Steering column mount

[Kevin - Illinois]

My 31 Coupe has the steering column mount that is attached to the gas tank. I've heard that these have been successfully converted to a mount that attaches to the dash panel. How well do the dash mounts work, and how do you remove the old column?

[Bill Steiner]

It works great. Leave the lower clamp off. You may need to shim the new mount with one or two washers. You don't want the steering column to touch the old holder that is on the gas tank . You can trim around it with some rubber to make it look finished . Of course you want a new rubber insulator on the new clamp and mount. Bill

[Tom from Drippin']

Here's what it looks like.

[Bill Steiner]

To add to my post above I will try to put a pic on. BillSteering sup 1S.JPG

[1928Pickuppain]

What is the point of it ? doset the stock one work just fine?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

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Originally Posted by 1928Pickuppain

What is the point of it ? doset the stock one work just fine?

They do until someone starts using the steering wheel to pull themselves inside the car. Then this abuse flexes the bottom of the gas tank which that bracket is riveted onto with 3 rivets, and soldered to create a seal. After the solder has been disturbed, the tank start to seep gasoline filling the cabin with fumes and drops of gasoline.

[Tom from Drippin']

Originally Posted by 1928Pickuppain

What is the point of it ? doset the stock one work just fine?

It does.......until....the tank starts to leak from flexing as drivers pull themselves into position using the steering wheel. That's why Henry changed to the dash mount in late '31.

[Mike V. Florida]

Will this help?

[Larry Seemann]

Did you ever wonder why so many steering column tubes are cracked where the spark & throttle levers exit the tubes? It's the same reason so many column tank mounts leak. It's because the steering box is bolted securely to the frame, and the frame is flexible, and when people used to drive like "The Keystone Cops" and went through dips at high speed and flew over railroad track crossings the frame flexed but the steering column was securely bolted to the tank bottom - so the tank mount and the tube took one hell of a beating. We weld up the cracked tube but it ain't so easy to fix the bottom of the tank. So, hang the tube from the dash rail and give the poor tank mount a little well deserved rest, and please leave the lower clamp off the tank mount or you aren't accomplishing anything.
Now days we blame using the steering wheel for leverage getting in and out because we don't drive like that anymore or drive on roads like that anymore, but most of the damage was done many years ago.

[Bill Steiner]

I agree with Larry. Don't put the clamp on the old mount. You won't be doing any good with the new mount if you do. Bill

[Jim/GA]

On a related note, what is the advantage of using a spacer on these column mounts that come down from the dash, so that the column is about 1 inch lower and the steering wheel is lower?

[skip]

That's a neat under tank/dashboard mount. But I already don't have enough wheel to belly room on my '30 roadster and this sure looks like the steering column is being lowered on to my belly.

Remember. Pulling on the steering wheel to get into the 'A' will work that weld on the bottom of the fuel tank. So a lapfull of fuel could be expected.

skip.

[grudicil]

Does anyone know if these 1931 column mount brackets can be made to work on a 1929 155-A Town Sedan?

[31truck]

I have a steering column support that is made out of brass. I'd like to know any information on this rare (?) part that a member of this board might have. Thanks

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Originally Posted by Jim/TX

On a related note, what is the advantage of using a spacer on these column mounts that come down from the dash, so that the column is about 1 inch lower and the steering wheel is lower?

When adapting the 31 mount to the 28/29 a spacer is needed to mount to the upper dash and not needed on the 30/31. Also make sure the steering column doesn't touch the old clamp. I found that out the hard way when my tank started leaking again. The vibrations get transferred to the tank, had to fix it again. The upper 31 mount is very secure and a big improvement over the tank mount. Both my 29 and 30 (and previous early 31 I sold) have that arrangement.

[Bill Steiner]

I used two washers on each side of the support so it would not touch the old support. It is a 31 model A. It did not need a thick spacer. Bill

[grudicil]

Barry, thanks very much for the information!

[FL&WVMIKE]

Is this NOS column support what is needed to make the conversion ? And, will it work on a 1929 Roadster ?
MIKE

[JoeWay]

If I'm doing this correctly, there should be an attachment of a pdf file of MikeV's post to the old FB about installing a late steering bracket in an earlier car.

Joe

MikeV_30_31SteeringBracketIn28_29.pdf

[Tony S,Fl.]

The pictures posted by Mike V. were taken on a 1929 Phaeton. I would guess a roadster would be the same. The closed cars might be the same. Took about an hour to do this proceedure. Tony