I am putting a 30" tilt steering column with a column shifter for my C6 tranny for my 53 F100. I bought the column from Speedway, and it looks to be a CPP column. The column looks nice, and I like the way it fits with a 4" drop, but tonight when I was putting the shifter handle on, it will hit the dash when I put it in park. It moves far enough to get to park, but when the shifter "locks" in, that is when it hits the dash. Over time, it is going to leave a mark in the dash paint of which is not going to make me happy.

Tonight i attempted to see if I could straighten out the shifter arm a bit, but I am doing a number on the chrome and not really doing what I want. .

Any suggestions, or anything else I might be doing wrong that is causing this to happen. I spend a bit looking though google to see what else someone might have posted and here on FTE to see if there was an answer but didn't' see any.

Thx

 

1. Could you move the mounting point on the floor so it goes higher up the fire wall? Drill a new hole and patch the old one?
2. Can you move the column closer to you?

 

Thx for the reply:

I can see about adding to my drop which would move the column down and might change the angle enough to clear the dash, My concern would be that it would move the steering wheel down to far when I sit to drive. But thinking about it, being the column tilts, i could tilt it back up to put the steering wheel back to where I want it for comfort. I would need to play with this.

I can't move the column further towards me: 1: it would not be where I want it to drive, the steering wheel would be to close to me, and 2: the part that rotates at the bottom of the column that connects the linkage to the transmission would then hit the bottom of the firewall. The answer to this would be a longer column, but again, back to it would be to close to me when I drive.

I was frustrated being after watching the videos from Ididit, I did the broom handle/pie tin idea to get my steering column length all set for comfort when sitting and driving, but no where did I read that the shifter would be a problem. It just seems like the bends in the shifter need to be different. I was looking to see if i could get a different shifter arm, but don't see that anywhere, even on the Ididit web page.

Thx again for the help and ideas.

 

What if you shorten the handle? I’m not there so it’s hard to visualize

 

I haven't had a chance to get back working on this but did find that Ididit does have a "sweep" style shift lever which would work.
But I think my first going to try and bend it slightly, and or cut it shorter and reattach the ****.

Thx for the input !!

 

Not to be a smarta$$ but you keep mentioning Ididit but said you bought a Speedway (CPP) column. Maybe you should be checking with either Speedway or CPP. Without pictures none of us can get a clear picture of your set up to give you viable solutions. Best of luck.

 

Yes, it is a column from Speedway, which is a CPP column. To be honest, i didnt' think about contacting Speedway...I have been looking on the web for a fix to this issue, or trying to understand where I went wrong to fix my issue. I can contact them, thx for that very simply idea. I have mentioned Ididit, as they have some good videos and tech articles on their web page. That is the only reason...

Here are some pictures of my issue:

I have the column in, and the shift lever is installed and currently in the park position, as you can see it hits the dash. Transmission is not connected but the steering column is correct so the gear indicator is on the top.



I have the CPP power steering gear box installed and then used a U-joint at the bottom of my column as I felt there was a slight angle when I have the column mounted on the drop. My reading said a rage joint should have not angle at all.

You can also see the arm that the tranny linkage will connect. This has not been adjusted for proper setup, I just wanted to make sure there was clearance for the column shifter.



4 1/2" steering drop installed. i have only placed the steering wheel on and like the fit, have not mounted the steering wheel yet.




Any suggestions on what i might be doing wrong before I contact Speedway. i am hoping it is something obviously and simple.
Thx

 

I see a couple issues, one the column is typically closer to the top of the hole in the floor no centered like yours. That alone would pull your shifter away from the dash.

Why is you gear box so high on the frame, is that normal for that box? If all that is normal I would put a longer drop in to lower the column, that angle is to vertical for me. There is nothing wrong with having an angle in that lower joint. You can have angle in that lower joint other wise you could just use a straight coupler.

Another option is a shorter column mounted towards the top of the floorboard hole with two joints and a short shaft connecting them to the column.

Hope these give you some ideas.

 

Thank you much for the information and idea's.

I understand the short column idea, with the double joints but not exactly sure I like that look.
The power steering box bolted right on, to the original frame mounting holes and from my other research, I am pretty sure it is correct, sitting on the frame. Everything seems to line up correctly.

I will look at how I have my drop and how the column is located in the center of the floor. I removed the original steering column and have a two piece floor cover and am pretty sure the new column goes perfectly in the middle of the floor cover but will need to double check. Not to say that I can't move the bottom of the column higher on the fire wall and use the joint at the steering box to compensate for the angle change.
I can visualize that moving the position of where the column mounts to the floor would move my angle at the top and most likely correct me problem.

Thx again for the help and ideas!!! I think I need to get my seat reinstalled and go from there.