The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun How can I move steering column for more belly room

I have a 57 4100 and am girth challenged. There seems to be plenty of room to angle my steering column forward a few inches to make it easier to slide in an out from behind the wheel. Has any one tried this before? I am thinking I could simply cut the column close to the steering gearbox, splice in a u-joint and add a couple support gearings. Any suggestions?

idk,
really, but a tilt column might be the best. Let us know what you wind up doing.
bozer

might try swapping to the 55-56 steering wheel while you work on the diet they're flat instead of dished like the 55-59 wheels, will give you a couple inches - otherwise you be better off to just shorten the column than to change the angle

Bill

Thanks red58, didn't even dawn on me to shorten the column a few inches but that just might do the trick (as well as losing a few inches around the middle)

Just don't shorten it too much that the wheel hits your thighs.

A smaller steering wheel could also work

A very small steering wheel. Move the seat back. Get one of these.

http://spinalbrace.com/abdominalsupports/

I have the same problem, too much extra around the mid section. I'm thinking a tilt column might do the trick

Tilt column WILL do the trick.

I've heard the GM vans have just the right length and are tilt. I guess that would be earlier models? ...and if they're good for the AD's they may be good for the TF?

I thought this post was kinda funny till it happened to me today, I put my new custom seat into my 59 3800 pushed it all the way back till it hit the gas tank , but no good. My stock steering wheel hits me right in the gut. It's funny it didn't do that 5 years ago when I took it all apart? I'm now lookin for a smaller custom wheel I have an old nos 79 Chevy wheel that fits like a charm. And gives me a couple of inches of room It just looks dum in my 59. Do half ton TF trucks have smaller size wheels than the tons? Does anybody make stock looking TF steering wheels that are just smaller??? Going on a diet or wearing a girdle ain't an option

all the 57-59 steering wheels are identical for all size trucks, no smaller ones made, and if there was you'd find the truck a lot harder to steer .... you could change out the column for one from a 55.2 or 56, they're longer and maybe having the wheel a bit higher would get it "above the fold" - if it didn't poke you in the chest instead

Bill

I don't know about the 3800, but yes the bigger trucks had bigger steer wheels.

I guess they neglected to note that in the assembly manual ... and the master parts manual

Bill

And the specs listed on the Heritage site. 18" wheel listed for all models.

First of all the "ASSEMBLY MANUAL" neglects a bunch of things. Why????????????????????????????????????????
Because it is only specs for the 1955 model year trucks. Just look at the dates on the bottom of the pages. I wish we truely had a real assembly manual for the upper model year trucks.
In the 1958 TRUCK ENGINEERING FEATURES CHP-715806, publication on page 14 "A new 20 inch steering wheel on heavy duty models"
and it says the 18 inch is still used on the other models.
So you will never see that kind of information in the 1955 assembly manual. Nor do you see anything on assembly of the 1958 or 59 front end sheet metal or the Fleetside beds. I wonder how that info can be obtained?
And who or what runs the Chevrolet heritage site? I would say someone needs to do their home work on the trucks then.

geez, relax Trucko, "heavy duty" in GM speak means the Task Force "Spartan", the 7000 to 10000 series, nobody here is likely to have ever even seen any of those models, let alone have access to a steering wheel from one

Bill

That would be General Motors.
Upon further investigation, they do show a 20" steering wheel on 7000 and 9000 LFC, and 8000 and 10000 Conventional models. I could only find that spec in the '59 section, '58 does not seem to show any steering wheel specs.

Have you considered modifying the diameter of your stock steering wheel? This would retain the stock appearance and give you additional clearance. i saw this article in Custom Classic Trucks a while back.

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/techarticles/1208cct_reclaiming_stock_steering_wheel/

I don't know if your 60 to 66 columns are like the 67-72 columns or not. See; http://s1109.photobucket.com/user/R.../Driverssideview.jpg.html?sort=6&o=1 for a 1969 column. If they are like this, they can be collapsed about 1 1/2" toward the dash. All you do is cut off the 2 little NYLON rivets on the column, loosen the firewall and under dash brackets and shove or tap on the steering wheel not with a soft hammer. You MAY have to adjust your shift linkage, too, but that's all. An inch and a half doesn't sound like much, but it is quite a bit in this situation. It worked for me!

best wishes,

Les

I ain't trying to be mean, but if you have to modify a truck to fit in it. It's time to go on a diet. I've got a big ol beer belly and still have no clearance issues in my stock '49.

Pretty sure that the OP didn't need to be told to go on a diet.. I'm kinda new to this forum, but not to forums in general- New members that ask questions and get answers like that will move on and not support the board.
Did the original poster modify his column after his post? Is he still here? ireding- please let us know