anyone ever moved a steering tube "up" on an m35a2 dash panel?

[kovi]

I've read a hundred threads on chubby and tall guys like me. I already plan on changing the steering wheel to the 18" from an A3. I also understand that the steering tube is a one piece, straight shot into the steering box but, has anyone ever taken the mounting block off of the dash, cut the notch higher and moved the bracket and tube "up" to give more leg room?

 

[simp5782]

What about going to a 16in or 17in wheel? Going to need a strong suicide knob to turn it though.

 

[davidb56]

I've read a hundred threads on chubby and tall guys like me. I already plan on changing the steering wheel to the 18" from an A3. I also understand that the steering tube is a one piece, straight shot into the steering box but, has anyone ever taken the mounting block off of the dash, cut the notch higher and moved the bracket and tube "up" to give more leg room?

thats a lot of work. In that case, I'd cut the tube and shaft, install a steering U-joint and move the steering wheel toward the window like a old cab over truck had, but with the second section ( lower) through the fire wall, in its original place.

 

[gimpyrobb]

You guys say that like there is power steering in these trucks! BWAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Do you realize the bracing needed to hold everything in place for a U-joint? The torque applied to the steering wheel will be transmitted down the line.

 

[dmetalmiki]

EEZY PEEZI, Just take out the bolts on the original holding bracket, Lift the column to the max, Mark and re drill. Then fit nuts and bolts.
I have done thus to all my trucks,
And I am 152IBS. I also moved the seats back after grinding out the cab back strut. I am really comfy in all my trucks and have ample leg room..

 

[frank8003]

Mostly Suicide knobs are illegal

 

[kovi]

EEZY PEEZI, Just take out the bolts on the original holding bracket, Lift the column to the max, Mark and re drill. Then fit nuts and bolts.
I have done thus to all my trucks,
And I am 152IBS. I also moved the seats back after grinding out the cab back strut. I am really comfy in all my trucks and have ample leg room..

It looks like the tube is strong enough but, will it put too much stress on the steering box seal and make it start to leak? god knows we don't need to ADD to our leak issues LOL

 

[Recovry4x4]

Folks considering moving the tube up, are you planning to bend it or unbolt the steering gear and redrill the frame?

 

[davidb56]

Folks considering moving the tube up, are you planning to bend it or unbolt the steering gear and redrill the frame?

they'd have to add a steering U joint somewhere to keep the gear in place. Old IH cabovers had it and didn't have power steering, so its doable if someone really wanted to go through all that trouble. Mine has a air operated seat from another commercial truck installed by the previous owner.

 

[dmetalmiki]

It looks like the tube is strong enough but, will it put too much stress on the steering box seal and make it start to leak? god knows we don't need to ADD to our leak issues LOL

I don't seem to recall that ther was any force at all needed to lift the column, But now youv'e mentioned it I will check out in the barn tomorrow.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Another alternative is the shortened column. I don't recall who was making them but it gained folks a few more inches at the expense of moving the wheel down.

 

[V8srfun]

I am not exactly a lightweight 5,9 at 240 and have no problem with the factory position of the wheel. Honestly I like it on the closer side for many reasons. One is that it is easier to steer being close and if you move it away you are just going to lean forward to grab it anyway. Pay attention to yourself when driving down a twisty road and you will realize you naturally pull your back off the seat to get closer to the wheel. Now if you have assisted steering do what ever floats your boat but if not I would heavily consider moving the wheel or decreasing the size of it.

 

[kovi]

I don't seem to recall that ther was any force at all needed to lift the column, But now youv'e mentioned it I will check out in the barn tomorrow.

happen to get a chance to check on that?

 

[kovi]

I am not exactly a lightweight 5,9 at 240 and have no problem with the factory position of the wheel. Honestly I like it on the closer side for many reasons. One is that it is easier to steer being close and if you move it away you are just going to lean forward to grab it anyway. Pay attention to yourself when driving down a twisty road and you will realize you naturally pull your back off the seat to get closer to the wheel. Now if you have assisted steering do what ever floats your boat but if not I would heavily consider moving the wheel or decreasing the size of it.

I get what you're saying. I'm 6'2' and 260 and the bottom of the wheel is almost against my lap when the spring seat is at its highest point. dont wanna move the seat down because ...legs are long and clutch is too close so... I'm definitely putting the 18" wheel on but, i'm still trying to figger out how shortening the column would give more room... i don't think that particular mod would work for me. if it won't stress the steering tube for me to raise the dash clamp 1 or 2 inches... that would be the trick for me.

 

[Recovry4x4]

I get what you're saying. I'm 6'2' and 260 and the bottom of the wheel is almost against my lap when the spring seat is at its highest point. dont wanna move the seat down because ...legs are long and clutch is too close so... I'm definitely putting the 18" wheel on but, i'm still trying to figger out how shortening the column would give more room... i don't think that particular mod would work for me. if it won't stress the steering tube for me to raise the dash clamp 1 or 2 inches... that would be the trick for me.

Consider the rear cushion on the springer seat. It's a lot thicker than it needs to be. Might try a thinner cushion to see if it helps a bit.

 

[gringeltaube]

if it won't stress the steering tube for me to raise the dash clamp 1 or 2 inches... that would be the trick for me.

Two inches is a lot! From factory there is a bit of "give" - but not so much really - between the 4 bolts attaching the steering gear to the frame and the corresponding holes. 1/2- 3/4" up on the dash-bracket is all I would possibly go.

For anything more than that, the holes in the frame & reinforcement plate need to be filed out accordingly to make sure that the column is not being forced/bent.

 

[glcaines]

Mostly Suicide knobs are illegal

And appropriately named! When a wheel hits something and the steering wheel spins, bones can break.

 

[frank8003]

Steering wheels had to do with mechanical leverage

1954 Jag I owned was 16" Recirculating Ball 16" wheels
1951 Chevy was 15" with 15" wheels Recirculating Ball steering
1947 to 1953 trucks was 16" Recirculating Ball
MGA was 16-1/2"
1965 MGB was rack+ pinion 15" wheels, best steering I have ever driven......

In the "old daze" they were larger to give at least some advantage.


A very long time ago as a child I always did read Uncles' newspapers which invariably had photo of someone impaled on the steering wheel.

Steering wheel - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Though the collapsible steering column was invented in the 1930s, GM didn't begin installing them until 1967.

The first power steering system on a vehicle was apparently installed in 1876 by a man with the surname of Fitts, but little else is known about him.[1] The next power steering system was put on a Columbia 5-ton truck in 1903 where a separate electric motor was used to assist the driver in turning the front wheels.[1][2]

Robert E. Twyford, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, included a mechanical power steering mechanism as part of his patent (U.S. Patent 646,477) issued on April 3, 1900 for the first four-wheel drive system.[3]

Francis W. Davis, an engineer of the truck division of Pierce-Arrow, began exploring how steering could be made easier, and in 1926 invented and demonstrated the first practical power steering system.[4][5][6] Davis moved to General Motors and refined the hydraulic-assisted power steering system, but the automaker calculated it would be too expensive to produce.[5] Davis then signed up with Bendix, a parts manufacturer for automakers. Military needs during World War II for easier steering on heavy vehicles boosted the need for power assistance on armored cars and tank-recovery vehicles for the British and American armies.[5]

Chrysler Corporation introduced the first commercially available passenger car power steering system on the 1951 Chrysler Imperial under the name "Hydraguide".[7] The Chrysler system was based on some of Davis' expired patents. General Motors introduced the 1952 Cadillac with a power steering system using the work Davis had done for the company almost twenty years earlier.

Charles F. Hammond from Detroit filed several patents for improvements of power steering with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office in 1958.[8][9][10]

I never thought about it much as my Deuce had hydraulic power steering, and I always wanted a suicide knob in my Maybellene 66 caddy 390 four speed but hardly had a dime to my name.

 

[Redneck of Enon]

Steering wheels had to do with mechanical leverage

1954 Jag I owned was 16" Recirculating Ball 16" wheels
1951 Chevy was 15" with 15" wheels Recirculating Ball steering
1947 to 1953 trucks was 16" Recirculating Ball
MGA was 16-1/2"
1965 MGB was rack+ pinion 15" wheels, best steering I have ever driven......

In the "old daze" they were larger to give at least some advantage.


A very long time ago as a child I always did read Uncles' newspapers which invariably had photo of someone impaled on the steering wheel.

Steering wheel - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Though the collapsible steering column was invented in the 1930s, GM didn't begin installing them until 1967.

The first power steering system on a vehicle was apparently installed in 1876 by a man with the surname of Fitts, but little else is known about him.[1] The next power steering system was put on a Columbia 5-ton truck in 1903 where a separate electric motor was used to assist the driver in turning the front wheels.[1][2]

Robert E. Twyford, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, included a mechanical power steering mechanism as part of his patent (U.S. Patent 646,477) issued on April 3, 1900 for the first four-wheel drive system.[3]

Francis W. Davis, an engineer of the truck division of Pierce-Arrow, began exploring how steering could be made easier, and in 1926 invented and demonstrated the first practical power steering system.[4][5][6] Davis moved to General Motors and refined the hydraulic-assisted power steering system, but the automaker calculated it would be too expensive to produce.[5] Davis then signed up with Bendix, a parts manufacturer for automakers. Military needs during World War II for easier steering on heavy vehicles boosted the need for power assistance on armored cars and tank-recovery vehicles for the British and American armies.[5]

Chrysler Corporation introduced the first commercially available passenger car power steering system on the 1951 Chrysler Imperial under the name "Hydraguide".[7] The Chrysler system was based on some of Davis' expired patents. General Motors introduced the 1952 Cadillac with a power steering system using the work Davis had done for the company almost twenty years earlier.

Charles F. Hammond from Detroit filed several patents for improvements of power steering with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office in 1958.[8][9][10]

I never thought about it much as my Deuce had hydraulic power steering, and I always wanted a suicide knob in my Maybellene 66 caddy 390 four speed but hardly had a dime to my name.

great thread ....very impressive ....you did all the work and I learned stuff .....

 

[67Beast]

Want the most room? Ditch the spring ride seat for the old box style seat. I'm 6'4" 250 and have plenty of room in mine with the box style seat. I climbed into a buddies one time that had the spring seat, and it was way to cramped for me to drive. I would rather have the comfort of fitting over the ride quality any day.