Tube Assy over Steering Rod

[Jwawhite]

Question about the steering wheel to start. Is the steering wheel mount nut flush with the steering rod threads?
My steering wheel and Tube Assy are about a 1/4 inch or more apart. If I loosen the Tube Assy at the steering box -clamp- and loosen the bracket at the dash, it seems I can close (raise upwards) the aforementioned gap. But I haven't removed the Cover at the dash which shows the gear bar through the window on it. My concern is if I raise the Tube Assy upwards, won't the gear bar rub up against the backside of the gear indicator window? Is there also an adj on the gear bar? Second photo is illustrative only showing cover on dash over gear orange colored bar

 

[Ole Don]

On my 55, there was a clamp down near the steering gear on the tube. You may have to loosen the clamp down there, and the dash clamp, then move the tube closer to the wheel. If the whole tube needs to go up closer to the windshield, loosen the three bolts that hold the gear itself to the frame, tighten the dash clamp, then tighten the frame bolts.

 

[Daves55Sedan]

Well, on a '55, there are maybe a couple of threads on the steering shaft exposed after the big nut is tightened down on the steering wheel hub.

To close up the gap between the bottom of the steering wheel hub and top of the turn signal housing, you must move the entire steering column (tube) upward.
First, the steering wheel must be installed and the hub nut tightened. Second, remove the metal conduits that house the turn signal wiring and the gear-shift indicator moulding from the dashboard. Third, loosen the two big Philips head screws under the steering column bracket below the dashboard. It may be necessary to hold the nuts above with a 1/2 inch box end wrench. Fourth, loosen the clamp around the base of the steering column near the gearbox.
Use a tire-tool to push the base of the steering column upward so that there is only about 1/16 inch gap between the bottom of steering wheel and top of turn signal housing. You will need to hold that position somehow while simultaneously tightening the clamp at the base of the steering column.
Once you have the column positioned where you want it, go back and reposition (if necessary) and tighten the bracket that holds the column too the bottom of the dashboard.
The gear-shift pointer may be adjusted if needed by loosening a little Philips head screw and repositioning the pointer so that it will fit in the space between the face of the dash and the backside of the gear-shift indicator. Put the indicator back in place but just holding it with your hand while shifting thru all the gears to make sure the pointer doesn't hit anything. Make further adjustments till all is well. Now put everything back together.

 

[KULTULZ]

Well, on a '55, there are maybe a couple of threads on the steering shaft exposed after the big nut is tightened down on the steering wheel hub.

What he said ...

The retaining nut has to be TORQUED (w/torque wrench) to have the steering wheel hub engaged and positioned correctly. You then make appearance adjustment(s) from that point.