The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Steering column length

Looking at changing my stock steering column and steering box on my 1956 Chevy Truck.Im going to fit the CCP 400 series power steering conversion kit and going to fit a new column.Question is I'm not sure what column length I require.The stock box and column are all in one piece so I'm not sure where to measure.Hope that make sense.Thanks in advance.

On the same thought.............I always thought the stock column should have been 2” shorter or the cab( seat back ) 2” farther back.

Similar to Bitchin Rides stretching the cab on a 50’s Ford truck by 5”.

Measure the steering wheel from dash and from floor. You can't have too many measurements. If you are going to use a new column and steering wheel, measure in such a way that your hands/arms will be in the same place or whereever you want them. This whole process will let you put the wheel where you want it. Original position or other. So that dimension is up to you. If you read the CPP instructions you will understand the procedure. You will need to mount the box. Purchase Column and wheel later and tell the column vendor the dimension needed by the CPP instructions, factoring in the shape of the new wheel.
The original dimensions you take will be for reference so as to return WHEEL to original position or a new ergonomic position.
You will have to do some careful math. Everything will be new. You will be focusing on where you want your hands and then work your way down the chain of components to the box input shaft. Probably need a new column clamp and floor clamp.

A tilt column is really nice to have. Original column and wheel is also nice. Your choice. Just keep in mind that your stomach may grow.

For those who would like a little more room like Showkey above, you could put in the later Task Force column which is a few inches shorter (intended to use the corresponding dished steering wheel) but use the flat 56 wheel on it. You'd pick up a bit more space when if you grow around the midsection... It looks original and is just a bit easier than stretching the cab

This kind of modification is a seat-of-pants affair. All of your original steering column/steering wheel/steering box will no longer be there. Since whatever you decide to use for a steering mast will not fasten to the truck in the same manor, you will need to fabricate everything yourself. That's where all the fun is.
One important detail is to make sure that you solidly affix the new steering mast at the bottom of the dash AND at the firewall. This is important since it will no longer be supported at the frame like the manual one is.