Steering column drop
 

What is the advantage of a steering column drop?

Re: Steering column drop
 

Do you mean the steering column support from the cowl. It is to take pressure off the gas tank.

Re: Steering column drop
 

They used to have a spacer that would go into the bracket on the fuel tank and lower the column a couple inches, it was kind of a hot rod thing from what I heard. The idea was to lower everything and look cool doing it.

Re: Steering column drop
 

I can't imagine moving the steering wheel lower and further back.

Re: Steering column drop
 

They were used on the Victoria and De Luxe Phaeton.

Re: Steering column drop
 

You move the seat and chop the top as well, think John Milner in American Graffiti. I have one of the spacers in an old tank and a hot rod guy was telling me what it was, I should have given it to him, maybe next time he comes over.

Re: Steering column drop
 

Some cars had the support as part of the tank but later on in the 30s they attached it to the cowl. The fuel tank attachment can loosen, crack, and leak fuel so they decided to change it. Government agencies were pushing hard to eliminate fuel tanks from inside the car so the Model B finally made the change in 1932.

The term "drop" is used for nearly all of the steering column center supports and especially the ones with the ignition switch and steering lock until they were eliminated in 1949.

Re: Steering column drop
 

Back, around 1960 or so, I bought a '32 coupe, the gas tank was sitting in the trunk, held in place only by the fuel line. The car was from southern Ontario, which in them days, was notorious for using excessive amounts of salt on the roads. The straps holding the gas tank had rusted away and some PO had just moved the tank into the trunk. I had the coupe like that for about 4 months before I traded it off.

Re: Steering column drop
 

Deleted, double post

Re: Steering column drop
 

Just to be clear this is the part I am talking about. Not the stock steering column mounting bracket. https://www.limeworksspeedshop.com/M...dmakit-134.htm

Re: Steering column drop
 

Chris
They were originally used on 180A deluxe Phaetons, 190A Victorias and 400A Convertible Sedans.

Re: Steering column drop
 

That is the part that I am talking about as well. I didn't know I had one until the hot rod guy got excited about it.

Re: Steering column drop
 

This stuff is more for modified cars that still use the model A fuel tank.

Hot rods generally use the F1 steering box and a later 30s or pre 1948 column jacket. They lower the column due to the positioning of the F1 Gemmer II steering box sector shaft being above the steering shaft center line which changes the angle of the steering wheel as compared to the original model A column. Drop it a bit more and use a bit smaller steering wheel and it fits more to some individuals liking.

Most folks remove the bottom portion of the fuel tank skin just leaving the cowl. This allows use of a 1932 style dash with a later column drop attached to the bottom edge of the dash. It's more work to relocate the gas tank so some opt for an easier solution.

Re: Steering column drop
 

I am using one of Randy Gross" F100 units. A bolt in for a Model A and uses the original column jacket. A Banjo wheel will be on top.

Re: Steering column drop
 

I have an F1 in mine,bolts right in..

Re: Steering column drop
 

Use of the steering column spacer also requires the use of a special floor panels around the steering column and pedals. Lowering the steering accommodates lower seating positions in the 180A, the 190A and the 400A body styles.

As for the new steering column support (off the gas tank), I suspect there are two different lengths of it to accommodate all Model A's.