Hot Rods Chrome Steering Column

I was just curious if anyone is running a chrome steering column in their hotrod? Please post pictures!
I have a 53 Chevy truck and I need a steering column for it. I found a company that sells them and the chrome one is actually cheaper. I am not really one for chrome, but the price is tempting.
Just wanted to see some pictures (doesn't have to be of a truck) and hear what other who have a chrome column in their hotrod think of it.

Thanks in advance!

-Jeff

 

Just make sure it not a Chinese manufactured column. Theres been several complete steering failures on these columns due to inside plastic parts failing.

Gary

 

For sure make sure the column isn't one from any company associated with the Hoffman group. All they sell is cheap unsafe garbage.
Helix is one example of one of their many names.
Stay with quality from someone like Ididit.

 

Any chance a piece of stainless tubing from a metal supply company would work? I am lucky to live in Los Angeles where there are a lot of good metal supply places to support the aircraft industry among others.

Charlie Stephens

 

I have a stainless column in my old Deuces sedan but when I install a interior this winter I'm going to remove it and paint it black. HRP

 

As the guys said, when it comes to steering columns what appear to be bargain units are usually of very poor quality internally. A plain non tilt might be ok but there are tons of threads on just about every car enthusiast forum about the cheap tilt units failing.
That Hoffman group "Helix" junk is constantly getting what appear to be new vendors selling their junk under different names in an effort to mascaraed where it comes from. I even had one that sells on Ebay who joined the Hamb specifically to pm me with a ration of crap when I mentioned that what he was selling was Hoffman group junk.

 

We used to slip a 3' chrome exhaust extension over the stock column.

Sent from my LG-TP450 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

^^^^^

 

I'd probably go to some effort to use the column from a 54-59 truck (after cutting it off the steering gearbox), and make it look kind of stock. And if it's a show truck kind of truck, getting the tube and TS switch housing chromed, would be a reasonable thing to do.

 

Mines shiny. And staying that way.

 

Made my own from an old lake pipe an old steering shaft and some bearings from the local hardware store.

 

Its getting old an a bit less shiny,but after all,like most of my shiny,I didn't chrome it,just polished hell out of it too start with. That started life as a shiny alum umbrala stand in mid picnic table. The blend sleve under steeringwheel is a stainless steel cup . Bushing at top for shaft was made of brass on a leath.

 

Thanks for the great information and pictures everyone! I will definitely look into the manufacturer of the steering column I saw. My dad always told me if things seem too good to be true, it is because they are. It sounds like the one I saw is probably going to be junk and not worth the money, cheap or not.
I like the idea of the 54-59 truck columns or maybe the 53-54 car columns since they have the turn signal housing built in.
Anyone had any luck or experience with the limeworks steering column shifter kits?
http://www.limeworksspeedshop.com/Safety-Shifter-Kit-p/sskit-indicator.htm
I was almost hoping to have a column shift to clear up the floor space.

Thanks everyone!
-Jeff

 

I have never used one but everything I have ever got from them has been top notch and great to deal with.

 

The 50s columns don't really have the TS switch built in..it was an option, and slips onto the column and clamps in place. There are repop switch assemblies for sale, I don't know how well they are made. The originals often have distorted housings, which don't clamp tightly and don't always switch properly, so beware of used parts--check condition carefully before buying. Also they made two different designs, the early version for flat steering wheels has the lever come straight out, the angled version for 57-59 trucks with the deep dish wheel, the lever is angled towards the steering wheel, and will not work with a flat steering wheel like the older trucks used.

 

The one I posted above is flaming river. I have used their columns in several cars over the years and never had an issue.

 

Not a great pic but the steering column in my 1940 Dodge I made from the top of the Oz Valiant column with a piece of 2&1/2 diameter alloy tubing that fits into the Valiant indicator/bearing block with a sealed bearing at the bottom, the stock mopar collapsible can is used at the top......the alloy tube is polished, gotta make up some covers for the agricultural exhaust clamps, tho' they do the job...............andyd

 

Stubby that I had IDIDIT make.

 

Lime works, Flaming River, Ididit, probably all test out very good & reputable.
As stated NOS, Stock pulled from salvage will be best engineered & rebuildable or serviceable.
I don't know how Hoffman group or any other Alias,knock -off Chinese junk can be ever considered for your most important safety items (steering,brakes,seatbelt,suspension)

. . .

 

This is a steering column I took out of a 67 Mustang and had it chromed in 1975 I think. Still shiny but I only did the tubing part, not the turn signal part.