Thread: I couldn't build it for $3 K either!

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I decided to use a Speedway column. The price seemed right for a stainless column and I wanted a simple look.

It's a VERY simple unit. Just a piece of 1 3/4" stainless tubing, a couple of 3/4" bore flanged bearings that fit the tube and a 3/4" shaft. The shaft has a double D machined on the bottom and comes with a quick release wheel mount up top. You could make one pretty easy if you have the materials and maybe a milling machine. But, it doesn't look bad and saved me the time building it.

I made up a dummy column out of scrap pipe and all-thread and bolted a steering wheel to the top. I used a piece of MDF screwed to the firewall to support the lower end. That way I could adjust the length and find a comfortable angle. After measuring the angle I screwed two pieces of 3/4" MDF board together and set them up in my drill press. I used a 1 3/4" hole saw to cut an angled hole in the boards. Those boards were screwed to the firewall in the right location for the bottom of the steering column. These then became a guide for the hole saw in my hand drill to cut the bottom mounting hole. This gives you a much better chance of getting the hole right on the first try.

I left the MDF guide in place and slid the steering column through it. It worked out just right. The fit was tight enough to hold the column in place so that the upper mount could be done.

The upper and lower clamps were made from 1/2" steel, but they could be made of aluminum. I just don't usually have much aluminum laying around. The hole was cut with a hole saw and they were drilled and tapped for a 3/8" fine thread clamp bolt. The last step was to split them through the top portion to form the clamp. The lower piece was cut on an angle to match the firewall. The upper bracket is just two pieces of angle iron with a piece of 3/16" plate welded between them for bracing. The dash hides all this.

After I got it all done, I noticed some side to side flexing in the cowl if you pulled on the column. I added a diagonal brace to the center of the firewall and took most of it out. There's just not a whole lot of rigidity in a T cowl.