The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Steering wheel post alignment

I have an issue with the steering wheel post alignment to the cab, everything is tight with the steering box to frame but the post is not centered in the floor hole. I am thinking a) cab shims or b) the cab should be moved back on the frame a bit.
Any insight here would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Ken

[IMG]http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/DiAdogger/100_4979_zps6b61c097.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/DiAdogger/100_4977_zps89e1195d.jpg[/IMG]

Can you post a pic with the grommet pulled up so we can see the post in the opening?


How is the alignment under the Dash ? Is it close?

Sorry about that, I should have posted more pics.
Excuse the picture quality, cheap camera.
If the grommet is pushed all the way down, the grommet screw holes are about a 1/4 inch below the cab screw holes and there is a gap of about 1/2 inch from the top of the grommet to the cab floor.

[IMG]http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/DiAdogger/100_4990_zpsd176d73b.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/DiAdogger/100_4989_zps40c4cfe3.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/DiAdogger/100_4985_zps432cecf9.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/DiAdogger/100_4984_zpsc97ddd2f.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/DiAdogger/100_4983_zps47d9ca1b.jpg[/IMG]

Ken

I'll defer to the 54 owners

I'm not familiar with that column dash clamp, and the opening in the bottom of the tube showing in the engine bay pic.

The tube is not always centered but you should be able to start the screws.

Has any work been done on the steering tube?

that's not a factory dash clamp, it's a plumbing pipe clamp

Bill

In 1954-55 the clamp was changed to stamped steel (2-pieces), it is the correct clamp. Here is one on a non-restored 54 you can see the stamped ridge. Picture 2 is the earlier version 1947-53.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8130525955/in/set-72157631870734114
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129347267/in/set-72157631868452754

I believe the clamp is the correct one as Brad says and it all fit and aligned up before I started this restoration. Even if it was not the right clamp I don't think it would put the steering wheel post out that much and to correct the grommet hole alignment it would have to be move closer to the dash which is almost impossible without touching the dash itself , in saying that I do believe the issue has to do with the cab and not the frame or the post upper mount.
Any input on whether it would be the position of the cab on the frame or would it be the height of the cab on the frame?
My guess is if it is the cab position it will need to be moved back a bit or if it is the height I would need to shim the front.
Anyone?
Thanks in advance.

Ken

Have you checked your front and rear cab mounts to make sure you have them in correctly?

One issue I had was a slight kink in the steering column casing which doesn't effect the internal steering shaft, but it did mis-align the column, but less than yours. Maybe the cab needs to move rearward a little if possible?

I would suggest the following to align.
Loosen the steering box bolts.
Loosen the clamp.
Slip the hole cover on and see how it looks. I find it generally helps on these trucks to get everything started before you tighten anything down.
Front motor mounts are a known measurement, by that I mean they were not factory shimmed at that location. On the rear mounts they were, I have seen shims on the frame side as well as the body side. I have never seen more than two at any of these locations (about 1/8") is what that would be. This picture shows the shims.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129510232/in/set-72157631868452754

Brad, sorry for the late reply, you were exactly right, I loosened everything up and I was able to align the grommet. Having a closer look at the the cab mounts and the steering box to frame there was really no play on either.
Thanks again.

Ken