[Staowners] actually driving a '54 Alpine - HELP!

[Bob Hamilton]

Hi Ray and others,

Someone on here once described the Sunbeam Alpine handling as like 
"driving a fast tractor" and I think it describe it quite well. :( 
Don't expect them to handle like a later MGB or Midget.

The bias ply tires are really bad for wandering especially when the 
road surface has depressed tracks from heavy vehicles. Almost feels 
like you have a flat tyre. Radials cure this problem.

Later,
Bob


At 01:22 AM 8/21/2007, Harvey Henningsen wrote:
>Hi Scotty, I've got a 55 Alpine and it appears to have a little play 
>in it too.  However it's never been a problem regarding keeping the 
>Sunbeam going straight down our country roads. Happy 
>motoring.........Harvey Henningsen
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:taybrig at shaw.ca>scotty
>To: <mailto:raymead at comcast.net>raymead at comcast.net ; 
><mailto:Staowners at sunbeamtalbot.info>Staowners at sunbeamtalbot.info
>Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2007 2:08 PM
>Subject: Re: [Staowners] actually driving a '54 Alpine - HELP!
>
>Your mechanic should be able to tell you if your car has.
>A. worn steering linkage parts
>B. adjust the steering box
>C. biasply (crossply) tires causing the wandering, (is the play 
>there while sitting still) hope this helps.
>                                     Kevin B.C. Canada
>53 alpine
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:raymead at comcast.net>raymead at comcast.net
>To: <mailto:Staowners at sunbeamtalbot.info>Staowners at sunbeamtalbot.info
>Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2007 9:55 AM
>Subject: [Staowners] actually driving a '54 Alpine - HELP!
>
>Hello all,
>
>My '54, which I just bought last November (you all might remember it -
>the one with the Toyota 22R engine and 5 speed transmission) is finally
>being driven with some regularity!!!!
>
>I had a local English mechanic go thru the suspension, shocks, brake
>system, etc., etc (basically everything but the engine/trans) and all was
>either in good shape, or repaired/replaced...........
>
>Well, when I started driving it, it was wandering all over the road.
>
>Took it to a guy who everyone swears is the best in the world (well,
>in this area anyway) at front end work...........
>
>He did an alignment - toe-in or whatever the heck he said was WAY OUT!
>
>Now it tracks/drives as it should - BUT......................
>
>There is play in the steering wheel.  Not terrible, but more than I 
>would like.
>
>As one of the most mechanically challenged people in the world, my first
>thought was to contact Tony Bamfort, talk to him about it, probably order
>all the bits and pieces that affect steering, and have my local 
>English mechanic
>replace everything.
>
>Then I started thinking - for all of you out there who have been driving/
>repairing/restoring these things for years, just how should it drive?????????
>
>Is there "normally" play in the steering wheel?????   (I know it is hard
>to define and describe, in writing, "play", but would appreciate any 
>comments..........
>(to include any comments re "upgrading" the steering if that is possible).
>
>I really want to drive this car, so I'd like to make that as 
>enjoyable as possible!
>
>tks much,  ray mead (near Scranton, PA)
>'54 Alpine
>'64 Porsche 356C
>'02 Thunderbird
>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert (Bob) A.C. Hamilton, Waverley, Nova Scotia, Canada
Sunbeam Talbots - Alpine, Drophead and Saloon, 1953-1954
Sunbeam Talbot Web Page: www.sunbeamtalbot.info (or .org)
E-Mail: hamilton at accesswave.ca or robertach at ca.inter.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
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