Modifying chassis tube for steering column?

[Josh]

Hi all,

I was working on my steering yesterday and have come to the conclusion that I need the steering wheel a little lower than is currently possible (I'm only 5'6" ). The column I have is height adjustable and since I'll be the shortest person driving my Roadster I'm setting it up for me with it adjusted as low as possible.

However, To get the wheel low enough I need to make a small cut out in a chassis rail - this photo shows what I'm on about:



My plan is to cut out a section of the top and front face of that tube, then fill it back in with some steel plate leaving me with a small length of triangular section tube. The column would then sit in the cut out neatly.

From a chassis stength point of view would this be OK? I'm considering welding a length of 25 box section (thats longer than the triangular section) to the rear or bottom face of that tube to add strength??

Cheers
Josh

[deezee]

Do what I did and move the pivot point up on the bulkhead. I remade the steering bush support on the bulkhead, to raise the column up at the bulkhead. This raises the column off that chassis rail nicely.

[Josh]

This is what I ended up doing... Seems plenty strong enough to me