Too close to the steering wheel

[mgb]

I've put different seats in my '68 and I can't get far enough away from the steering wheel. I don't need a whole lot, but I need a little room. What are my choices?

[Ben_Yeaton]

You can shorten the column by collapsing the sleeve in the lower portion near the rag joint. I recently did mine 2" and it makes a world of difference to me. You can find good info in these threads:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=191143

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=309895

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...olumn+collapse

[fatbass]

Thanks, Ben! I may be be using that trick after I get the steering wheel swapped.

[davepl]

I found Tilt helped a great deal, but I was just trying to get the wheel out of may lap, not out of my belly, so I don't know if tipping up and away would benefit you. But it might, and it's a pretty easy thing to find and add.

Worth trying it in someone else's tilt truck if you can.

The column shortening looks perfect, but I worry a bit that you're losing what razor-thin safety margin we have in a crash in these trucks by defeating the collapsing column. Might be better combined with three point belts!

[saxart]

Originally Posted by davepl

I found Tilt helped a great deal, but I was just trying to get the wheel out of may lap, not out of my belly, so I don't know if tipping up and away would benefit you. But it might, and it's a pretty easy thing to find and add.

Worth trying it in someone else's tilt truck if you can.

The column shortening looks perfect, but I worry a bit that you're losing what razor-thin safety margin we have in a crash in these trucks by defeating the collapsing column. Might be better combined with three point belts!

How is this defeating the collapsing column? I take it that this mod is collapsing the column some but not all of it's travel.

Maybe someone who's done it can chime in as to how much travel would be left after this mod.

[CaptRMW]

Anyone who thinks there is a safety issue with collapsing the lower shaft on the steering column should make sure their life insurance is paid up if they are in a head-on collision. Depending solely on the lower shaft to keep them out of the hospital or morgue you will quickly find out what a marvel of engineering it was.

[mgb]

Thanks Ben, I did collapse the column today, a little over (2) inches, and it's exactly what I was looking for. A relatively easy fix, I did use a lot of heat just like the link said - till the plastic oozed out. If you did go much lower, you might want to think about a tilt wheel because she does start getting pretty low. But then again, the seats I'm installing set a little high. Thanks again guys, I would have never thought of this.

[leddzepp]

It's done when installing a van tilt column as well.

[CaptRMW]

Now that you have collapsed your column can you imagine doing that with your chest in a head on collision and being able to walk away?