Subtle change...BIG IMPACT

[Putter]

Well, most of you may have seen recent update photos from the interior of Subtle71's white truck.
Great looking progress....no questions asked.
But yesterday, we made a change that some would never notice if we didn't point it out to you. That is....unless you sat behind the wheel. Surely then you would notice that there is room-o-plenty to stretch out.

What did we do? We moved the steering wheel closer to the dash.
Not with a shallow-dished steering wheel....
Not by relocating the seat....
We moved the column itself. Between 2 & 3 inches to be exact. And the difference really "sits" well with Dean.

Check the before-n-after photos to see the difference.

[Putter]

And before anyone points it out....we did correctly attach the pointer to the lens after we were done. (Dean didn't mind, but it was driving me crazy).

[krue]

How hard was it to do?

[krue]

BTW it looks like there's a lot more room for my big belly like that.

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by krue

How hard was it to do?

I did the same thing to my 72 a few years ago. It does make more room for sure!
Now you just need to move the radio closer to the dash! LOL

It's a simple process IIRC. Just loosen the under dash clamp and the one at the firewall, then sit in the seat and give a push. It might take more persuading, (<spelling?), if you slip joint is fairly tight still.

[subtle71]

Originally Posted by krue

How hard was it to do?

Putter is a pro! He made that look SO easy. The whole process took about an hour. The most time consuming part was to notch a slot in the top of the column. That took about four minutes.

The pointer lines up perfectly in every gear! Thanks Putter! Thanks to GMan69 also for his help during the beginning of this project!

Dean

[Putter]

It took about an hour. Unattached it from the dash, loosened the clamp on the firewall, slid it down to desired length...and marked it.
Then cut a new slot in the column under the dash.
Bolted it all back up and gave it a "belly-clearance test".
It passed with flying colors.

Here is a pic of the new slot. (Since this was a van column, it came with two slots originally, so we simply elongated the top one. Had it been a truck column, we would have just made a second slot alltogether).
If you look closely, the slot that is 1/2 in the shadow was being used in the original position. The new position hit just below the upper slot, so we just made it longer.

[Putter]

I could have done it much faster, but I had to get over my fear of scratching Dean's truck. I am not Catholic, but I did a few of those hand movements when he wasn't looking!!!

And he can verify this....I washed my hands every time I went to get inside it. No way was I getting smudges on fabric that cost more than my TRUCK!
If I had access to one of those white jumpsuits that you see when there is a virus outbreak, I would have put it on!!!

[subtle71]

Originally Posted by 454_72_4X4

Now you just need to move the radio closer to the dash! LOL

It's a simple process IIRC. Just loosen the under dash clamp and the one at the firewall, then sit in the seat and give a push. It might take more persuading, (<spelling?), if you slip joint is fairly tight still.

On the radio, I have to connect a cable from the radio to the XM interface. I keep forgetting the cable at home. I will take it with me today and install it.

There was a little more involved that listed above! Putter had to drill out a couple pins in the lower sterring column. That allowed the lower column to contract and give a little extra room.

Krue, you are right about the belly room! Also, I love the extra arm room and not having my left elbow pinned against the driver's window. Now I can lay back and cruise!

[subtle71]

Originally Posted by Putter

I could have done it much faster, but I had to get over my fear of scratching Dean's truck. I am not Catholic, but I did a few of those hand movements when he wasn't looking!!!

And he can verify this....I washed my hands every time I went to get inside it. No way was I getting smudges on fabric that cost more than my TRUCK!
If I had access to one of those white jumpsuits that you see when there is a virus outbreak, I would have put it on!!!

That's about enough of that! I see you censored the pics taken yesterday and opted not to post the pic that George had requested! It must not have turned out all that great!

[70c10]

Looks good guys. Putter is quite the fabricator!. 70GMCer just showed me that trick a few weekends ago. I swear my wheel must be 6 freakin' inches from the bezel,lol. Just curious- will this affect removing the bezel in the future?

[davidh]

How did you repaint the guage needles? Or are they knew. That fresh red looks nice. I think everyones going crazy over the stereo not being pushed in its place, ha, ha.

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by subtle71

There was a little more involved that listed above! Putter had to drill out a couple pins in the lower sterring column. That allowed the lower column to contract and give a little extra room.

Mine is a manual trans truck too so that might make a difference.

Originally Posted by Putter

Then cut a new slot in the column under the dash.

Here is a pic of the new slot. (Since this was a van column, it came with two slots originally, so we simply elongated the top one. Had it been a truck column, we would have just made a second slot alltogether).
If you look closely, the slot that is 1/2 in the shadow was being used in the original position. The new position hit just below the upper slot, so we just made it longer.

BTW, what are the slots for? I'm not familiar with auto or tilt columns. Are the slots something to do with the auto or tilt?
I didn't have to do anything to my column, just slide it down toward the dash.

[subtle71]

davidh, The gauges were replaced about three years ago. You may not be able to tell, but the speedo notes 169.4 miles. Since the truck has been in the bodyshop, etc for the past couple years I have not been able to drive it.

[Putter]

Originally Posted by subtle71

There was a little more involved that listed above! Putter had to drill out a couple pins in the lower sterring column. That allowed the lower column to contract and give a little extra room.

I had to drill the pins to allow his intermediate shaft to collapse. If we had stopped 1/2" sooner, we could have avoided doing that....but no....we want it to TOUCH the dash!!!

Originally Posted by subtle71

That's about enough of that! I see you censored the pics taken yesterday and opted not to post the pic that George had requested! It must not have turned out all that great!

Okay, okay....here is the stupid photo. GMan was trying to get me back for posting a pic of his & Yank's butts on the board.
Here is Putter's big arse in action!!!
Hey, that dark colored cap makes it look like I have a severe case of bad hair day.

[subtle71]

Originally Posted by 454_72_4X4

Mine is a manual trans truck too so that might make a difference.

Good point! Mine is a tilt auto column out of a '77 GMC van. (Or at least that is what I was told it came out of. I would like to put that disclaimer out there since that his bit me in the past.)

[Putter]

Here it is lightened up....NOW you can see it REALLY IS a hat!!!

And look...there is a guy standing at the driver's door that wasn't there before!!

[subtle71]

UPDATE: First off, everyone can rest well tonight knowing that the radio is securely mounted all the way in the dash and is no longer hanging out! Next, the guys got the under seat trim panels taken care of and looking awesome. Steve decided to carry the door panel look through to under the seat. All that is left to do now is the under dash trim panel and of course take a few pictures of it finished.

Other progress: Finished the gas filler neck set up behind the left rear side marker. Finished mounting the bed wood and "wow" strips. Installed the XM tuner interface. Installed the amplified antenna (since I no longer have a fender mounted antenna). Straightened the rear bumper that was buggin' Putter by being mounted crooked.

Unless something stupid happens, she should be coming home Wednesday! GMan69 listen for the burnout as I roll out of town!!

[chops333]

Originally Posted by Putter

It took about an hour. Unattached it from the dash, loosened the clamp on the firewall, slid it down to desired length...and marked it.
Then cut a new slot in the column under the dash.
Bolted it all back up and gave it a "belly-clearance test".
It passed with flying colors.

Here is a pic of the new slot. (Since this was a van column, it came with two slots originally, so we simply elongated the top one. Had it been a truck column, we would have just made a second slot alltogether).
If you look closely, the slot that is 1/2 in the shadow was being used in the original position. The new position hit just below the upper slot, so we just made it longer.

why do you have to cut the slot im asking because i just got a van tilt yesterday and i moved the n/s switch this evening and i dont understand thanks

[subtle71]

Mine does not have the neutral safety switch. The notch is for a tit that hangs down. The elongated notch allows the tit to sit down in the column.

[70short/step]

Originally Posted by subtle71

Mine does not have the neutral safety switch. The notch is for a tit that hangs down. The elongated notch allows the tit to sit down in the column.

It allows "What"?? to sit down in the column??

[chops333]

Originally Posted by subtle71

Mine does not have the neutral safety switch. The notch is for a tit that hangs down. The elongated notch allows the tit to sit down in the column.

ok bear with me im kinda slow whats the function of this tit will i have to do this with my n/s switchthat i just relocated

[krue]

Hey eric I can get you some of those white suits if you need.

[CG]

who knew you had a tattoo???????

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by CG

who knew you had a tattoo???????

Nice Tat!

Thank god I can't see the rest of it!