Aftermarket Steering Column - Mounting Options?

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cruiser enthuiser

cruiser enthuiser

Joined
Dec 15, 2005
Threads
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Location
Reno, NV
I recently invested in a Flaming River column to replace the POS junk yard one from the PO. I'm curious to see how others have mounted theirs to the dash and thru the firewall. What I have now is some crappy, home-brew brackets. Pics would be much appreciated. (and yes, I searched!)

Also, anyone know of a good source for good, affordable steering u-joints? I don't really need the super-bling poli$hed $tainless or billet aluminum ones that Flaming River and Ididit sell.

Anyway, thinking of using something like this for mounting(again, don't really care about the bling factor, just the only options I can find):
dash mount.webp
floor mount.webp
 
Howdy! Get about anything you need directly from Borgeson.com. John
 
Cruiser, you read my mind. I just recieved my Flaming River steering column and have been looking to see what I need to mount it. What length column did you order? I'll be watching to see what other have done. The little "extra" parts from FR are expensive. I just ordered a steering wheel adapter from Summit, $95. If I can save a little but still have a nice looking mount, I'm all about it.

Nick
 
what about these guys ? not cheap but nice. BTB Products

i just cut the opening in the dash a little bigger and modded the chevy upper column bracket to fit. and used the toyota firewall bracket and cut a bigger hole in it and mounted it and slid the column through it and welded it in place.
 
Oh yeah, I saw that BTB setup and it is nice. $142 for just the floor mount is more than I care to spend. I do like the dash mount tho...it's simple and clean. That's more like what I want and I'm sure easier on the wallet than that billet mount.

As for the u-joints I guess I just have to accept that their gonna run about $75 each. Can't seem to find 'em for less.

Nicholas, I ordered the 30" column and I am reasonably confident it will work for me. We'll see once the old column comes out. I bought a Grant wheel and their adapter kit for the FR column.

Here's a pic of that BTB set up. Anyone else got pics they wanna share? -Ed
column mount pic.webp
 
Is the Flaming River column set up for 1" DD connections to the u-joint? I went to a pick-n-pull and got u-joints out of an Astro van and slip shaft out of an S-10 since they are set up for DD joints. They are not fancy looking like the Borgeson stuff but much less expensive. I did have to mod the shaft a bit for length so if you are comfortable with doing this go hit the pick-n-pulls, much cheaper

Don.
 
Last edited:
Well, since I started this thread I thought I should finish it for the next guy who searches on this subject. I'm posting a couple pictures of my solution for mounting an aftermarket column. To mount it to the dash I used the unit picture above from Flaming River. It bolted up easily and it looks OK. I may paint it, I'm not sure.

The floor mount I made from some 16 guage sheet metal and some 2 and 1/4 pipe that I welded. The pipe had an inside diameter of 2 and 1/16 and I cut it at a 35 degree angle. To center and secure the column from vibration, I drilled and tapped three holes for set screws over which I threaded a nut. It mounted nicely to the factory holes and I'm very pleased with the outcome.
P1010357A.webp
P1010359A.webp
P1010361A.webp
 
One last pic of the steering wheel mounted up. I ended up springing for the Flaming River u-joints. They are very nice. The steering wheel is from Grant. Soooo much better than they old setup. New wiring harness is next up and with the GM style plug in, wiring up the turn signals will be a snap :).

-Ed
P1010360A.webp
 
looks good! i like the firewall mount better then how mine turned out. i may have to copy (steal) your idea :D
 
Ed -

After reading your thread I pretty much decided to do the same thing. I ended up fabbing my own drop down mount. I pretty much ended up doing the same thing for the firewall mount. A lot cheaper than the flaming river or BTB mount. Looks good.

How about a pic of the u joints?

Nick
 
Thanks guys.

Nick, I forgot to look at that alternater today, sorry man. Anyway, here's the only pic I have at the moment that shows a u-joint. I used a 1" to 3/4" u-joint to a 3/4" DD steering shaft, then a 3/4" DD to 3/4" 36 splined u-joint to the saginaw box. It was a really easy install and I have no clearance issues at all, so I guess that makes up for the expensive price tag.

-Ed
P1010362A.webp
 
I like your solution for the firewall mount. I am also going to have to use your idea to get rid of my poor excuse for a mount.

Don
 
that's a really nice looking firewall mount! thanks for posting the pic and how you did it, i may just have to "borrow" it to make my S-10 Column fit.
Godspeed
-ST

(What I can see of the truck looks great! I remember what the dash looked like earlier, good job.)
 
For anyone else using a non-Toyota column, I do have a couple 1" DD upper u-joints I picked up at the Pomona hot rod swap meet. They are either Flaming River or Borgeson, I don't remember. I can sell them for $40.00 each. Mine are 3/4 round on the opposite end, which can easily be welded to 3/4 DD shaft.
 
copasspupil said:
Great looking fire wall mount. BTW, what length column did you go with? 28, 30 or 32"?
Click to expand...

Combat Chuck said:
that's a really nice looking firewall mount! thanks for posting the pic and how you did it, i may just have to "borrow" it to make my S-10 Column fit.
Godspeed
-ST

(What I can see of the truck looks great! I remember what the dash looked like earlier, good job.)
Click to expand...

Thanks guys. The 30" column worked out perfectly for me. As I mentioned, I have great clearance all around the shaft in the engine bay and I am very happy with its position in the cockpit.

Chuck, thanks. The dash is looking better but I am on the lookout for a new dash piece. Mine is too hammered around the edges where numb-nuts (PO) fit his POS roll cage plus the dozen or so holes he drilled and his hack-out for the extra guages. Hoping to find a cowl that someone is parting out.

Oh, and my "rattle-can" thread has been updated with recent pics, check it out if you haven't yet.
 
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