Got a couple of questions on column drops - those sporty billet aluminum ones;

What length of drop are most folks using in their 53-56s?

What's the width at the top of them (the end that bolts to the dash)?

What's the width at the narrowest point just before the circular portion that the column goes through?

Thanks,

 

Just pushing this back up to the top....

 

The right length depends on what steering wheel/column and seat you use, and what you like.

I'd suggest waiting on the drop until you have everything in place, then make a temp adjustable drop to find what feels good to you. With my seats, a 15" wheel and Ididit tilt column, I find a 4" drop to be about right. I bought a 3" drop with my column on advice of MF, but find it too short, it would probably be good length to place the column at stock angle for a stock steering wheel size tho. If you go with the more commonly available 13" wheel size you may want even more drop especially if you don't use a tilt column. I can't get to it to measure right now, but from guesstimation I'd say the width of the clamp around the column to be ~1/2" since it uses a 1/4" allen head cap screw on each side to clamp the two halves together so for a 2" column it would be 3" wide OA. It flairs slightly as it goes towards the dash to maybe 4" (?)

PS I have seen some pretty cool looking column drops made from aluminum engine connecting rods. The drag racers replace their rods every so many runs, so you can get some fancy ones for (next to) nothing if you ask around the dragstrip.

 

I just made a column drop over the weekend, used my old favorite 1/2'' tubing, rolled almost 180 and filled the center with 16 ga and a 2'' hole, to answer your question, the drop came out about 3.5/4 inches, measured vertically to the center of the hole. good luck

 

AX et all,

Here’s what’s behind my question;

I’m fabricating the panels that will go beneath my dash to hold the radio, switches, possibly indicator lights, etc .

At this point I’m planning to allow a cut out or break in the panel to allow for the column drop. I’m looking for the dimensions requested in order to calculate the angle of the sides of the column drop to enable me to duplicate it on the break edges of the panel.

I know that whether I end up using a 3” or 4” drop will be unknown for some time – but the difference in the angle between the two should be minor.

To further clarify – the lower measurement that I’m looking for is the narrowest portion of the drop before the fat (hollow) circle on the bottom that the column housing goes through. Not the width of the outer bottom circle itself.

At this point I envision a gap of about ½ inch between the drop and the panel edges on both sides, but I want to get the angle fairly close for aesthetics. (Again – a fung shwei thing).

Fatfenders,

I can't envision what you've created. Any chance of posting a pic in your gallery?

Thanks,

 

The sides are a line tangent to a circle concentric with the column bore and flaring to the dash mount width, so the narrowest point is at the split thru the diameter of the column bore between the 1/2s. It will probably be the weekend before I can measure mine exactly. Is you aux panel going to be vertical or flare towards the driver? Mine replicates the peak at the top of the dash above the vertical panel. I am bolting mine to the dash bottom.

 

I will try to post the pics ASAP, I have a couple shots left, will shoot those up real quick

 

AX,


“
The sides are a line tangent to a circle concentric with the column bore and flaring to the dash mount width, so the narrowest point is at the split thru the diameter of the column bore between the 1/2s.”

Amazingly enough I actually understood what you said! I didn’t believe you, so I pulled up a couple of column drops on the net and discovered they do not narrow just before the area which actually encircles the column. I was thinking they did. So now I even believe you. Looking at the drops on the net which seem to be made to handle either of two column diameters 1.75” and 2”, I am assuming the width of the drop at a point equal to the center of the column would appear to be about 2” for the column plus about ½ inch of material on either side for a total minimum width of about 3”. (Also assuming most wrecking yard columns are about 2” diameter)….

So I just need the width at the top (i.e. where it connects to the dash).


“ It will probably be the weekend before I can measure mine exactly. Is you aux panel going to be vertical or flare towards the driver? Mine replicates the peak at the top of the dash above the vertical panel. I am bolting mine to the dash bottom.”

If you’re not aware, although my truck is a 54, I’m actually attempting to put the dash from a 57 in it. Considerably different styling to it than the 54. My panel will consist of a 12” long by 4 inch high (round on both ends with a flat face) section centered under the dash to hold the radio. It will protrude from the bottom of the dash sufficient so that the face will be flush with the protruding ridge on the bottom of the dash. A second panel 3 inches high with rounded ends will run off the center (radio) panel ending about 3 inches shy of both doors. This panel will be recessed in from the front of the radio panel by about 1 to 1.5 inches. There will be a break in this panel on the driver’s side only to accommodate the column drop. The edges abutting the column drop will be cut sharply on angles approximating the angle of the column drop. The face of both panels will be flat.


Fatfenders56,

“I will try to post the pics ASAP, I have a couple shots left, will shoot those up real quick”

Soon is good. ASAP is not necessary.

Thanks,

 

RMF

A typical drop using a Volare and a tilt aftermarket column is about 3 1/2". As AX stated, personal preference is involved here. Wheel size and stuffing in the seat make a significant difference. I have heard of people using as much as 4 1/2, but I wouldn't like that much drop in my application. I mocked mine up before I dropped the money on a 3 1/2". You should too if possible. Especially if you aren't using a tilt wheel.

 

Hey Cuz

'course you know the drop measurement is from the dash down to the center of the column hold.... mine is 3½". it's a IDIDIT billet that I bought with the column. It's covered in masking tape for obvious reasons...

here's a pic with all the dimensions except thickness and that is ½"

hope it helps

cuz-n john

 

Ferguson, keep in mind the picture above has a 2.25 hole; didn't you have a 2 inch column?
I can check the 2 inch column hole measurements if you need them.

Follow up: I checked my Ididit 2", and the outside drop measurements are the same.
Just a smaller hole made in the same size blank.

Paul

 

Gentlemen (and fenders),

I'm MONTHS away from installing my column. Not even sure what column I'll use, though leaning towards a Jeep Cherokee......

I believe I'll bolt the lower panel to the dash, so if I have to remove it and alter the space for the column I can. However, a this time, if I can get the emasurements from a few different column drops - particularly the width where it bolts to the dash, it will enable me to proceed with the panel now.

So Cuzin John has provided an Ididit drop. Can anyone else provide the width on another brand - preferably a 3.5 to 4.5 inch drop?

Depending upon the measurements I get, I may go with rounded ends near the drop rather than my original plan to approximate the angle of the drop....It'll depend on what sort of variation I get in measurements from you guys.

'fenders - Great to hear from you. Where the heck were you at Xmas?
If you got any time on your hands, how about critiquing the FAQ tech article above. I know I can count on you to be candid. (I wouldn't expect Ax to be shy either but he's already polishing another one up....)

Later,

 

why not just make your dash extention so it can use a column drop under it and just put a hole for the column in it.

 

'fenders - Great to hear from you. Where the heck were you at Xmas?
If you got any time on your hands, how about critiquing the FAQ tech article above. I know I can count on you to be candid. (I wouldn't expect Ax to be shy either but he's already polishing another one up....)

RMF

Spent Christmas just a little south of Basrah, Iraq. Much busier day than I expected. I'm supposed to be off today, so I'll be give the tech article a read. I'll PM you. I have a few questions. Don't want to do more harm than good on the article.

 

Mine is an Ididit 2" as well, I thought I remembered it tapered but looks like it's not. Memory is not what it used to be, it's the age induced ICRS syndrome!