Column Drop Trivia...pickup vs. panel
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From: Waynesboro, Virginia
Column Drop Trivia...pickup vs. panel
This is one of those things you probably won't ever need to know unless you have, or know someone with, a panel:
As we know, since there is no limit to space behind the panel's front seats, it is very convenient to install them a little more to the rear than you would in a pickup. This makes your seating position more normal than the cramped back angle in the pickups, at least for us bigger guys.
I am redoing my 55 panel and, using the normally stocked column drop advice, I bought a 4 1/2" one. Guess what?....in the panel truck, if you indeed do mount the seats back a bit, this drop is nowhere near what will work. Your steering column position makes you think of that famous Iwo Jima picture, since it seems to be aiming for the sky! It's amazing how, if you move the front seats back a few inches, how that affects your column angletation.
I have just ordered a 5 1/2" drop, and might even lower it down from the dash another half inch. That one more inch of drop really changes the geometry.
Moral: If you have a panel truck, ignore all common wisdom for the pickups as far as column drops go. This never occured to me, and I just wanted to pass it along to any other panelistas who might be doing the same thing, to save you some grief.
Paul G.
Happy ending: My son in law, who bought my '55 pickup (Mutt), now has a free brand new polished column drop waiting for him. We both have the same 2 inch Ididit column, and the 4 1/2" drop will work fine in the Mutt.
As we know, since there is no limit to space behind the panel's front seats, it is very convenient to install them a little more to the rear than you would in a pickup. This makes your seating position more normal than the cramped back angle in the pickups, at least for us bigger guys.
I am redoing my 55 panel and, using the normally stocked column drop advice, I bought a 4 1/2" one. Guess what?....in the panel truck, if you indeed do mount the seats back a bit, this drop is nowhere near what will work. Your steering column position makes you think of that famous Iwo Jima picture, since it seems to be aiming for the sky! It's amazing how, if you move the front seats back a few inches, how that affects your column angletation.
I have just ordered a 5 1/2" drop, and might even lower it down from the dash another half inch. That one more inch of drop really changes the geometry.
Moral: If you have a panel truck, ignore all common wisdom for the pickups as far as column drops go. This never occured to me, and I just wanted to pass it along to any other panelistas who might be doing the same thing, to save you some grief.
Paul G.
Happy ending: My son in law, who bought my '55 pickup (Mutt), now has a free brand new polished column drop waiting for him. We both have the same 2 inch Ididit column, and the 4 1/2" drop will work fine in the Mutt.
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Slowdog
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Jan 24, 2013 11:45 AM
