Steering wheel position
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,659
Likes: 8
Steering wheel position
Looking for a different solution. The steering wheel on my 66 is too low. It already has a small diameter wheel on it, which grazes my thighs now. The main complaint is the entire wheel is about 2-3" too low for me. I do not have a tilt wheel, it seems that if I put a tilt column in then I will be trading a flat wheel position for a wheel tilted more in a bus or Ferrari position, and while the wheel will seem higher it is only the plane of the wheel that has changed not the position.
The seat is already lowered to the max.
All I can come up with is to notch out the dash panel and force the column up higher, with all the associated modifications to the underpinnings behind the dash. Not good.
A wild idea is to replace the flex joint with a universal joint, shorten the column shaft, and force the lower end of the column down to be in line with the U-joint. By forcing that end down, it should pivot the higher end (the wheel) up higher. The wheel won't be flat, but not as bad as a tilt column would make it.
Is a tilt column what I am looking at, or is there some better idea out there?????
The seat is already lowered to the max.
All I can come up with is to notch out the dash panel and force the column up higher, with all the associated modifications to the underpinnings behind the dash. Not good.
A wild idea is to replace the flex joint with a universal joint, shorten the column shaft, and force the lower end of the column down to be in line with the U-joint. By forcing that end down, it should pivot the higher end (the wheel) up higher. The wheel won't be flat, but not as bad as a tilt column would make it.
Is a tilt column what I am looking at, or is there some better idea out there?????
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,354
Likes: 2,726
From: Close to DC
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Non of the above is a good idea. What dia. wheel do you have now? Essentially you would be trying to bend the supporting cross bar and steering brackets, then hoping the u-joint doesn't shift up and bind and then one thing leds to another and you CRASH...not good. What about getting an upolstery shop to thin out the cushion and stretch the springs of the seat. 
Dennis
Dennis
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 28
From: Long Beach CA
A 16" wheel isn't that small. Suppliers sell custom wheels that are more like 14" to 14.5" in diameter. If you have power steering, one of those will work fine. If not, parking will really build up your arm muscles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,631
Likes: 11
From: Rocklin California
My 65 coupe has some adjustment in or out. I put a 15" Corvette wheel on and pulled the column out an inch or so to get a little closer to my body and away from my knees. Good luck.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 51
From: Lexington Park Maryland
How tall (big) are you ?? I'm 6'2'' around 220 lbs and still have the stock wheel in my '66. I agree with Bluestripe67....... thin out the seat foam. I'd try a custom seat (that still looks original) before I'd start hacking up the steering column. Would also make selling the car easier than explaining why the steering is different (modified). Again....., just my2cents.
Last edited by Jims66; Apr 20, 2010 at 10:43 AM. Reason: spelling
