Posted on 08/25/2010 7:44:29 PM PDT by When do we get liberated?
I am ordering parts to repair the torque tube on my 1970 Opel GT. The question I have is, why is it there? What purpose does it serve? It would seem to me that a simple driveshaft would suffice, but no, I have a heavy (everything seems heavy in an 1800 pound car) piece that serves, as far as I can see, no purpose. I have read the Wikipedia definition of what it does, but this makes no sense to me. Can someone tell me in layman's terms why it is there?
Want to hear a good Dunsel story? Try my carb linkage. I poop you not;
1. You push the gas pedal
2. A rod pushes forward. There is a junction point.
3. This causes the next rod to move up There is a junction point
4.That rod moving up comes to a junction point.
5. That causes the next rod to rotate, where it meets a junction point.
6. The next junction point rotates a rod that goes behind the motor and comes to a junction point.
7. When that junction point is turned it turns a rod that has a junction point.
8. Your carb blades open up.
Maybe it isnt a dunsel though. at 40 years old it works perfectly, never stretches, never changes...
Sort of an automotive bris, if you will.
I dont know about Opels, but there is a lot of info on Tata’s in the Kama Sutra.”
That’s when the Car-ma Sutra comes .. in .. handy.
I see.
I expected that lol
Oh, no. My muffler thrush bearing just gave out.
Do NOT mess with the disgronificator! If you try to adjust the disgronificator you'll just cause yourself all kinds of extra work!
You need to go to your local Napa Auto parts. Ask for a Johnsons 3785 specific gravity wrench. Make sure you get a 3785. They might tell you a 3795 will do, but if it isn't a 3785 you'll be in a world of hurt.
Also, pick up a 12 pack of WD40. You won't need it for this job, but the 12 pack is a great deal and the stuff is almost as useful as duct tape.
Freep mail me once you have the Johnsons 3785 specific gravity wrench and I'll talk you through the rest.
The torque tube is the tube in which the drive shaft runs to the rear differential. In most vehicles, like a hotchkiss drive, the engine twists against the frame or body to spin the drive shaft. The drive shaft then attempts to turn the differential. This means that engine torque tends to lift the right tire and push down on the left tire. It is why a car with an open differential always spins the right (passenger side) tire on takeoff, since engine torque is twisting the whole axle assembly.
The torque tube instead, mounts directly to the differential and to the transmission, so that no twiting force is applied to the axle or the frame by the engine. Instead, the engine twists the shaft inside the torque tube, which then transfers the torque right back to the transmission case. The rear axle, then, does not attempt to twist against the body under power.
You could change your car over to a Hotchkiss drive, where the engine torque is transferred to the body, and the rear axle reacts to engine torque by attempting to turn, causing weight distribution change side to side. But you’ll need different engine mounting, different springing, change to a 4 link style suspension in the back, and other changes, as well. I would NOT suggest doing that. Instead, if all else fails, a very good machine shop should be able to repair or fabricate a new torque tube. Likely yours is damaged by hitting something, or a failed drive shaft or joints hitting it.
It is complex, heavy, and expensive, but it was done to spare your car from twisting the frame or body from engine torque, and to improve cornering characteristics and prevent “under power” handling changes.
Ohio has been trying to give Toledo back to Michigan for years, so at least Ohioans wouldn't mind.
Maybe it is misswritten or I require it dumbed down, or it is a Dunsel. We are talking about a 90 horsepower car with a 90 inch wheelbase. How much reverse torsional effect was coming from those bias-ply 13 inch tires? Why does a 475 horsepower Camaro not need this and it is bolted to my Red Sled?
a=b=1
aa=ab
aa-bb=ab-bb
(a+b)(a-b)=b(a-b)
a+b=b
a=0
1=0
I have been into Opels for 15 years, the people I call to get me out of a tech jam have no idea why it is there lol. I will check that out though. I need to scrap anouther shell anyways. Might find one there.
This was such a good looking car, loved the ingenious hideaway headlights (hand-lever operated!). But I’ve read that parts are pretty hard to get and expensive.
I would think the two tubular steel traing arms and panhard bar that are there would would do the trick.
Thanks, that makes sense. I can only imagine some anal retentive engineer figuring it will make a difference, in their usual Germanic over-engineering way.
LISTER: Rimmer, I'm bored!
RIMMER: Bored?! This is essential routine maintenance! It's absolutely vital for the well-being of this crew, this mission, and this ship. (Reading his clipboard) "Dispenser 172: chicken soup nozzle clogged."
He puts down his clipboard.
RIMMER: Pass me a 14B, Lister.
LISTER hands him a small, white pipe cleaner.
RIMMER: Lister, is this a 14B? Does it look even *remotely* like a 14B?
He reaches into the parts trolley and pulls out another white pipe cleaner, indistinguishable from the first.
RIMMER: *This* is a 14B, Lister. This (indicating the original) is a 14F. Are you blind?!
LISTER: Who cares?
RIMMER: *I* care, Lister!
RIMMER looks at them both, realizes he can't tell the difference either, and quickly puts the one he chose back in the trolley.
I honestly don’t know - auto engineering isn’t my field and I’d be BS’ing to pretend it is. I know why it’s there and I wish I still had access to the Opel I used to help a friend work on - they’re such interesting cars. What did whoever told you that say was wrong with it, exactly?
Oh yeah? Well, if Lister had duct tape, he’d be in Fiji with Kochanski, Cat and Kryten!
Duct tape is great! It’s really, really great!
Ping to post #37.
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