Shorter steering column?

[Geektrucker]

May sound silly, anyone ever shorten their steering column to move the wheel closer to dash? I've got 6" - 8" of space between my aftermarket wheel and the dash, it would be nice to lose 4" or so of that space

Sent from the back woods of Maine via skiddah, cah, and a wicked pissah squarebody

 

[Mr Clean]

May sound silly, anyone ever shorten their steering column to move the wheel closer to dash? I've got 6" - 8" of space between my aftermarket wheel and the dash, it would be nice to lose 4" or so of that space

Sent from the back woods of Maine via skiddah, cah, and a wicked pissah squarebody

I did, your not going to loose 4 inches. I think it's about 3 inches.
Before:

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After:

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probably not the best pic to show the difference. I have been planing on do a write up on it. Just have had the time.

 

[74propu]

I did but I needed to do a 30 deg bend under the dash and have the steering lower shaft come threw the firewall at a angel so I used a astro van column . it is about 5 in away form the dash at the wheel

 

[oneluckypops]

I did, your not going to loose 4 inches. I think it's about 3 inches.
Before:

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After:

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probably not the best pic to show the difference. I have been planing on do a write up on it. Just have had the time.

in a nutshell, I presume you relocated the mounting bracket on the column and shortened the shaft under the hood?

 

[rolltide1]

I did, your not going to loose 4 inches. I think it's about 3 inches.
Before:

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After:

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probably not the best pic to show the difference. I have been planing on do a write up on it. Just have had the time.

can you tell me how you shorten the steering column ?

 

[Mr Clean]

can you tell me how you shorten the steering column ?

It's a lot of steps, and it's not hard if you think about it. But it would take awhile to write it out.

 

[Scott91370]

Bringing it back...


We got time.

 

[SquareRoot]

Yep, the Big Belly Club needs this info! lol

 

[Scott91370]

Yep, the Big Belly Club needs this info! lol

I don't even have a big belly. I just don't like the steering wheel 4" from my face. I wanna stretch!

 

[DrvnDrvr]

I replaced my original worn out column with

https://www.ebay.com/itm/352729875584

Shortened by about 1 1/2" and added tilt.
Had to cannibalize my original one to get it installed but am much happier with it.

Got a

3/4 DD - 3/4 DD Steering U-Joint from​

https://www.autocityclassic.com/steering-columns-wheels/

That made the install much easier.

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[nvrenuf]

I did but I needed to do a 30 deg bend under the dash and have the steering lower shaft come threw the firewall at a angel so I used a astro van column . it is about 5 in away form the dash at the wheel

I'd be interested to hear more about this swap but the user hasn't be on the board in 5 years. I wonder if it was plug & play or cut & fab? I thought I'd read somewhere that van columns were shorter.

I know there are aftermarket columns but I'm not spending $1k on one. I don't like the shift indicator on the housing but that street rod column looks like a decent option for pre '84 trucks without the wiper and high beam switches in the column.

 

[Scott91370]

Yeah, I am not spending $1k on a steering column. I'm alreay $8k over budget!

After searching, A LOT, I found a guy who did it by unbolting the retaining collar under thge dash and slid the whole assembly away from him about 2" then used the next set of holes to bolt it back together. Of course had to shorten the rod under the hood the same amount. I'll look into this and if I do it I will take pics.

This is his pic:

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[nvrenuf]

Yeah, I am not spending $1k on a steering column. I'm alreay $8k over budget!

After searching, A LOT, I found a guy who did it by unbolting the retaining collar under thge dash and slid the whole assembly away from him about 2" then used the next set of holes to bolt it back together. Of course had to shorten the rod under the hood the same amount. I'll look into this and if I do it I will take pics.

Awesome, I'm looking forward to your findings! I'm guessing you'll have to move the flange at the firewall too?

 

[RanchWelder]

Yah, the stoopid expensive Borgeson Shaft, hurts my eyes every time I get bored and search for one on sale. I have an inner tube wrapped and zip tied over my upper socket joint, just to keep the grease in and the water out. It works OK. Made a Delrin bushing to replace the lower bearing race assembly, using the OEM retaining cover to hold it all in there. I'm tempted to weld it in, but then it can never be repaired, so for now it has a few screws keeping it in place.

If the eBay unit works OK. I'de be interested in seeing how your's came out too.
I was really worried the quality would be off, since the next best pricing is double, or more, from the usual suspects...

 

[DrvnDrvr]

On my EBay unit there is no provision for the underdash clamp. I cut the clamp part off the existing column and used that. The ring for the shift lever is right up against the dash bezel. I have to loosen the underdash column clamp to get my instrument panel bezel off. The column came with the correct plug fur ignition signals and stuff.

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