anyone know the length of the steering column? I am looking at buying the IDIDIT streight column w/ shift. Also if anyone else makes steering columns, i am open to suggestions. Thanks! ________ Volcano classic
http://www.flamingriver.com/index.c.../category_id=80/home_id=62/mode=cat/cat80.htm This is the link to flaming river. They make a great steering column. I have also looked into the IDIDT columns as well and are a very good quality column. I don't know what the price difference is but maybe worth looking into.
Collapsable steering column Hey Kyle another thing that I just now saw on the website that I provided is that they make a collapsable steering column. It is manditory in all new cars and for a good reason. It is a big safety precaution for if and when you wreck your car it will colapse and not become a spear and go through you on impact. Maybe something for you to think about.
Kyle, we usually wire/duct tape/somehow hang the steering wheel in the place that feels most comfortable to the one that will be doing the driving. This is how we do the wheel in race cars along with the pedals and shifter. Being comfortable is important. The column length will then be measured from the underside of the wheel to how far you want it through the firewall. If using a floor shift it has to just barely fit through and if using a coulmn shift it has to be far enough through for the shifter arm to work. Keep as close to the firewall as possible if using a V8 to minimize clashing with the left exhaust manifold. If you happen to have a shaft that runs straight then follow Kevin"s advice on a collapsible column, if you use U-joints with much angle in them then they will deflect in a wreck so the collapsible column isn't as mandatory. Hope this is of some help.
What Evan says is true, if you use a few U-joints then the collapsable is not as necessary. Mine is going to have enough bends in mine that I shouldn't have to buy one of these, but then again if it's the same price then maybe I'll do it anyway to be on the safe side. Also definately do a mock up of the steering column as Evan said so you are comfortable in your truck. Nothing worse then spending the time and money in your truck and then it is not comfortable to even drive. Let us know what you figure out.
i liked the way the original one sat in the truck. I was just too stupid to measure it before i got rid of it. I like the one from IDIDIT because it has the shift on the column. I coudlnt find one from flaming river that has the column shift. i will keep looking though. I bought the latest issue of classic trucks and found a few ads in there i am going to check out. If anyone has the original measurement of the original steering column that would be awesome. Thanks! ________ Zr750f
Kyle - I just measured up the one in my 55 1st. It's in the truck so I get: under the hood, firewall to very end of steering box 15 3/4" and in the cab, firewall to the top of horn button 31". Give a 1/4" for the firewall call it roughly 49" overall. Maybe someone else can get you a more accurate out of the truck measurement.
Hey Kyle click on this link. It's the flaming river one with the shift on the column and is a tilt. http://www.flamingriver.com/index.c...ategory_ID=162/home_id=62/mode=cat/cat162.htm I think that most people use the 36 in column in these trucks. Of course this only gets you through the firewall and not all the way to the gear box. The rest of it will be as follows: U-joint then steering shaft linkage then U-joint on the gear box. Hope this helps.
hey thanks a lot, big help. I dont know what i would do without you guys. ________ ADVANCED PARKING GUIDANCE SYSTEM
Hey Kyle I just stumble across how to measure what length steering column that you need. Click the link and it will show you how to do it. http://www.flamingriver.com/p_view_image.cfm?mode=img&image=system_design.jpg
Thanks for the post Kevin!!! Outstanding information! Again, I feel like an expert because of one of your posts- keep up the good work!
You're gonna make me blush Zig. Glad I could help. I just stumble across it myself and now I know how to measure it correctly and order it right the first time.
It's you and the good folks of this site that have me hoping this stays around! This is a fun, PRICELESS site!
