Dodgenut64
Well-Known Member
Just thought of something with the steering column. The plate i got moves the column over a touch so that the steering shaft will clear the back corner of the hemis head. With the column moved over, the top of the column (were the steering wheel goes) will be at a slight angle. I sat in my car and wondered how to correct this. Looking at the u-shaped bracket that goes under the column, i started to wonder if i could make a new bracket or modify the one thats on there.
So far i figured out that if i hone out the holes that are already there (or drill new holes over a touch) so that i can move the upper column over to the left abit (which is the direction the lower section of the column was moved over to clear the rear of the hemi head), i think this will correct the slight angle the steering column has.
Doing this will make the steering column look off center in the hole in the dash were the column goes in just a little. I dont think its real bad, so if you use your original dash i think its able to be lived with. I think on the 64 Dart dash, you could just cut over to the left a touch to make the column look perfect. Ill be cutting up and fitting the polara dash to fit in my car so I shouldnt have an issue with this. Ill make sure that the column is center in the hole on the dash as i cut the polara dash up to fit.
I think that if i measure the difference between the two plates (the original plate and the new plate), that should be how much i need to move the upper column over. Ill do this by drilling new holes over a touch as i mentioned above.
Another note. Im using 66 bucket seats, they are narrower then my 64s. Im using them because i want to use a center console. The mounting holes are different on the 66 buckets then on the 64s also, so im going to have to make new holes. I gotta make sure that the driverside bucket seat is center to the column, but it also needs to clear the center console. This shouldnt be an issue i hope.
So far i figured out that if i hone out the holes that are already there (or drill new holes over a touch) so that i can move the upper column over to the left abit (which is the direction the lower section of the column was moved over to clear the rear of the hemi head), i think this will correct the slight angle the steering column has.
Doing this will make the steering column look off center in the hole in the dash were the column goes in just a little. I dont think its real bad, so if you use your original dash i think its able to be lived with. I think on the 64 Dart dash, you could just cut over to the left a touch to make the column look perfect. Ill be cutting up and fitting the polara dash to fit in my car so I shouldnt have an issue with this. Ill make sure that the column is center in the hole on the dash as i cut the polara dash up to fit.
I think that if i measure the difference between the two plates (the original plate and the new plate), that should be how much i need to move the upper column over. Ill do this by drilling new holes over a touch as i mentioned above.
Another note. Im using 66 bucket seats, they are narrower then my 64s. Im using them because i want to use a center console. The mounting holes are different on the 66 buckets then on the 64s also, so im going to have to make new holes. I gotta make sure that the driverside bucket seat is center to the column, but it also needs to clear the center console. This shouldnt be an issue i hope.