Steering Column Help needed

[Nick32vic]

Tonight we are setting up the steering column in my 32. We have a problem(?) when the column is centered with the guages (55 chevy) the column is at a big angle. Is this a problem? will it be noticable? We can move it over because the steering weel will be too far over and it wont be centered with the driver. and we can move the bottom of the collumn the other way because it will be too close to the motor.

Here is what it looks like. But the steering wheel isnt at as much of an angle as it looks here.

[thirtytwo]

pic doesnt do much for me ,are you using a 55 chev dash, what steer box? is the proble that the dash deems the location and differs from where the steer-shaft comes through the firewall can you snap a pic of the real thing?

[Unkl Ian]

I would try to get the wheel centered on the drivers seat,

and modify the dash to center the gauges on the wheel.


When you narrow up a '50s dash to fit a '30s car,you can't just automatically take the difference out of the middle of the dash.
You might have to remove some from the drivers side to get the gauges centered on the steering wheel.

You might be able to use a double U-joint on the top of the steering box to help straighten out the column.

[34Fordtk]

What column have you got??Some of the double "u" joint steering shafts may help you out.

[Dirty Dug]

I'm with the uncl here. Whatever dash you use the steering column needs to be located relaively close to the original position to work AND look correct. Good thing you're not starting with a right hand drive dash.

[Nick32vic]

Ok, let me rephrase this. The column is at an angle. The guage cluster is centered and the steering wheel is were we want it. The problem is the column is at an angle. Understand? Its kind of hard to explain. Does it matter that the column is at an angle like that?

[Nick32vic]

55 Chevy Dash
IDIDIT Column
Flaming River Vega Box

[Pist-n-Broke]

This isn't an un-common problem. It's hard to give advice as to what to change without knowing what your using for a steering box and column. There is way to many combinations to have a fix all solution. Hope your still in mock up stage and not welded up and painted.
The Wizzard

[thirtytwo]

you said if you keep the colum straight the steer shaft gets in the way of the motor so as i see it you have only one option ..and thats to nix the colum, put some u-joints under the dash so the steer shaft will clear the motor when it comes out the firewall

[Pist-n-Broke]

OK, Now that you've cleared it up, No it doesn't matter. If you like the way it looks and it doesn't bother you sitting behind it then there is no problem.
The Wizzard

[Nick32vic]

Ok, thanks for the advice. I was just out there MOCKING it up some more. and I think it should be fine. I just didnt know if this problem was common or not. It kind of scared me because it looks funny. But i think after its all together it wont be too noticable. Thank you though.

Nick Giacalone

[enjenjo]

Look at a Chevette, the steering wheel is angled to set straight with the driver, the column is angled in the car.

[Flat Ernie]

[ QUOTE ]
Look at a Chevette, the steering wheel is angled to set straight with the driver, the column is angled in the car.

[/ QUOTE ]

And we all know the Chevette was the pinnacle of GM style...

(sorry, couldn't resist!)

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[C9]

Ergonomics first, then gauges.

Maybe this will help - my 32 has a 14 1/4" OD steering wheel.
The top part of the wheel is just barely above the cowl vertically speaking and 5" back from the cowl although that could be different with your install. Key thing is you don't want the wheel too high. The 32 does not have tilt steering.
The left side of the wheel is 4" from the inside door panel at the top of the door.

The steering column is cocked off to the right as shown in your sketch up top.
It's not noticeable when driving and no one has ever commented on it.
An angled column is common on factory built cars.
My 50 Plymouth had quite a bit of angle on it, but again, it was not noticeable.

What you want to do is get a seat in the car that sits right, get the pedals in so you can either align the bucket seat with them or decide where you're sitting on a bench seat.
Then sit in the car and decide where the steering wheel should be centered and don't sweat the angle.

I know this is a many times posted pic, but it will give you an idea of where the wheel sits in relation to the dash.

Note the column angle as well. The flatter it can be the more comfortable you'll be when driving.
Main thing to avoid is a steering wheel that is too horizontal - sorta bus like.

[C9]

Here's a pic of the not-yet-shortened aluminum column jacket in my 31.
The steering shaft is an uncut GM about 27" long with 3/4" x 36 splines.

It may be hard to see in the pic, but the column is very close to the frame. That for header primary pipe clearance.
The column close to the frame bit is why the column ends up angled.

[C9]

Here's a better pic of the column after cutting the jacket to size, installing the u-joint and short piece of Double D shafting. I would have posted this pic first, but found it in my 'un-converted' files.
(If you buy the Double D shaft - and it is a good way to go, no re-splining problems - buy the 3' piece. My friend did that and so far we've gotten three pieces of DD shaft out of the deal and still have a piece left over.)

I can spline shafts and in fact did that on my 32, but DD is a whole lot less trouble.

[AHotRod]

That's OK....allot of cars have this and if you didnt build it, you will never know.
Glenn

[C9]

Not sure how much help this pic of the 31 - on 32 rails - will be, but it has just about the same mounting angle and placement as does the 32.

Strive for good ergonomics in these little cars.
I see more than a few guys who've built cars and can only stand to drive them for a half hour at a time.
Take the time to get the pedal placement right, steering wheel location as right as you can and most important of all, build or buy a comfortable seat.
Don't forget an easy or at least reasonable location for ignition switch, turn signals et al.

It don't mean jack to have the car sitting on the A&W parking lot on rod run Saturday night if you can't stand to drive it....

[sawbuck]

i know this is an old thread but.... i been using the SEARCH..my stock 34 ford truck steering column also leans to the right..did they come like that stock ?if i mock up an f1 or f100 box.the column angles to the right..that is using the stock location in the stock dash mounts..it is centered for the driver ,but has an angle to the pass side...i did channel the cab 4.5 inches...is that my problem ?should i just make a new dash mount drop, to the left ?did i just answer my own ??? any help ?

[sawbuck]

any help ?answers ?

[fleetside66]

Sawbuck, I didn't have any steering components when I got my cab ('33). This is all very interesting to me because I'm on the verge of doing the steering. I'll let you know within the next week what I run into, but it sure looks like I'm going to have to move the column to the left of the stock dash mount to get the thing to the point where it must be on the outside of the firewall. My situation is also compounded by the fact that I have a brake & a clutch pedal, which means the column placement dictates the pedal placement. Very dicey. Not much room.

[choppintops]

On my kids 34, she decided to have it swing some to the right at an angle to get the wheel away from the door. If you LOOK at it, you can see it and it seems a bit odd, but sit behind it and drive and you'lll never know because it doesn't bother drivability.

[Nick32vic]

hahahahahaha, weird seeing such an old goofy thread I started. Sawbuck, I dont know how bad yours is but mine turned out to be so unnoticeable that I forgot i ever even asked this question.

[sawbuck]

thanks all...mine is not too bad..more common than i thought though..even with the stock box it is a liitle bit to the right..did they come like this from the factory..early fords..32 33 34 ?