The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop I'm working on a 49 COE and how the heck do you

get the steering column brace that goes between the firewall and dash into place?

Thanks, Greg

Carefully.
Seriously, as far as I know, it has to be done before the instruments are installed, and possibly the WW motor as well.
Have to have enough room to wiggle it around to get the studs through the firewall and then drop the other end onto the holes on the lower edge of the dash.

I've taken the studs out on the firewall side. I have nothing installed under the dash. It won't fit, it's too long. I suspect it had to be put in BEFORE the dash was welded in

Was it in there before you took it out, or did it come disassembeled?
I've done it twice. Both times, the bottom of the dash was damaged from the cab and steering column vibrating out of sync, (stress cracks and broken metal) so I removed the brace for weld repairs.
Took a little time with a totally empty dash to work it into place, but they went in. Get the brace completely up behind the dash before sliding the studs in, then drop the end down on the bottom of the dash.
Are you sure you're using the correct holes in the firewall for the stud end?

The brace was trashed as well as where it mounts to the dash. It was a tow truck so it was used and abused. I've taken the studs out to buy some clearance so I can have the firewall end of the brace even higher than it needs to be. The two feet on the bottom of the brace get hung up in the gauge holes and won't drop down. Might have to do some bending heating massaging to make it fit

Make sure that you have the repaired area of the dash (and all of the rest of it) straight and true.
Use a straight edge vertically under the bottom edge and horizontally against the back of the bottom edge.
If it is bent up or pushed in, there goes your space.
You might want to find another brace. If, in repairing the bottom end, you didn't recreate the proper bend, could also be a problem. The fit has little room to spare.
I have a '49-'53 COE cab in the shop now. I have not removed the brace (may not have to, to tig up the stress cracks in this one). I can take some measurements if that would help.