OK, figuring out my carb problems has led me to another problem. When I go out for a test to see if carb is better, I accelerate ok, but upon letting off the gas at around 80km the car shakes violently. I am used to it, been like that for years, but I always dragged the car, it never mattered. Now that it is a street cruiser, it DOES.

Even at cruising about 100km, it SHAKES. It is difficult at this RPM, because with a short tire and 3.91' 3000 is my crusing speed, so cream turns into butter after a short drive.

The car is a 73 Dart Sport. 440

The steering wheel has ALOT of play in it. I can pull back on the steering column at least an inch before it stops. Real loose in the rag gear.

The steering also will turn quite a bit before the wheels do in park, get in turn the wheel and it will not move the tires.

I have a manual steering box with the rag gear, but I cannot tell you if it is a manual or power steering column, I do not remember now.

I do how ever know that years ago i put a 400 in it with hp manifolds and to make this fit, I cut out, or removed a white piece of plastic that was close to the fire wall, some sleeve of sorts. I saw a new one on the Mancini site, so if need be, I can get a new one.

We re-balanced the front tires as they were out 2.50 oz each side, made no difference.

We had a look at the suspension, and looks like I could use a tie rod or two, but we did notice alot of flex in the steering box.

The bolts for the box are tight.

Now, it is an abody that has the 440 in it. The swap was done by us back in 95, way before shumacher came into the picture. The motor has a motor plate, so it it a solid mount, with a poly bushing for the trans mount.

The trans mount bushing has to be at least 15 years old.

I would like to eliminate the vibration in the steering wheel, make the steering less loose feeling, and for sure get rid of the vibration while deaccelarate and cruise.

I am really liking the flaming river pieces that replace the rag joint, only because I do not know if my column is manual or PS to begin with, which do I choose? Would this help me?

Bryan

Get those front end pieces replaced and this will most likely take care of most if not all your problems. Ties rods help hold the tires where you point them. If these are bad, then they will try to go wherever they want till they stop and then try to go the other way. They'll fight each other and you while holding hte wheel. Get it fixed as it is also a safety issue.

Tie rods have an affect on vibration?

Big time! If there is play in the tie rods the wheels/tires can move free of the steering box and they will bounce or flutter in the area of play. I agree 100% with None, fix the front end (and the entire steering), spare no expense. If it doesn't start you're pi$$ed, if it don't steer or stop you're dead. I have been known to drive some junk in my day, but oin day one I will fix the steering and brakes and work on the rest as I have to or want to.

You ever push a shopping cart and have the wheels wobble the faster you go? Same thing you have going on here.

vibration on deceleration sounds like possibly too much pinion angle.

You need to get that front end and steering fixed before you take it out on the road again. Don't kill kill yourself or someone else by driving something that unsafe. If you can yank the steering wheel around like that it has no business being on the road.

Fix the steering column and replace the worn out front suspension before it hits the streets again.

OK, seems that the car is parked for the short while.

I have ordered up the Flaming River u-joint that will eliminate the rag joint. It was always a little sloppy.

Then ordered up the new suspension pieces, inner, outer,sleeves and upper and lowers etc.

So, I will get all that put together hopefully in a short time.

Thanks for the good advice as always!

I guess I have been lucky all those years whipping it up and down the highways and the track...

Bryan