Steering Column Bracket

Dennisfly

Dennisfly

Senior Member
I have the standard steering column gas tank bracket on my 1929 Fordor Town Sedan. I want to replace it with the 1931 style that mounts on the dash rim to lessen the chance of a fuel tank leak. None of the suppliers stock them anymore but a local club member was nice enough to give me one.

I looked at Tom Endy's pictures and instructions and it looked pretty straight forward. The problem is his pictures (the first and second ones) shows access to the back side (upper) of the dash rim to place a nut on the bolts of the adapter piece. My picture (the third one) shows no room to do this. I removed the dash wind deflector and the windshield molding but still no access.

Anyone know how to get around this?
 

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I did some looking and may have answered my own question.


1/4" U nut at Home Depot $.75
 

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Why does no one have these anymore? I have been looking for one also. I would like to find an old original off the gas tank and I would make one, welded up.
 
Here's an opening for some enterprising fellow. If you can lay your hands on one, make a pattern and cast them yourself. No Model As were imported here in 1931 so we didn't see that bracket. Any that might be about now are going to be from an imported car. No one ever reproduced these brackets for a RHD car as far as I can see so when the tank started to leak on my car, I bought a LHD one to see what they were like and cut it up as the basis of a pattern for a RHD version. I cast them in aluminium and heat treat them for '28 and 9 cars and it takes only a minor alteration to make one fit the later cars. There are not all that many 1930 cars here either by comparison to the early ones.
Maybe you could do similar - maybe a club project?
 
Thanks Tom. I'm prepared to make the adapter. It's the ability to get the nuts behind the panel for the attaching bolts that concern me. Hopefully the "U" nuts will facilitate that.
 
I did not like the looks of a 31 column drop on my 28. I took a 1/4 x 2" flat bar and ran it from flange to flange on the cowl. It is bolted to the cowl on each side as well a single bolt into the instrument tunnel. I used a 36 column drop with the key an toggle as mine is a hot rod but this same thing can be used with an additional functional column drop supporting the column independent of the stock drop.
 
We produce the new right hand drive ones, also have the odd original LHD one , see them on flea bay & at usa swap meets , antiqueford@xtra.co.nz Have a couple spare RHD 2 tooth steering boxes available too, Derek from a hot dry New Zealand,
 
Dennisfly said:
1/4-20 Panel Range .064"-.125" Center 9/16" U Type Nut from Fastenal fixed the problem. The spring/U nuts from Lowes/Homedepot/local hardware store were not deep enough. My car was different from other 28/29s in our local club. Tudor Sedan, and Coupe had room to use a normal nut.
Click to expand...

Did you happen to take pictures of what you did? I have a 29 Fordor Briggs and was stumped as to changing the support. Put it off for a later date. Would like some info on how you did the new support if you would like to share. Thanks
 
I bought a piece of Aluminum 3/8 X 1 X 8 on Ebay. I used a grinder and file to shape the top to the contour of the tank/panel where it would be attached. I carefully measured and drilled four holes to accommodate 1/4 inch machine screws. Two to attach this piece with screws going up into the panel and two to attach the bracket with screws going down. The holes were countersunk and flat head screws used. I'll see if I can take a picture or two. The link in post #6 actually has great pictures and description by Tom Endy. The only difference with mine is the use of the Fastenal U nuts due to the restricted access.


Last picture shows old mount with column placed so it doesn't touch the tank area.
 

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Dennisfly said:
I bought a piece of Aluminum 3/8 X 1 X 8 on Ebay. I used a grinder and file to shape the top to the contour of the tank/panel where it would be attached. I carefully measured and drilled four holes to accommodate 1/4 inch machine screws. Two to attach this piece with screws going up into the panel and two to attach the bracket with screws going down. The holes were countersunk and flat head screws used. I'll see if I can take a picture or two. The link in post #6 actually has great pictures and description by Tom Endy. The only difference with mine is the use of the Fastenal U nuts due to the restricted access.


Last picture shows old mount with column placed so it doesn't touch the tank area.
Click to expand...


Thank you I didn't understand the placement of the U nut....
This old guy gets it, easy. Much better then hanging on the tank
 
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