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NixVegaGT
Nicolas Wiederhold
Minneapolis, MN
(659 posts)

Registered:
10/16/2007 05:30AM

Main British Car:
'73 Vega GT 4.9L Rover/Buick Stroker

authors avatar
Sunbeam Alpine Steering?
Posted by: NixVegaGT
Date: November 15, 2007 09:11AM

That's interesting what you said about the Sunbeam vs. Alpine steering in the engine section, Curtis. I was peeping that V6 Alpine project you posted yesterday...

Am I seeing it right? The steering box is behind the front wheels. Very Ford of them. The interesting part was the pitman over the bellhousing! So is that different from the regular Sunbeams? I guess that's a good way of keeping the steering out of the way of the oil pan...

So the tie rods mount to rearward facing spindle arms?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2009 11:05PM by Moderator.


NixVegaGT
Nicolas Wiederhold
Minneapolis, MN
(659 posts)

Registered:
10/16/2007 05:30AM

Main British Car:
'73 Vega GT 4.9L Rover/Buick Stroker

authors avatar
Re: Steering?
Posted by: NixVegaGT
Date: November 19, 2007 11:12PM

No luck...


motormouth
Kris Palmer
Mpls MN
(63 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 03:13PM

Main British Car:
1972 Triumph TR6, Olds F85 V8, TR8 5-speed 'box Olds 215 V8

Re: Steering?
Posted by: motormouth
Date: November 21, 2007 12:44PM

Nic--I'll look into this steering thing some more. Thanks for keeping the dialogue alive. If I learn anything interesting, will post. Kris


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4577 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Steering?
Posted by: Moderator
Date: November 21, 2007 01:11PM

Did you guys find this Sunbeam Alpine in our photo gallery section? [www.britishv8.org]

The write-up includes several empty-engine-bay photos, including this one:

RobWiseman-W.jpg


NixVegaGT
Nicolas Wiederhold
Minneapolis, MN
(659 posts)

Registered:
10/16/2007 05:30AM

Main British Car:
'73 Vega GT 4.9L Rover/Buick Stroker

authors avatar
Re: Steering?
Posted by: NixVegaGT
Date: November 21, 2007 04:05PM

That's an interesting solution! I wonder how well it works...

Hey to all the Sunbeam guys out there!!!


motormouth
Kris Palmer
Mpls MN
(63 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 03:13PM

Main British Car:
1972 Triumph TR6, Olds F85 V8, TR8 5-speed 'box Olds 215 V8

Re: Steering?
Posted by: motormouth
Date: November 21, 2007 08:11PM

Thanks Curtis. Hmm. To a guy used to looking at Triumph rack-and-pinion, that Sunbeam setup is a curiosity. Seems like something's missing. :^). Beautiful car, though. Man, the lines on a Sunbeam are nice. Neighbor of mine introduced me to the breed. Had one in primer in his garage for many years, then a kid I met in high school got to use his family's.


Grits
Douglas Rudisill

(10 posts)

Registered:
11/25/2007 03:48PM

Main British Car:


Re: Steering?
Posted by: Grits
Date: November 25, 2007 03:56PM

Keep in mind I am no pro at this and don't own a Sunbeam but do own a Hillman Husky which the Alpine was created from. I have never really heard that much good about the Alpine or Tiger steering set-up. The photo is identical to my Husky and I want to update it with new motor (V6; sorry) and a rack. To do so I also want to change front crossmember to allow for disc brakes and a rack. I am leaning toward a MGB crossmember to rebuild but don't have all the numbers yet to see it it would work.



NixVegaGT
Nicolas Wiederhold
Minneapolis, MN
(659 posts)

Registered:
10/16/2007 05:30AM

Main British Car:
'73 Vega GT 4.9L Rover/Buick Stroker

authors avatar
Re: Steering?
Posted by: NixVegaGT
Date: November 27, 2007 03:27PM

Does the Husky crossmember bolt on? What about fabricating a crossmember out of tube or something?


Grits
Douglas Rudisill

(10 posts)

Registered:
11/25/2007 03:48PM

Main British Car:


Re: Steering?
Posted by: Grits
Date: November 27, 2007 09:29PM

Nick,
I have heard first hand people fixing up Huskies and using Alpine crossmember as well as Tigers. All three are interchangable but the Alpine and Tigers have disc brakes and the Tiger uses a rack as apposed to the steering box shown in the photo from the moderator. The Tiger steering I first thought would be my answer as it seems to have what I want but since have learned it has some inheirant problems with its design.
I have found some Mustang II aftermarketsets and some high-dollar setups for a deeper wallet than mine. The MGB setup might be made to work but need a little more info.
Doug


BMC
Brian Mc Cullough
Forest Lake, Minnesota, USA
(383 posts)

Registered:
10/30/2007 02:27AM

Main British Car:
1980 MGB '95 3.4L 'L32' SFI V6, GM V6T5 & 3.42 Limi

authors avatar
Re: Steering?
Posted by: BMC
Date: December 12, 2007 01:30PM

Kris and Nicolas,

Since your both close to us, if you have a chance, come up and take a look at this alpine with the Ford V6 conversion we have in the shop. I think I have a few more pieces of information on it and might even be able to get the brakes figured out now!

Anyways, I know your both not terribly far away...

-BMC.


NixVegaGT
Nicolas Wiederhold
Minneapolis, MN
(659 posts)

Registered:
10/16/2007 05:30AM

Main British Car:
'73 Vega GT 4.9L Rover/Buick Stroker

authors avatar
Re: Steering?
Posted by: NixVegaGT
Date: December 13, 2007 08:14PM

Yeah man. I'm passing through there all the time. I've got family in N. Branch... Where is your shop? You got a website?


BMC
Brian Mc Cullough
Forest Lake, Minnesota, USA
(383 posts)

Registered:
10/30/2007 02:27AM

Main British Car:
1980 MGB '95 3.4L 'L32' SFI V6, GM V6T5 & 3.42 Limi

authors avatar
Re: Steering?
Posted by: BMC
Date: December 16, 2007 02:31AM

Nix,

I sent a PM. Curtis added our website to the vendor directory which you can find on the top bar under contact as well. Believe it or not, Curtis found a way of squeezing blood out of a turnip, that turnip being the cheap scotsman writing this out.

-BMC.


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