Homemade Steering Column

[all-world1]

Many moons ago, there was a thread about homemade steering columns and I can't seem to find it, so hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

Youngster posted his homemade column plans and I believe it included rubber bushings from a 40 Ford. Wondered if that rubber is readily available anywhere.

 

[Todd]

Check with Bob Drake, Mac's or Sacramento Vintage Ford.

 

[EX JUNK]

Is this homemade column anything like what you are wanting to build?

Jim

 

[RexRod]

I remember GAB posted something, here it is, in this thread:

http://www.tbucketeers.com/forum/f7/steering-colume-2354/

Work through the thread and you'll see it.

David

 

[engine24355]

Is this homemade column anything like what you are wanting to build?

Jim

That is exactly what I want to build Jim...LOL.

 

[Youngster]

here's the one i posted, not as pretty as GAB's or Jim's but it will work.



the coupler is for a corvair box.

Ron[/img][/url]

 

[all-world1]

Is this homemade column anything like what you are wanting to build?

Jim

That's a nice column....any details on it would be appreciated.

 

[VegasBruce]

Many moons ago, there was a thread about homemade steering columns and I can't seem to find it, so hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

Youngster posted his homemade column plans and I believe it included rubber bushings from a 40 Ford. Wondered if that rubber is readily available anywhere.

Here is the thread

http://www.tbucketeers.com/forum/f7/scratch-built-steering-column-468/

 

[all-world1]

here's the one i posted, not as pretty as GAB's or Jim's but it will work.



the coupler is for a corvair box.

Ron

Yup, that's the one Ron. Is that '40 Ford rubber bushing readily available? Also, can you explain the appliance plating wheel cover?

Thanks for digging that diagram up.

Craig[/img][/url]

 

[all-world1]

here's the one i posted, not as pretty as GAB's or Jim's but it will work.



the coupler is for a corvair box.

Ron

On your frame plan, what length steering shaft do you order?[/img][/url]

 

[EX JUNK]

All-world1, what I used was a piece of aluminum conduit that had an OD of 1.875" and 2 bearings to allow the 3/4" double "D" shaft to turn freely. The bearings are locked onto the shaft in two places, one near the top and one near the bottom, with two set screws that are tapped into the shaft on either side of a bearing. The bearings that I used are from MRC and the part number is R12ZZ. I attached the lower end of the tube to an aluminum plate that is screwed to the fire wall.

I hope that this will help you.

Jim

 

[Youngster]

the rubber bushing can be found at any of the ford repo emporims. they used the same one for several years. the center cap from an after market wheel makes up the top cone. you can find them in any junk yard. the length of the drag link will vary because of the location of the steering box. this is why you need to do a mock up of your engine / trans and body before you weld anything. it helps if you have your master cyl and pedal too.

Ron

 

[EX JUNK]

All-world1, I used a piece of aluminum conduit the has an OD of 1 7/8". I supported the 3/4" double "D" shaft with two MRC bearings with a part number of R12ZZ. The bearings were attached to the shaft with a couple of set screws that were tapped into the shaft on either side of the bearing. The bearings were placed with one near the top and the other near the bottom. The tube was then affixed to an aluminum plate that was used to attach it to the firewall.

I hope that this will help you.

Jim

 

[Youngster]

that's a slick set up Jim.

Ron

 

[all-world1]

Thanks Jim and Ron...some cool ideas there. With all the chassis work I still have to do, I'm kinda getting ahead of myself, but for me it's a matter of getting as many components as I can.

 

[kris-kincaid]

Here is a photo of a original style 427 Cobra steering column. They are very simple and work great. The column itself is made of 1.25" steel tube. Rather than bearings, it rides on a plastic insert at the top and a piece of cloth similar to a heavy wool blanket. They used a VW Beetle turn signal switch. The British had a habit of not over designing a part, and this is a classic example.