Art & Inspiration Tech Week – Making a Column Transition From A Lampshade

Number three for my man Steve:

For my steering column, I'm running a super simple 1-1/2 inch diameter tube with bearings at each end and a factory 65 Nova steering shaft. I cut a double D shape at the box end of the shaft, and because the wheel end of the shaft already had GM splines, I could easily install my 58 Chevy wheel.

The problem was the steering wheel center was a lot bigger than the column diameter, and GM column transitions from the era mate to larger diameter column tubes.

So I had to make a column transition. Here's how I did it:

I looked around at office supply and department stores for a metal lampshade with a conical shap I found appealing. Found this one for $12 at Bed Bath and Beyond.




First, I cut it down to the correct size.




Welded up all those little slots. Migging the thin material was tough.




I ground down the welds.




Then I cut a couple of wood donuts to insert inside the transition to center it on the column and to give me something sturdy to mount my tach onto.




Then I glued the donuts into the transition with some JB Weld.




And here's the finished piece.

 

You're a pretty talented guy....... well, maybe not pretty, I dunno

 

Now that's thinking outside the box,looks like a factory piece.

On a side note,the slots wouldn't bother me,fact is they have a lot of character, HRP

 

Now, that's hot rodding! Second-hand stores can also net you pieces just like that.

Roger

 

I'm with HRP, I kinda like the slots but great job either way. It's simple and I like simple.

 

Yeah, and the slots woulda cooled the mechanicals! Lol

 

Great idea! That came out nice, and the price is right as well. A win win.

 

That is very out of the box thinking. Nice job.

 

Kool. Im with a few of the others on the slots. A guy could have cut some backers and j.b. welded them to the inside so you couldnt see to the inside.

 

I may be crazy , but I kinda liked the slots as well . Either way , splendid job !

 

I liked the slots also. maybe paint the wood block black and let it show thru

 

cool idea!

 

That is a great idea!

 

The slots were the first thing to catch my eye and I immediately started thinking about how they would look if you dimpled them in.

 

Why thats so simple even I could do it!
I think you should have put neon lights in the slots...

 

Looks great--ingenious solution!!!

 

Put me in the liking the slots crowd. Awesome thinking and imagination there. I'd have used some stainless screen and epoxy glued them in behind the slots to give it even more character, but smooth rules too. Great idea...

 

All you guys who " love the slots" should hire a bus and go to Las Vegas and get it out of your system. haha
We have a local scrap merchant and I can spend hours looking for uses for all the cool stuff thrown away.

 

I like that a lot!

 

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A "tuner" would have put (gag) LED's behind the slots.

Roger

 

The column turned out great!
I thought I would share a similar deal. Pic is of my 3W built in the late 60's. It has a 64 Revi tilt column cut down to fit on 1 1/2" tubing so I could use the 32 drop. The transition piece is a Melmac coffee cup with the bottom cut out. I epoxy'd it on. Still there after almost 50 years.

 

I just through out a set of double lamps like you used two days ago, had been tripping over them in the shop to long, to late for a dumpster dive, the trash man already took them

 

Really cool and creative, got to be creative now adays,and the slots did look cool

 

I wouldn't use LEDs but I would put sex lights behind the slots. (Purple?)

 

Simple and really slick looking. Totally dig it.

 

Is that shade stainless steel ? And you used mild steel mig to weld up the slots ? Horrors

 

Nice job David!

 

Cool, I don't know how many times I have seen guys just go at it (stainless) with mild steel mig wire.
On something like that it would not likely have made much difference if the plan was to paint it however it's good to see something done right.

 

Pretty slick, Dave - that old shade never looked as good as it does now!

 

Great thinking. You can find great bendable hoses in the shower head area of your local home depot or lowes to use to cover your headlight wires from the light to the frame too. Also I like useing the piston rods from your old grenaded engine for the column drop. Adds a little sentimental value to the new ride. Always try to encorporate stuff from the old into the new when you can.