Column

Today's task. Get the steering column mounted in place! The floor mount provided in the kit is labeled as a 1957 Chevy part. But the Flaming River web site refers to it as a Tri-5 Chevy part... none of that matters as it can not be used with a 1955 Pontiac as-is.

Fortunately, it's aluminum and easy to modify. I used the felt ring retainer from the old column to help me center the position once I had cut and flattened the plate. Two new holes need to be drilled to line up to the two upper holes in the factory access plate. Depending how you cut the plate, a third hole will likely be needed at about the 5 o'clock position. I notched the left edge for the raised ridge in the access plate.

With the  plate modified, I reattached the machined ring that the split ring on the column will attach to. I also cut a small piece of galvanized steel to cover the old Treadle-Vac opening. I just used silicone RTV to attach the plate. Stuck one of the many Flaming River stickers that came with my kit on the plate, just for fun.

The column gimbal mount done, I slid the column in place and tightened the two setscrews on the floor mount outer ring. With the column swung up into place at the dash mount, I could see that I needed to add a bit more rubber cushion to fill the space as this column is not a thick as the factory one. A bit of radiator hose did the trick. Adjusting the column to the right position is easily accomplished and the dash mount tightened enough to keep things from moving around. I figure I need to leave them just a bit loose in case I have to make adjustments when I do the linkage and the steering shaft work... apparently stuff I won't get to today since it's raining again and getting dark, cold and depressing.

So with the column pretty much in place, I started to work on the steering wheel. I had seen an Ididit video where they got a factory GM wheel ready to work on one of their columns. This looked like it would go about the same way. On the back of the steering wheel is the turn signal canceler. You have to remove the three screws holding it on but leave the large trim plate in place and put the screws back in. Back at the column, I took off the wheel retaining nut, spring and the thing you see below which is a combination turn signal canceler and horn slip ring. The Pontiac wheel already has the needed hole at about the 10:30 o'clock position for the little tower of the slip ring to go into. The spring needs to go between the wheel and the slip ring, so I started the tower's wire into the hole and then held the spring in place while slipping the whole thing over the steering shaft. I tested operation of the canceler before putting the nut on. Again, I only did it loosely so I can pop the wheel off again if I need to adjust things when I do the steering shaft.

 So here we are with the column in place, the wheel loosely attached and the tilt and signal arms attached. I plan to modify the factory signal arm to fit the column, and *try* to do the same with the shift lever.

You might be wondering about the unpainted, unpolished state of the column... I bought the less expensive kit with the "paintable mill" finish on the column exterior. I planned to paint it, the same way the original was. But it's January, freakin' cold and I'm not going to paint it just now. It's stainless steel and I *could* polish it myself if I wanted to bother, but at least it won't rust while I decide what I want and wait for warmer weather.

Next up, I need a 3/4" wooden dowel to mock up the steering shaft setup.