Are there any alternative steering columns?

[John P]

Seems that using a Sierra or Nova column is OK but they are all very old and getting scarse / expensive. I believe some people have used the Ka or Focus column but can't find any info on these.

Are there any newer columns which can fairly easily be used?

John.

[shh120m]

I have just removed my sierra column and il be fitting the mondeo column for the following benefits:

Its adjustable for tilt and legnth ( im pretty short and my seats look rediculous pushed far forward)

It has more modern looking indicator stalks

It has a nice key which doesnt look like it belongs to transit!

On the down side it isnt quite long enough for the bearing to reach the bulk head and the mountings are a large cast alloy block.

I believe that no one makes a boss for the modeo column but they cant be that hard to make on a lathe.

I think iv found a way of getting it to fit with alot of head scratching, a bit of chopping and making some new mounts. Its a lot of work but i really want to have the adjustability so il make it work and then put up a guide with measurments and bracket dimensions etc. It might tie in nicely with spuds plans for using other donors. He might even be able to make the brackets hint hint:)

PS i now have a sierra column going cheap with a brand new lock and key (no cowels)

a quick pic for reference
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/shh120m/IMG_1546.jpg

[twinturbo]

Sierra MK2b has a reach rake adjustable column.

TT

[shh120m]

Sierra MK2b has a reach rake adjustable column.

TT

yeh, its getting hold of one thats the problem for most builders without a donor. ive seen them fetching silly money on ebay. I know its alot of extra work fitting the mondeo column but they are widely available ( i paid a tenner for mine) and once one person has worked out the best way of fitting it it becomes a lot easier for other builders in the future who dont have a sierra donor.

[aerosam]

I'm using a BMW E34 5 series column mated to a 3 series E36 rack. Plenty of these about.

[fabbyglass]

Make one then have switches elswhere, that's what i did with my Lotus 11ish looking thing and it passed SVA. Just needs to have knuckles in it so in a smack it pulls down away from you instead of smacking you in the beak...:rolleyes:

Looks cool too, just a piece of tube with a quick release doodah to put steering wheel on......:cool:

[shh120m]

a bit of progress today,

I mocked and tacked the hanging bracket that will also form half of the shroud around the column( this is currently 1.5mm sheet but once ive got the dimensions correct il make one from 3mm plate cos its abit spongy). Iv decided to take the column over the top rail rather than through the bulkhead because it would be impossible to fit without cutting TR9. It would also make the steering wheel hight rediculous. This will mean losing some bulkhead space but the shroud will have a bit of space for attaching the fusebox. Iv addded a 25mm box tube between tr8 and tr9 to which a fixed flexible bearing is attached to plates welded onto this tube.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/shh120m/IMG_1561.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/shh120m/IMG_1559.jpg

below is the other side of the shroud, im going to cut out around the column so that it buts up to the other bracket and sort of forms part of the bulkhead.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/shh120m/IMG_1557.jpg

When i fitted the sierra column i was very worried about clearance between the lower column and U2. Moving the column over TR8 has solved this problem, but until fitted, i dont know by how much.

If theres others who are struggling to get hold of sierra columns, or maybe want just to use the mondeo one instead i will do a howto with plans and dimensions etc and post it up.

Nathan

[monsterob]

im hoping to make my vauxhall omega one work looks viable

[HandyAndy]

Nice work Nathan, looks great :cool:

May i make one suggestion? ( sorry :o )......the extra piece of 25mm box tube between TR8 & TR9......it might make it easier for fitting the scuttle if you positioned that new steel so that its welded to the inside face of TR2 & TT2, then build up with some plate or more box tube to fix the column bearing to it.....just a suggestion , just thinking further on in the build with the scuttle placement.

Well done on solving the new column fitment :cool:

cheers
andy

[georgenewman1]

quick note, i used the sierra column but ran it over the top of the pedal box like you have, the problen i have now is that the steering shaft sits rite were the alternator should be, havin some probs gettin around this at the moment, worth a check before you get too far :)

[shh120m]

Nice work Nathan, looks great :cool:

May i make one suggestion? ( sorry :o )......the extra piece of 25mm box tube between TR8 & TR9......it might make it easier for fitting the scuttle if you positioned that new steel so that its welded to the inside face of TR2 & TT2, then build up with some plate or more box tube to fix the column bearing to it.....just a suggestion , just thinking further on in the build with the scuttle placement.

Well done on solving the new column fitment :cool:

cheers
andy

good idea andy, i didnt think about that. Its turning into abit of a head scratching mission this! Does the scuttle sit ontop of TR2? If so would it be possible to angle the top of the end of the new rail in and remove a small section of the bottom of the scuttle to fit around it if you know what i mean?

As for alternator clearance, the end of the upper column now sits closer to the outside of the car, to enable the minimum 10 degrees angle to please the iva man regarding column deflection, this may or may not give adaquate clearance, but since the motor hasnt been trial fittedd yet it will be a suck it and see ;)

[HandyAndy]

good idea andy, i didnt think about that. Its turning into abit of a head scratching mission this! Does the scuttle sit ontop of TR2? If so would it be possible to angle the top of the end of the new rail in and remove a small section of the bottom of the scuttle to fit around it if you know what i mean?



Sorry Nathan, my bad :o

What I meant to say was the "Engine bay bulkhead" sits between TR8 & TR9 & then the bonnet over the top, depending if you leave the return flange thats on a GRP bonnet then that would sit on top of TR2, tho you could cut a notch out of the bonnet return flange so that it misses the new steel you,ve installed,
Yes the scuttle sits on top of TR2 / TR1.

Nice work :cool:

cheers
andy

[shh120m]

Hi guys,

All sorted and worked out now, Im currently working out the dimensions for the mounting plates ( my steering frame isnt to book spec) and il get some drawings posted up. I still need to make a bulkhead pannel to shroud the column, but il do that once iv hacked a grp one down to size for the other side. Heres a couple of pics, please ignore the crappy hammerite, its just there to stop things rusting while its damp.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/shh120m/SAM_0155.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/shh120m/SAM_0157.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/shh120m/SAM_0151.jpg

And one showing the improved clearance on U1

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/shh120m/SAM_0149.jpg

nathan