What Length Column?

[63chevytoo]

This has been talked about befor but I cannot find the thread.
Will a 30" hot rod tilt column be about the right length for a 55?
I want to replace the stock column with one that is a little closer to the dash.

Thanx
Don

[Rick_L]

30" is what they will sell you if you don't specify. 28-1/2" will move the column close to the instrument panel and still clear if you are using a steering box. I'm not sure if a column shift will work this short.

Length is wide open if you're using a rack.

[MikeB]

When I got my 55, it had a generic Ididit 30" column. Even a fairly shallow-dish steering wheel was too close to my body. I ended up sending it to Ididit where they shortened it to 29". A column specifically made for a 55 can be shortened even more. You can see from this picture why mine couldn't be -- the tapered housing is less than 1/2" from the dash bezel.

http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL381/8947988/16498745/317567114.jpg

[Gary Blake]

I see! Your interior is fantastic!!!:):):)

[63chevytoo]

I am using the stock steering box. No column shift.
It sounds like I would have to cut the 30" down to get it as close as possible.

MikeB
Looks like yours is about as close as you can get it at 29.
I'm guessing that the rag joints are all about the same length.

Thanks for the picture and feedback.

Don

[Rick_L]

The rag joints are all the same length.

The "big" part of the Ididit column is little longer than the FR.

I don't know where my 28-1/2" number above came from. My FR column is cut down to 27" (measured it this time). So you can get the steering wheel back closer to stock with the FR column. The 27" length is from the cylinder at the steering wheel end to the end of the column bearing. On mine the shaft sticks out about another 1/16". Only about half of the column tube sticks out past the firewall.

[MikeB]

Remember, the dish depth of your steering wheel has lots of effect, too. My late 60s Camaro wheel is very shallow compared to most aftermarket wheels.

I recommend you sit in the seat holding the wheel where it's comfortable and have someone measure the distance from the wheel to the dash. Then do some math to determine how long the column should be.

[acardon]

The "big" part of the Ididit column is little longer than the FR.


Here is the measurements for the Flaming River. I think the "big" part of the Ididit is about 2" longer with the column shift but about the same with floor shift. ...http://www.flamingriver.com/p_view_image.cfm?mode=img&image=system_design.jpg

[63chevytoo]

The "big" part of the Ididit column is little longer than the FR.

That is some good information.....

Thanks to all for the feedback and valuable information.

This is just one of those things (out of many) that I want to get right.

I hate "do-overs"!!!!!!!!!


Don