Jay M

After installing C4 seats i need the steering wheel to tilt to be comfortalbe.

I see that http://www.flamingriver.com has a paintable colum for 63-68 Vettes that tilts.

Has anyone used them before?

Are there any other options?

I know a '69 and up would work, but they all have the ignition on the colum.

Thanks,
~Jay

Terrys69coupe

Hi I've got a IDIDIT column in my 68 thats chromed It was the first one they made .Used my car for the guinea pig. Tilts and no key switch on column.

Jim Shea

This is my personal opinion. GM and Saginaw Division spent millions of dollars and ran hundreds of tests designing and developing steering columns that collapse, absorb energy, and protect the driver in a severe frontal collision.

The 1968 C3 Vettes had two types of energy absorbing steering columns; standard (non-adjustable) and telescoping only.

The 1969 through 1979 Vettes also had two types of function locking, energy absorbing steering columns; standard (non-adjustable) and Tilt & Telescoping.

1980 through 1982 Vettes had function locking, energy absorbing T&T columns only.

For a vehicle that is driven on the street, I do not think that it is wise to replace the original energy absorbing steering column with one that is rigid and not designed to collapse and absorb energy.

ZD75blue

Amen. :smash:

Jay M

Thanks for the warning!
Are there any after market steering colums that are colapsable?

~Jay

Jay M

well here's my dilemma. If I could tilt the wheel up I would be in better control of the car, thus more likely to avoid an accident.

but since an aftermarket column isn't colapsible, if i do have an accident it will be potentially much mure dangerous!

If I keep the stock column, I am slightly more likely to have an accident. But the column will absorb some impact.

My question is how much impact will a '68 column absorb? Would I really be that much better off than with a solid column?

Thanks,
~Jay

ZD75blue

Why not throw a later model tilt in?

I think 77 on up is an inch or two shorter, so that might help ya to!

:cheers:

Jay M

I thought about that, but the '68 has the ignition on the dash, later Columns have the ignition on the column.

It would probably work, but may look a little funny

~Jay

Fevre

Getting impaled on my vette steering column sounds like a good way to exit to me. Better than some co-worker shooting me at my desk. But I guess if I am on the forum then it wouldn't be all bad. :) We live in some crazy times. :(

Bet the right person get rid of the ign on the newer column by refabbing the ign hole area so it looked solid and stock. Maybe use some JB Weld. :)


[Modified by Fevre, 1:09 PM 7/9/2003]

427Hotrod

Steve B. (542C2) has a Flaming River in his car. He did the prototype for them. He seems to like it well. I spoke to them a couple of times about it when it first came out. There are several added expenses it seems like..steering wheel adapter, wiring harness plug etc that kick the price up a little.

A collapsible column isn't really brain surgery. It is generally just a tube with a shaft sliiped into it and a shear pin. Not to say it didn't take lots of work to develop it, but maybe it is something IDIDIT or Flaming River can incorporate into their design. Wouldn't be hard to do. Some were a hollow "cage" looking section designed to cave in during a wreck. Many Ford products actually used a section of thick cable as a flex shaft to attach to rack and pinion. Eliminated U-joints and would allow it to give way in a wreck. Lots of street rod guys still use them.

If I ever get a roll bar installed I'll be looking for a tilt column for sure!


JIM

Jay M

I contacted both Flaming River and ididit and niether of them are collapsible :(

I guess I need to look for some other options.

My goal is to make the car more fun, more safe, and more fast! Removing a safety feature on an already un-safe car is a bad idea.

Thanks for the warning!

~Jay

427Hotrod

Just another thought...there is an article in Super Chevy ( I think) this month showing a collapsible shaft being installed on a Chevelle that eliminates rag joint etc. It seemed to be a universal deal that had to be cut to fit length. Not sure how you could adapt it to a Vette column, but it might be worth checking into. Maybe it's something that can be added to the aftermarket columns.

Of course if you really want to get paranoid about safety in these things, crawl under it and really look at the seat belt anchoring system. That bothers me much worse than the column!

JIM


[Modified by 427Hotrod, 11:28 AM 7/10/2003]

Jay M

When I spoke to ididit they said that there is no room for that type of system.

As for the seat belts :eek:
All I can say I hope the fiberglas is stronger than it looks!