TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:24 pm

Just wondering wheres a good place to start .. Looking for info on how I would go about ajusting the tuning radius on a 74 Ghia that has a 2 inch narrow front end.. Any help would be great..

Rick

Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:41 am

On each side there is a bolt that limits the amount of steering you can have. A narrowed beam creates a wider turning radius so there are some inherent issues that need to be lived with. For instance when I installed my new narrowed adjustable beam I found that the inside of the mag rubbed on the lower torsion arm when turned. So I had to adjust the limiter bolt to not have this happen. This limited me to quite a longer radius than normal. But, driving is fine and safe. It's just you need to adjust the way you park.

The advantage to a new beam, the comfort and obviously the look greatly outweigh the issues with the longer radius.

Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:51 am

Looking at the car I don,t seem to see the bolts. Where are they?

Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:12 am

The steering box, lift the car up and on jacks crawl under and you will see 2 bolts on each side of the steering box. These are the limiter bolts. They should be close to the beam and bottom ball joint. They are bolts that tread in and out.

Too far in and the steering will rub on the inside of the wheel, too far out and the wheel could rip up the fender.

To adjust turn the wheel out to the max and see where the limit bolt is, (check both sides) and turn the wheel in and do the same.

Sat Jan 28, 2006 5:22 pm

Not to hijack this thread, but it is related. What should be the number of revolutions of the steering wheel, lock to lock, on a standard, non-narrowed beam? I have my adjusters in almost all the way and only have about 2 1/2 revolutions of the steering wheel. This doesn't seen right. I have a '71 coup. Thanks, David

Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:52 am

I drove a 94 Chrysler until I got my Ghia, so I wouldn't think a narrowed beam would cause it to be anywhere near as bad as what I'm used to.

My boyfriend gets me to U-turn as much as possible, because for the first time, I CAN! I also park further left than I should because I'm missing 3 feet of car on the right side.

Just get used to driving on the far side of the aisle from where the parking space is instead of down the middle. Oh, and kiss most U-turns goodbye. :P

Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:33 pm

Plantman wrote: What should be the number of revolutions of the steering wheel, lock to lock, on a standard, non-narrowed beam?

2.7 revolutioms lock to lock, with a 36 foot turning radius.

Thu Feb 02, 2006 3:14 pm

Thanks Jason. David

Sat Feb 04, 2006 12:51 pm

Would going to a Porsche 356 steering box help with the lock - to - lock?
I hear they bolt on and have a closer ratio.

Sat Feb 04, 2006 7:50 pm

if the turning radius is 36 ft the tightest circle you can make would be 72 ft. in diameter. that seem kinda big. radius being center to perimeter.