Steering: Any other columns fit ?

[S10V8.98223]

Hi all. I am building a '54 Starlite and wondering if any other steering columns will fit in a Stude? I am a big guy and having a tilt column is a must...It looks like the stock column has tube that goes to the steering box with a pinch bolt? is there a adapter that will hook up a GM, Ford, or Mopar column to the Stude box? Can somebody help with a few pointers, this is my first Stude. Thanks in advance

Micah Chance

[bezhawk]

In a word.....no. You must remember that the column only covers the steering shaft which is one piece all the way into the steering gear with no splice or joint.
If you are willing to cut and weld a u-joint onto the box, then you will be able t adapt something else. It is a good idea to do so for a daily driver.
Many deaths were attributed to being speared by the steering shaft in a head on collision. The collapsible columns since 67 have been an important saftey improvement.

[DEEPNHOCK]

If you have a good fabricator..... It would be hard to beat this deal....
$209 plus free shipping... (floor shift model.... Column shift is only $169)
Tilt model, too... $199
Add a new retro look wheel, and fabricate a coupler for your original tube...

http://kmjent.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/27250/s/chevy-pontiac-gm-style-hotrod-chrome-steering-column-auto-shift-32-universal/

http://kmjent.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/16012/s/new-raw-33-tilt-steering-column-shift-hot-rod-auto/

or

[WinM1895]

In a word.....no. You must remember that the column only covers the steering shaft which is one piece all the way into the steering gear with no splice or joint.
If you are willing to cut and weld a u-joint onto the box, then you will be able t adapt something else. It is a good idea to do so for a daily driver.
Many deaths were attributed to being speared by the steering shaft in a head on collision.

The collapsible columns since 67 have been an important safety improvement.

You sure that 1967 was the first year?

FoMoCo passenger cars didn't have a collapsible steering column until 1968. F100/350, Bronco & Econoline didn't have a collapsible steering column until 1980.

[Alan]

My 68 MGC has a collapsible steering column. British Layland groused about having to put them in cars sent to the U.S.

[dnevin]

You sure that 1967 was the first year?

FoMoCo passenger cars didn't have a collapsible steering column until 1968. F100/350, Bronco & Econoline didn't have a collapsible steering column until 1980.

The regulation requiring this went into effect on 1-1-68 http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/FMVSS/#SN203. In this case, GM beat Ford to the punch and started putting the collapsible columns in their passenger cars in 67.

[bezhawk]

Yup, GM put them in starting in 67.

[S10V8.98223]

Thanks for the replies and links, those are a very good price!!! I have a 55 CK frame from one I just parted (I am going to restore it, and use my 54) I will play around and modify that one ... I assume the shaft it's not splined since welding is involved lol...Now I need to figure out if I am leaving the stock kingpin susp. I'd love power steering and disc brakes. I heard the stock rear ends don't hold up to much power, and I don't need the 4 series gears that are in it...if I remember right both the Dana 27 and 44 I have have something like 4.56 or something close that my motor wont like

[sweetolbob]

Thanks for the replies and links, those are a very good price!!! I have a 55 CK frame from one I just parted (I am going to restore it, and use my 54) I will play around and modify that one ... I assume the shaft it's not splined since welding is involved lol...Now I need to figure out if I am leaving the stock kingpin susp. I'd love power steering and disc brakes. I heard the stock rear ends don't hold up to much power, and I don't need the 4 series gears that are in it...if I remember right both the Dana 27 and 44 I have have something like 4.56 or something close that my motor wont like

Just curious, what are your plans for power, trans and other modifications. If you are staying Stude then the aforementioned column should be an excellent choice. If you plan to modify, to let's say SBC components, 12 volts and accessories then a 90's GM column may be worth discussing.

I'm mentioning this because the 54K in my signature below has a complete Chevrolet drivetrain, wipers, digital dash and more with a 98 Camaro column.

Bob

[S10V8.98223]

Well I know there are many purists on this forum but I have a 396 Chevy going in it, and a TH350 but I am looking for a vintage Hemi as a ultimate goal. I am using a 8.8 Ford rearend. I am a Chevy guy, but have always loved many of the Stude's. My father had 150+ Studebakers at one time and had a Studebaker business up here in Washington when I was growing up in the early to late 70's. I grew up in Studes.

-Micah Chance

[sweetolbob]

Well I know there are many purists on this forum but I have a 396 Chevy going in it, and a TH350 but I am looking for a vintage Hemi as a ultimate goal. I am using a 8.8 Ford rearend. I am a Chevy guy, but have always loved many of the Stude's. My father had 150+ Studebakers at one time and had a Studebaker business up here in Washington when I was growing up in the early to late 70's. I grew up in Studes.

-Micah Chance

Pretty much my interests, grew up around Chevy's fell in love with Studes but using SBC's in everything. No Studebaker history in my past though. I'm not sure what funds you will be committing but a search of the forum will give you a lot of reading about different front suspension ideas. The biggest problem you will need to solve is header clearance on the drivers side. I'm not familiar with BBC's but they must be physically wider than an SBC. SBC's have a clearance problem with #5-7 exhaust pipes. Not much fits around the Stude OEM steering box other than the SBC stock type rams horn manifolds. I'm running 2 1/2" 63'vette style manifolds on mine.

Converting to a R&P setup is not trivial and the subject of much discussion on the forum. Use the search function in the upper right hand corner of the forum. I'd recommend you do the reading then mock the engine/trans setup into the rolling stock frame w/steering in place to see where you need/chose to go. The original suspension if upgraded to later specs is pretty good on the road so changing it just to change is hard to justify but to allow for clearance issues it might be worth the effort/money. Only you can decide and justify based on your needs.

As far as purists on the forum, as you would expect there are a large number of them and thankfully so. They maintain the history and correctness of the marque. I will say though, I'll bet you'll be hard pressed to find a kinder/gentler bunch than the ones here.

So do the research, ask questions, do as you wish and drive the wheels off of it.

Oh!! Welcome BTW

Bob

[dnevin]

Well I know there are many purists on this forum but I have a 396 Chevy going in it, and a TH350 but I am looking for a vintage Hemi as a ultimate goal. I am using a 8.8 Ford rearend. I am a Chevy guy, but have always loved many of the Stude's. My father had 150+ Studebakers at one time and had a Studebaker business up here in Washington when I was growing up in the early to late 70's. I grew up in Studes.

-Micah Chance

I don't think you'll get much of that purist thing--there may be some attempts to help save you time and effort based on previous experiences--but overall, there's a strong "it is your car, do what you want" attitude on here. Well, at least as long as it is done well.

You might check out mmagic's thread about putting a power steering unit and column from an astro van here: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...ighlight=astro. That might be just the ticket for your build. As far as other suspension mods, many folks find that the stock setup works just fine when gone through and rebuilt.

Bob Johnstone's site is a good resource as well for some of the mods you're planning: http://www.studebaker-info.org/rjtechx5.html

Good luck with your build, and keep us posted.

[Alan]

Yes, there are problems with the 396 in a C/K. Set in the right position to get clearances top bottom and sides, you will see that the second or third exhaust port sits right on top of the Ross steering box. I went to cross steer with a GM 600's series box.

[S10V8.98223]

Thank you, I meant no disrespect about the purist comment. I have a hard time with peeps who give other people a hard time about doing this and that to your car. My car came with a 6cyl and I can't go that route, my father does have 4 or 5 V8 Stude motors sitting in the garage but I have always been a BBC guy, I know them well...I do know the stude motors are almost bullet proof and seem to last forever. I have seen my father buy a Stude that has been sitting for 30 years, he has told me " if the motor isn't froze up and will turn over, it will run." I do respect purists and they are invaluable source of information. I down look down on anyone. I believe in build your car however it suits you. I am not sure what route I will go on the front suspension. I haven't been on this forum for long, but have many pages of reading to do. I have been on many forums and some of the peeps are just horrible about modifications all the way down to puncuation and spelling. I have been lurking this forum and haven't seen any of the I am better than you attitude...I need to order the frame mounts from slick street stuff...I cannot find many people offering chevy mounts, and I know the factory 65-6 probably wont work, and I don't really like the Hurst cradle mount, they look like it might put a lot of stress on the motor with no rear support, but I could be totally wrong ????

[DEEPNHOCK]

Your comments are interesting, and quite astute.
One of the interesting things with forums is that people can share their experiences, whether learned firsthand, or passed down from generation to generation, or coffee counter to coffee counter.
Hard to take it all in and sort it out.
Purists will always believe that any change from OEM is sacrilege.
But operational reality, and some parts scarcity, might mean substitution is in order.
And some people, with the desire to improve things, will seek out the latest in technology to adapt to their Studebaker.
(I don't have the discipline to build a Stude only as good as the factory did...and no better)
You see the full spectrum here on the forum.
The comment made by your father is a good example.
Taking and old engine that has been setting for years and getting it running is a challenge.
Now... Taking it, freeing it up, and running it for the sake of being cheap is foolish.
Sure, it may run. It might run great.
But....
But for how long?
You are placing a bet when you do that.
And in the sport of gambling... You have to be willing to accept the loss when you do not win.
That's why the emphasis should be on good work, and not how cheap you can get by with something.
Good work will always trump a longshot bet.
Especially if the product is going to leave your hands and be put into someone else's care.
Your comment about engine mounts is interesting.
Worrying about the forward engine mounts and rearward trans mounts (spread) on a lightweight casting of a later GM might be a concern.
I would not sweat that at all with a Studebaker engine/trans.
The Stude/Borg Warner castings are stout.
Heck.. I've been flogging a bastardized front motor mount Chevy 350/TH350 rear trans mount combo in a Stude for 12 years and haven't had any problems.
Don't let the magazine siren song force your thinking into buying all their stuff du jour.
If Rene's Slick Street stuff trips your trigger... Go for it!
But set a plan. Work your plan. Make it yours.
If you let the forum build your Studebaker, it will be a cross between an EPA lawyermobile that runs on potatoes and a paper-mache sailboat.
And woe to you if you don't label it properly, to protect future generations from Studebaker blasphemy.....
Just build it, and motor on to happiness!