with the Float a Motors, many like them, and many hate them. Is there a possibility of getting a 75/25% of factual proof of which is better, instead of the normal 50/50??? Just curious, why have they been in existence for such a long time?

The original poster is getting factual proof right now, He has Float A Motors and his frame is flexing because the " crossmember " effect of the original mounts is gone.
Bill

[Kevin in NJ]

The frames are way more flexible then you may imagine.

Keep in mind the doors have dovetails for a reason. The body flexes a lot too.

[bbrocksr]

Originally Posted by Kevin in NJ

The frames are way more flexible then you may imagine.

Keep in mind the doors have dovetails for a reason. The body flexes a lot too.

Another reason to keep the "crossmember" effect.
Bill

[Indiana A. Lover]

Gentlemen of the FORD persuasion , Being The farmer I am I took everyones advice and tightened every thing that was loose, Float A Motor, Took all steering parts and tightened all. But here is the kicker, I put the steering cover back on the steering box shaft bolted it back to gas tank and all the planets aligned NO MORE FRAME FLEX. You FORD people are Golden!! Thank you all Don in ridged In.

[fredski]

Originally Posted by bbrocksr

The original poster is getting factual proof right now, He has Float A Motors and his frame is flexing because the " crossmember " effect of the original mounts is gone.
Bill

A lover did admit that he had not tighten the fam bolts yet.

Flex would be limited if his bolts were tightened .

Fredski

[Keith True]

The frame will flex with stock mounts too unless the column is bolted to the tank.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Keith True

The frame will flex with stock mounts too unless the column is bolted to the tank.

Right ON, Keith,
I'm sure Henry Ford put a lot of thought into a FLEXIBLE frame for Model T's & carried it over to the Model A's, as many folks were FARMERS & roads were TERRIBLE! Roads in MY later era were BAD enough, even! These cars were almost like an ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE I've ridden in Model A's ACROSS a freshly plowed field & through Luke Bakers' Buzzard Creek Crossing In later years, Chief worked for the W.P.A, building better roads & bridges & they used mostly Model A trucks. NON-POWERED road graders, were even TOWED by Model AA trucks & Ford Tractors.
Roads were getting a little better by time the '32 came out, with its' more RIDGID frame & LOWER ground clearance.
I'm sure many of you have experienced yo' door PLOPPING open, when going out a driveway on an ANGLE--LOL- Some WOODY owners speak of that SWEET creaking sound their bodies make, when doing the same maneuver Wood mounting blocks were SOME help, in keeping the BODY from flexing TOO much.
Bill W.