The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop What is the correct length Steering column 57 3100

I purchased a correct 57 steering wheel for a 57 3100 pickup a while back but found that if I install it I do not have enough room to sit between it and the seat back. The correct steering wheel sits taller than my old one.

So I am guessing that the flatter steering wheel I have on it is matted to a longer than stock 57 shaft. Or it was an early 57 that still had the 56 column and wheel on it?

current flatter wheel is this: http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~showpictxt~Z5Z5Z50000119c~Z5Z5Z5CAZCD

The new correct wheel is this: http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~showpictxt~Z5Z5Z50000119c~Z5Z5Z5EACEU

I tied to measure mine from the adjusting nut at the far bottom to the top thread that you bolt the steering wheel on and it seems to be about 39.5 to 40 inches long.

like 8.5 inches on the gear box, 7 more to the firewall and 31-31.5 from firewall up to top of threads. So about 40 inches total. I think I would need about 2-3 inches less to fit the correct steering wheel on it.

Any ideas on this?

I am a bit overweight but not that far gone!


I have not found anyone that carries the old steering columns that lists the lengths. I do not want to buy a rebuit one for $650 and find it is too long.

I need to rebuild mine but it is too long so I need a shorter one to fit the new wheel and be more correct for the 57.

Also would be interested in adding power assist to it like this: http://www.classicperform.com/Store/1947_59_Trucks/5559PSKA.htm Anyone done that?

It appears that you have a 55-56 column in your 57. Stuff like this happens over the years to keep vehicles on the road. The 57-59 column is exactly 4" shorter than the 55-56. If you change to the correct column you will also have to change the upper shift rod as it is shorter as well. The problem with the CPP PS unit you cited is that it supplements your original steering gear. I had one and did not like the performance. There are a number of aftermarket power steering conversion kits offered by numerous suppliers. In some cases you will have to modify or replace the column.
Fred

Does anyone happen to know the correct total length of a stering colum for a 57 3100 V8 stepside?

I am looking for a measurement from the base of the steering box the bottom big adjusting nut up to the top of the column, perferably the end of the threaded shaft.

But I will take any measurement you can measure with a ruler on a truck that as the correct parts on it.

I do not know if mine is correct or not. The steering wheel is wrong but the column might be right.

I tried to buy a column that was rebuild for a 57 and it was 4" longer than mine was already.

Anyone got a tape measure???

as Fred said, the 55/6 column is 4" longer than the 57-9 .... the longer column uses a flat steering wheel, the shorter [later] column uses the dished wheel [which is about 4" 'thicker'] .... if you are set on having the "correct" wheel for 57, you'll have to suck it up and buy a correct column, obviously you have the earlier, longer one, which will work fine

Bill

some aftermarket column people call for a 32" overall for their '50 trucks

Keith

here is my steering wheel in my 57.

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view&current=DSC01721.jpg

if i get a chance to take my cover off later today, i will measure my column for you then.

i am 6 feet tall and 240 lbs, and yes, the factory wheel does come close to my gut also.

leonard

sorry, have not had the time to measure my column for you. hopefully tomorrow.

leonard

That's ok. I really appreciate it. If you can get even just the in cab length that would probably do. Like firewall to bottom of steering wheel base (lowest part of steering wheel when mounted on column). Or what ever measurement you can get an be specific what / where you are measuring from and to.

Thanks for the picture. I looked at the others too. Nice truck!

svwilbur,
thanks for the compliments on my 57.

i was able to dodge the rain drops and finally pull the cover off and get your measurments. here they are.

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view&current=DSC02280.jpg

excuse my hand drawn pic. LOL. measurements are as close as i could get, give or take .250".

and when i am setting in the factory bench seat with the factory wheel, i have only about 2 inches of clearance from my belly. not much.

hope this helps. if you have any more questions, fell free to ask.

leonard

Thanks a bunch. You made my day! Well not really. Now it is confirmed that I do not need to rebuild my steering box but I need a whole new column!
I hear it is a pain to pull them out through the firewall and over the fender. I think you have to pull the inner fender skirt too.

Mine is roughly the same under the hood.you got 16 I got 15.5 probably just me versus you measuring.

But in the cab you got 26.7/8 from floor (or seal?) to basdse of steering wheel hub and I get 29 1/2 so I am like 3 inches different if yours was really less or I need to add .25 inch since I have the seal and rubber mat I measured on top of.

The old wheel is just 2 inches high the new wheel is 5.25 inchse high so I definately need go get 3 inches back.

I need at least 3 or 4 inch less column length (like others said in this thread). Yours only measures like 2.5 inches less than mine but probably is 3 inches less. Looks like I will have to cut 3 inches out of my shifter control rod at the splice too.

I am also 6 feet and 250 right now up from 239 a couple months ago. So I only have 1 inch clearance on the gut to wheel measurement. If it were up higher I would clear my gut better but the top of the wheel starts to obscure the view of the road over the hood.

anytime svwilbur. glad to help.

so yours is right at 2.5 inches longer than mine in the cab huh ? that is a big difference for sure.
yes, that inside measurement was right at the seal / floor mat.
sorry i didnt measure the thickness of the factory steering wheel.
take care and good luck.

leonard

yep, as said above, that's the difference in the pre- and post-57 column and wheel .... sometimes the stomach challenged put the early wheel on the later column to compensate, seems it'd be easier than changing columns to leave the early wheel on it .... or eat less

if you change the column, you need to get the shift rod that goes with it, pretty tough to just 'cut 3" out' of the shifter, both ends are complex shapes critical to it working and it has to be exactly the right length

it's not a big deal to change the column, nothing else needs to be messed with and they don't go 'over the fender', just jack up the front, unbolt the steering box and dash mount and pull it straight out to the ground

can't understand why folks have problems with clearance on the TF trucks tho, stomach or legs, or seeing over the wheel, I'm not skinney and have lotsa room

Bill

I don't have any problems either. I'm 6'4" and 281#.

red58, do you still have your gas tank behind the seat?
Mine is still there and maybe my seat does not go all the way back but it looks like it is pretty much all the way there.

I need to rebuild the steering gear box anyway and I already bought the new sterring wheel years ago so I might as well just buy a new rebuilt 57 column to get it right. Plus my old wheel is starting to crack all over.

yep, original tank, and a shelf on top of it that may even keep the seat a bit forward - if the seat is mounted in the factory holes, all the way back just clears the tank

Bill

Well then you do not wear 42 inch waist pants then!! ;-)

yea, i am a 38 waist, 248 lbs, and have only 2 inches clearance with mine. i did have my seat redone recently, so maybe they put thicker padding in ? i also have the gas tank behind the seat, and the seat is all the way back.

longbox, i see you have the flatter early steering wheel, unlike the 57 wheel, so thats maybe why you have so much free room ?

svwilbur, as red58 suggested, maybe you could use the early wheel with your longer column ? just me, but i do like the 57 wheel a bit more.

leonard

well I'm definitely not in you guys weight class, my doctor wouldn't put up with it and I need them pills I'd think cutting 3" from the column will still leave you needig to use the flat wheel, sv

Len - longbox has the flat wheel cuz the 55 has the longer column, that setup gives the same amount of clearance the dished wheel on the shorter column does, that's why they go together, GM considered ergonomics a bit .... maybe his height makes a difference

Bill

oh, ok. got it.. thanks for correcting me.. sometimes i am a bit slow. LOL.

leonard