Thread: Which salvage steering column to use?

Tweet

I'm building up a 29 Model A five window coupe. I'd like a tilt wheel, using a floor shifter but really can't pay the price for Flaming River or Ididit. Has anybody had bolt-in success with a certain steering column from the junk yard? Thanks

A very neat, clean, and often overlooked junkyard column is from a '67 - '79 Ford 4 wheel drive pickup that came from Detroit with a floor shift. Tilt versions are a bit harder to find, but they're around. The column is reasonably short, nothing on it but a turn signal lever, and easily covered with a polished aluminum tube..... Works great, looks fine.

I have 31 5w if you need measurments I can provide, mine came w/ aluminum column but floor to dash etc measurments should be the same. 31 5w

Dave I've used that same column many times. Theres one in my 53 ford

Well not the same ONE

My 34 plymouth has a Buick column, circa 1970. It is locking column, keyed with tilt. Mine is about 35 inches long and painted to color match the car. Has been a good unit, but I will likely replace it with a non keyed unit from FR or Ididit when I rewire my car (not likely this year).

I'm using an Ididit in my '31 roadster (see my AVATAR) - the total overall length, tip to tip, is 32 inches and is the length recommended by the owner of Ididit. It extends about 1.5 inches below the floor boads and is connected to the R&P via 3 Borgeson u-joints and a stationary bearing.

The Ford P/U may be too long for a '29 though a very good choice. Had one on my ancient '79 F350.

Somewhere I have pictures of my '31 setup but not in my hard drive car folder - probably wasn't a digital photo.

thanks, I'll keep your name handy,
Grady

Irelands child do you have any pictures of the interior of your car so I can see how your Ididit steering column looks not to mention what kind of room you having with the steering wheel installed. I am building a 1930 Brookville roadster, but I am not to the stage of needing my column. I was told that the correct length to use for my 30 was a 30" column length. Now I am curious because I do not want to purchase one until I know for sure. Thanks

the 1995 S10 Blazer has a floor shift. don't know how long the column is though. same as the S10 pick-up. i'd say all of them are tilt.

Assuming the Brookville firewall is not indented for a V8 (???) here is a diagram DennyW sent to me. It looks like a '30-'31 and may be of some help for the angle. Check out my picture on the "Everybody Building....." thread. The problem for me is that the engine indent in the Bebops firewall curves just about where I want to put the column. I am using a '83 Camaro column but at 34" it may be too long and I may have to scrap it and start over????

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Originally Posted by stylingZ

Irelands child do you have any pictures of the interior of your car so I can see how your Ididit steering column looks not to mention what kind of room you having with the steering wheel installed. I am building a 1930 Brookville roadster, but I am not to the stage of needing my column. I was told that the correct length to use for my 30 was a 30" column length. Now I am curious because I do not want to purchase one until I know for sure. Thanks

I'll try to find a photo - did take some but probably not digital.

I actually talked to the owner of Ididit - Ken Collison and used his recommendation for the 32".

Depending on how it is measured, the recomendation for a 30" might be correct and that Ididit's 32" is the same

Here's a pic of a home-made ball bearing aluminum steering column I made.

Not counting U-joint, quick disconnect or steering wheel, I have less than $35. invested.

Here it is in kit form.

Discounting the steering column drop, etc. you'll have to machine up some pieces.

The ball bearing retainers may not be required depending on the column diameter, wall thickness etc.
Using a steel column may make retaining the bearings easy.

What you will need is a couple of retainers that clamp to each end of the steering shaft proper so as to keep it in place and have the proper bearing play - which is set at zero.

Ball bearings used are sealed bearings.

Steering shaft used is a stock GM non-tilt shaft that's 37" long.
It comes out at the right length for most roadster type cars.
Found in vans and passenger cars circa 1970's - 1980's or so.
Last one I bought was $5.00

Cockpit ergonomics will be correct and the U-joints will end up at a good angle with reasonable clearance to the rear exhaust port. (455 Buick engine.)

I've used a similar steering setup in my 32, 44,000 miles and no probs.

Here's a pic showing the dash-column-etc. relationships.

It's comfortable and has good ergonomics.

Seat used is a two passenger model out of a mid-90's ChryCo soccer mom van.

You are not going to have much luck with a junkyard steering column if you are looking to bolt in. Now, if you are willing to do a little extra work: disassemble, modify, cut, weld, etc then it is a simple matter of finding a column which has the features you want, and is a close fit as to reduce the labor to a bare minimum.