cookie cutter 53

[e-rock]

Been working on the brake assembly and column mount. I wanted to use the stock column mount since it also fits the new column. It took me a while to figure out how to do this, but I stared at it for a couple days, and finally just started connecting the dots so to speak. I wanted to tie the brake pedal bracket to the dash, and also have the column drop come off all of that. That way it's all tied together. Make it stronger.

So I want something like this.



I ended up just holding pieces up in the dash and tacking them together thru the speedo holes. Once it was all one piece, I took it out so I could box it all in and add some gussets.



It is pretty weak in this state but it's in one piece.



Box it in

[e-rock]

Moved the column hole over about an inch.



Then started trying to patch the offset column hole. The bolts here broken out of the bottom of the dash anyway, it was cracked up pretty bad.





Panel fit ok



All welded in. It's not perfect but it's good enough for the girls i go with.

[Advanced Design]

Great ideas and nice work. Coming out really well.

[STOCKISH]

Looks great man. "Looks good enough for the girls I go with" LOLOL!

[Desert1957]

I have a question.

Is moving the steering column over for interior comfort? or header/steering shaft clearance? thanks....

[iowaboynca]

Originally Posted by Desert1957

Is moving the steering column over for interior comfort? or header/steering shaft clearance? thanks....

Little bit of both, plus convenience. If you notice the factory recess in the dash is offset compared to the gauges. By moving it over you center the column better in relation to the gauges. You also get a better attack angle when connecting the steering linkage.

Oh yeah E-rock, nice job on the column/pedal mount. looks good.

[e-rock]

thanks guys. yea iowaboy hit it right on the head dessert1957.

the stock steering wheel is huge and the column is offset from center of the gauges. in a lot of these builds the guys center the column for aethstetics, and having a smaller steering wheel, It still "feels" good with the distance from the door to the wheel, comfortwise. plus you gain header clearance obviously, which helped me a lot. I was able to knock the steering out with one shaft and 2 ujoints.

I sat in the seat for a good while with my arm rested up on the window sill, and the column tied to the dash with a piece of string, you know, just dream drivin. not sure how far i went but it felt good to me haha. so thats where i put the column. it loooks best and functions best in that spot, for me anyway.

[e-rock]

Fixed the butchered up radio hole.

[joedoh]

what the heck was in that hole? a record player?

nice fix!

[e-rock]

Yea one of them 6 disk record changers. HA!

The radio was from a dodge. Not sure what year. I finally figured out the gauges were from a 1958 Pontiac, and a 1953 oldsmobile rocket steering wheel. The wheel is cool as hell. I'd never seen one before this one.

Here's a pic before I took it apart.

[II_Slow]

Yeah I bet that gauge cluster and wheel were cool as hell when first done. Couldn't just get on the WWW and order up a custom steering wheel and custom gauges back in the day.

[e-rock]

I'm thinking about redoing the gauges and reusing them. There's no way in hell I'm spending a thousand dollars on new gauges. That market has gone plum crazy. I wish I had a stock pair, I could mod like some of these dudes do. But I don't. The Pontiac ones are pretty cool looking if I clean them up and put new glass on the speedo

[II_Slow]

So I guess C and D on the Gen gauge is Charged and Dead????

[iowaboynca]

Man I wish i had a wheel and gauges that look like that! There's plenty of info on how to recondition both.

I really like those gauges though. I might have to search to see if i can find some.