Extending a Steering Column

[jrbartlett]

Has anyone ever lengthened a steering column by a couple inches -- which would entail lengthening or replacing the steering shaft, external tube, and the concentric tubes that control the light switch, hand throttle and spark advance? Do you know anyone capable of this work? This would be for a Model J Duesenberg.

 

 

 

 

[joe_padavano]

Has anyone ever lengthened a steering column by a couple inches -- which would entail lengthening or replacing the steering shaft, external tube, and the concentric tubes that control the light switch, hand throttle and spark advance? Do you know anyone capable of this work? This would be for a Model J Duesenberg.

 

The easiest way to do this is to get a second column and cut the extension parts from it.  This way there is only one weld in each tube instead of two.  I'm not familiar with the design of the center shaft, but if you can fabricate a new one from a solid piece, it would be better.  Street rod suppliers sell steering shaft material in most common styles (double D, splined, etc) as well as couplers.

[Friartuck]

My suggestion is to make this column from scratch rather than trying to fool around with altering an existing part. The original worm portion may have to be pressed on to the steering shaft. This would be a machinist's challenge. Start the design with solving the steering shaft (tube) and the three concentric tubing pieces for the controls. In the ham radio world for those who want to make their own antennas, companies offer alum tubing that the OD fit inside the ID of the next size up. Between these two companies one should be able to solve this in either 6063 or other alum alloys:

 

http://www.dxengineering.com/search/product-line/dx-engineering-aluminum-tubing?N=360162

http://www.speedymetals.com/s-193-round-tube.aspx

 

I'd suggest using sealed bearings in the top and bottom of the column. Trans Bearing has been reliable in finding bearings and bushings of various sizes: http://www.transbearing.net/

 

The column's overall outer tube could be brass from Speedy Metals. Get thick wall tubing to machine the recess to fit the bearings:  http://www.speedymetals.com/default.aspx

 

 

 

[Restorer32]

We've done this before. Not particularly difficult but it is time consuming. As FriarTuck suggests it might be easier to make a new column if the proper size tubing is available. We once built an entire steering column, box, gears, steering wheel spider and all for a 1917 car.