Replacing your steering column can can be done easily by following some simple basic procedures.

The length of the column is measured from the end (bottom) of the column to the top of the "bell". this is where the steering wheel meets.

e are a Dealer f

Most manufacturers already know the length of the replacement column. In most cases you can modify this length be paying special attention to the upper measurement of the column. Check the overall placement of your column in relationship to the dash mount and the distance the column extends into the engine compartment. The column can be either lengthen or shorten based on these measurements.

You can generally save money by ordering a generic column which uses the GM design. Since the majority of us are replacing the stock steering wheel there is no reason for this additional expense.

Dash mounts: Most of the time you will be able to reuse the factory dash mount with very little modifications. Most stock columns are 1.75" to 2.25" diameter and the replacement columns are mostly 2" with 1.75" being special order. Plan ahead by asking your supplier the diameter of the column.

Firewall mounts: After market ones are available in all shapes and designs. I like to make my fire wall mount as follows: Tape your steering column to prevent damage. Take a 4" x 2" i. d. tubing and split it down the middle. Place the tubing over the column and place it through the firewall for fitment. Double check the placement with the steering wheel installed and you in the drivers seat. Once you are satisfied with this location make a card board template to fill the hole in the firewall. Remove the steering column, fill the firewall making sure you have the correct oval shape hole for the steering column. Insert the column with the split facing down and the tubing half in and half out on the firewall. Spot weld a 12, 3 and 9 o'clock the tubing to your smooth firewall. Remove the column from the tubing. Cut tubing approximately .25-35" parallel to the firewall on the engine side and .50-.75" on the drivers side. Weld as needed but, do not weld the lower portion of this tubing. Not welding the lower half will allow you to install and remove the column with little effort. You can get creative and make this a bolt on by making it out of aluminum with a 3" circular plate.

Wire adapter: A must save yourself headaches and buy one.

U-joints: There are several ways these u-joints are held onto the steering shaft(s). Pinned, locking bolt and pinch bolt. The safest is the pinch bolt application. Pinch bolt is a bolt that is mounted off center and fits in a notch on your shaft. Similar to an OEM rag joint.

Steering shafts: Spline or Double D? Show cars splined, just because it is harder to install. All other use Double D shafting in stainless. This is one area stainless will save you maintenance.

Questions or comments contact tech@hotrodusa.com

Dean Oshiro
Hot Rods USA

Copyright reserved by Dean Oshiro.  Reproduction without written approval is a violation of Copyright Laws.  Sept 2000

acing Wheels, American Stamping, Art Morrison Chassis, Autolock, Ball's Rod and Custom, Be Cool, Big Al's, Billet Specialty, Bills Hot Rod Parts, Bitchin Products, Blue Moon Motorsports, Boese Engineering, Brake Tech Solutions, Brassworks, Boyd Codington Wheels, Cal Car Cover, Burnco, Cal Gear, Carolina Custom, Carrara Shocks, Chassis Engineering, Chassis Tech, Class Glass, Class Glass, Classic Performance Products, Clay Smith Cams and Apparel, Coleman Machine, Currie Enterprise, Dakota Digital, Deuce Factory, Detroit Speed, Direct Sheet Metal, Driveline Service, Dutchman Motor Sports, Earls Store One, Easy Street, ECI, Epic, Fatman, Finishline Coatings, Flaming River, Fragola Performance, Gibbons, Halibrand, Greer Enterprise, Hal Shocks, Haneline, Heidt's, Hotronics, Hoffman Group, Hoosier Tires, Ignition Plus, Isky Cams, Instrument Sales and Service, ISSPRO, James Durant Springs, Kugal Komponents, Lecarra, Mac's Custom Tie Downs, Mac's Radiator, March Performance, Mc Guire Bearing, Mechanix, MB Marketing, Mike Mc Gaughty, MMS Accessories, Mooneyes, Name Plate, Offenhauser, Parr Automotive, Past Lane, Paul Oxman, Pete & Jakes, Posies Springs, Quickor, Precision Brakes, QA1, Rat Fink, Rats Glass, Right Stuff Detailing, Ron Tonkin Chevrolet, Ron Tonkin Honda, Ron Tonkin Acura, Ron Tonkin Ferrari, Ron Tonkin Mazda, Ron Tonkin Nissan, Ron Tonkin Toyota, Ron Tonkin Ford, Ron Tonkin Chrysler, Ron Tonkin Dodge, Ron Tonkin Plymouth, So-Cal, Spal's Fans, Specialty Power Window, Stainless Specialty, Strange Engineering, Street and Performance, Street Rod Engineering, Street Works, Super Bell Axles, Superior Spindles, Suspension Resotration, T-Line Design, Tonkin Parts Center (Chevy, Dodge, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota Parts), Unisteer, US Radiator, Van Steel, Vancouver Bolt, Vintage Air, Viper Shocks, VPA, Weston Pontiac, Wilwood Engineering, Wire Force, Wyco ...and many more.