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Steering column length

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by sammy, Jul 19, 2008.

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  1. sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    While I'm ordering parts I'm getting most of the steering stuff from Speedway and Moon.
    What steering column length works best in the 2A? 28" or 30"?
    The wheel will be a 15" or 13" as well, which one?
    TIA
     
    sammy, Jul 19, 2008
    #1
  2. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Whoa! You doing a Saginaw swap? If you're going manual Saginaw you might think about keeping the "school bus" wheel to make it easier to turn. Power Saginaw with a L- or F-head opens a whole nuther can-O-worms when trying to fab up a PS pump mount, since none exist off the shelf.

    Lot of folks who do the Saginaw swap use a DJ-5 column and wheel to keep the skinny column and the stock look. This column also has the splined end on it already, as well as a u-joint if you get one from a DJ parts yard.

    The DJ column is darned near a bolt-in, and it's also less than half the cost of an aftermarket column like say, Flaming River, etc. I think I paid $150 bux for mine, and it came with a self-cancelling Sparton TS switch too! :)
     
    w3srl, Jul 19, 2008
    #2
  3. Andy4802

    Andy4802 Canadian Jeep junkie

    my column is from a YJ... so i think its longer than 30" but i cut the steering shaft (from a CJ) down quite a bit and used a borgeson ujoint. Works great. My wheel is a cheapie 13" Grant black classic foam (i rattlecanned the spokes OD green::), with Grant adapter to the YJ column. i find it the perfect size, even with the manual saginaw box... you just gotta use a little muscle. i havent gotten around to posting my saginaw steering swap pics yet. just finished it... will get them up asap
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2008
    Andy4802, Jul 19, 2008
    #3
  4. sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    Its a manual saggy swap, it's all ready to connect once I put the body on, the plate and box is already attached, but the pitman arm will be swapped for one 1/2" shorter. It's a CJ7 box so it's 4 bolt, score! I have a school bus wheel but unless I can adapt it to a 3 hole mounting flange (I'm doing a plain steel hotrod column from Speedway with 3 bolt and quick release, and the old school TS. The column is slick slender such as the stock ross column) I'll be buying a 3 spoke wheel from Moon, I know it's a little $$ but it looks spectacular. I know all I need to about saginaw except those above questions. IIRC the 15" wheel would be bussed size.
    Steve you don't remember me emailing you about saggy?
    Andy, I'd be interested in seeing how you get it in then :)

    All it comes down to, 28" or 30" ? And then the linkages I'll be back, since my box is a single D splined, and the column is double D smooth.
     
    sammy, Jul 19, 2008
    #4
  5. Andy4802

    Andy4802 Canadian Jeep junkie

    what do you need pics of? column placement or the whole setup?
     
    Andy4802, Jul 19, 2008
    #5
  6. sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    sammy, Jul 19, 2008
    #6
  7. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Nice!

    I'll have to measure mine when I get home tomorrow evening, unless someone else beats me to it.

    As for the lower steering shaft, I simply put the U-joints in place and took a measurement, cut the bar stock to length and welded it up.
     
    w3srl, Jul 20, 2008
    #7
  8. Andy4802

    Andy4802 Canadian Jeep junkie

    it'll have to be this week sometime... i'm heading out for the day and then back to work tomorrow... i'll try to snap a few pics one evening this week
     
    Andy4802, Jul 20, 2008
    #8
  9. sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    So you can buy the linkage bars and then cut to fit? Cool! :D Do I need a slip joint or such?

    Also a plus to that column is I can pull the pin and take the wheel with me, can't steer it can't drive it :) But can tow it :(
    Steve that would be great if you could do that. Think that set up will fit nice in the flattie? Gotta make sure to wax the walnut often to keep it up.
    Andy That's fine, body won't be on for a while. I'm just stocking up on the parts I'll need
     
    sammy, Jul 20, 2008
    #9
  10. trawler Scott

    trawler Scott Member

    I have the speedway column I am almost positive it is a 28".I have not driven it yet yet but sitting there making engine noises it feels about right to me :) There is a picture of it mounted about 1/2 way down this page... http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53264&page=4


    Scott


    I can get back to work on mine in 4-5 weeks :beer:
     
    trawler Scott, Jul 20, 2008
    #10
  11. sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    Awesome, looks like I'll be going with the 28", thanks!
     
    sammy, Jul 20, 2008
    #11
  12. Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Not even close, the factory wheel is a little over 17", big difference over all. Doesn't sound like much but it will make a huge difference. What size tires you gonna run, that will make the most difference.
     
    Mcruff, Jul 21, 2008
    #12
  13. sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    29" with provisions to go to 31"
    Plus I'm a weightlifter, not a little pencil kid to be sitting behind the wheel
     
    sammy, Jul 21, 2008
    #13
  14. Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    I ran a little wheel on my manual Saginaw for years on 31s. Not much of a deal with them. And I use 28" columns when I can :)
     
    Warloch, Jul 21, 2008
    #14
  15. sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    Cool cool, what size was a little wheel, Chuck?
     
    sammy, Jul 21, 2008
    #15
  16. electricontr

    electricontr Member

    I used an XJ steering column & steering box with a TJ intermediate shaft. The TJ shaft is expandable for about ten or twelve inches so it can fit a lot of combinations and doesn't use a rag joint at the steering box end.
     
    electricontr, Jul 29, 2008
    #16
  17. Zup

    Zup New Member

    bump
     
    Zup, Sep 2, 2008
    #17
  18. michigan_pinstripes

    michigan_pinstripes I'm not lost, I'm wandering

    They come in different lengths? Over the weekend I just did the Pontiac tilt-delete in favor of a stocker column. I pieced together some spare shafts and steering U-joints to the saggy.

    Stock look, steers like a dream! (and clears the motor mount now :oops: )
     
    michigan_pinstripes, Sep 2, 2008
    #18
  19. electricontr

    electricontr Member

    No Bump...Tie rod ll with the ground. Promise!
     
    electricontr, Sep 2, 2008
    #19
  20. electricontr

    electricontr Member

    Sorry, meant to say drag link. Tie rod is obviously parallel to the ground
     
    electricontr, Sep 3, 2008
    #20
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