Steering Column

[KarlCSX2498]

Hello, Who knows the proper Flaming River part number for a steering column? Summit has too many to pick from. I was thinking Non-tilt, stainless steel. I am building a CSX4000 style 427 chassis. Is the hub for the cobra style steering wheel a bolt on part?
Thanks, Karl

[Roger Bolick]

Flaming River FR1512 MGB/Cobra Rack and Pinion

If you can find Shelby's source for longer tie rod ends you won't have to nip the ends and add the extenders. Its got 9/16-18 threads and the pin is identical to the MGB ones. Please post this info.

Cheaper to buy FR from resellers than direct.

>hub for the cobra style steering wheel a bolt on part?

Yes/no, original hub bolts on with a single nut, provided you have the OEM shaft, OEM hub w/plate, OEM turn signal, OEM column.
Otherwise its all but impossible to get there from here... a complete custom assembly.

You can however you can bolt the wheel to most any hub by drilling some holes. The market is full of examples, some look better than others.

>proper Flaming River part number for a steering column?

All the numbers are equally appropriate...

Haven't seen the FR column, but I'd guess it isn't remotely close to original, which means turn signal, hub, steering wheel, etc. will be a "hack till it fits", same for the shafts. May as well start with one from a late model honda.

[Specialk]

Shelby doesn't use a Flaming River steering column. They get them the hard way, they build their own. They use a piece of felt for a lower bushing and a plastic bushing with a Rover part # for the upper. Kirkham makes a sweet aluminum column tube with oillite (I think?) bushings. Seems like it may work better than the original setup.

[elgecko]

I, too, am using Flaming River MGB/Cobra rack on my build and using a column kit from Breezeautomotive.com with a splined quick release hub. Does not employ a column tube.
Horn, turn signals, flashers on the dash.
Dave

[KarlCSX2498]

thanks for the replies. I talked to flaming river today and they have a new steering column designed for roadster & kit car builds. It appears to almost a perfect fit for the CSX chassis. The main rod is 3/4" x 36 spline and will accept the hub for the cobra style steering wheel. It is wired for turn signals, flashers & a horn (not sure if the horn will be possible).
Thanks again, Karl

[Rick Parker]

If you can find an early MGB they are essentially the same as Cobra. I have the outer housing which I have not used. The inner shaft used a felt bushing at the bottom.

[mickmate]

Hey Karl are you wanting the VW beetle (early) style directional switch or the MG/Triumph type or doesn't it matter to you. I think I will be using the MGB shaft and hub. I have a tube and switch from a Beetle. I think the only other part I need is the boss under the switch. It really is a pretty simple piece to make up. Anybody know what the rest of the new Cobra FR kit to go with the 1512 is like?

[mickmate]

Bottom end!

[Three Peaks]

Could somebody explain to me this process of cutting off the shafts and adding extenders to the rack for the tie rod ends? I am just about to order the FR 1512 rack and want to know if I need to order anything else to go with it?
I would also like to see what the FR kit looks like if anyone can get that info? If not, maybe I'll call them tomorrow and see what is available in the way of info, pics, etc.....??? I may still use the VW column tube with a new shaft so I can use the VW turn signal set up I've already got. Just have to machine up a brass bushing for each end and figure out how to spline the end to fit a hub?

You know, sometimes this scratch building gets to be a lot of work!

Thanks,
Bob

[mickmate]

Hi Bob, the tie rod extenders are to make the tie rods the right length for minimising the bump steer. It looks like the rack is just too short. Hmmm maybe it just came off a different car and they adapted it to this application LOL. Does anyone know what the collar for hanging this simple piece of tube from the bracket is from?

[Three Peaks]

Karl,
Did you receive the FR column and shaft kit yet? How does it look? How about posting a couple pics so we can see what it looks like and how it mounts.

Price? Part numbers?

Thanks,
Bob

[KarlCSX2498]

Yeah, the new column is here and it looks great. 30" long almost perfect length and mill finish stainless (I am thinking about black powder coat finish) The quality of the part is excellent, it is wired for turn signals, emer. flashers and a horn. It has a 3/4" 36 spline shaft, I ordered the aluminum universal joints and are a high quality part too.

I have not had a chance to install but a quick test fit looks very good. I need to fab the upper & lower mounts. Flaming river has mounts available but they are expensive, approx. 70.00 each.

the part number for the Nostalgia Roadster Column is FR1999VTR 30" or 33"
it cost 399.00 (this is a NON TILT column) The turn signal handle and button for the flashers is included. And the plug in for the wire harness that allows a outside wire harness to plug in is 15.00. The alum universals are approx. 75.00 ea.

I will post photos when I have a chance to install the column. But I think this is going to be a very popular part with Cobra builders.
Regards, Karl

[mickmate]

Hi Karl, I was telling Bob I got my wheel hub from Finishline today. I might put a smooth finish on it instead of the black wrinkle but the wheel, hub and Beetle directional switch look great together.

[KarlCSX2498]

Hey Nick, My finish line hub was delivered today. When I slide it onto the splined shaft it is a very tight fit. It stops approx. 3/8" short of a tight fit with the steering column. Is this correct?

I would guess that if I tighten the nut down I would end up with a gap of approx. 3/16" between the hub & steering column.

But the tolerence between the two parts is so tight I do not want to crank down on it until I am much further along. I would probably need a steering wheel puller to remove it.

I would guess this is normal. What do you think? thanks, Karl

[mickmate]

Hey Karl the taper is so slight that when they tighten they will move down quite a bit. I just looked at mine and checked the spline is 36. I haven't tried mine on a shaft yet but would recommend a double check of the spline number and check the diameters of both ends of both pieces with a caliper. Have you got your bits back from the powder coater?

[KarlCSX2498]

OK, thanks. I have the 3/4" 36 spline shaft. I will double check the meas later today but that sounds like exactly what is going on. No, the chassis was off at the weld shop for the last week. That is why I could not install the steering column. I will do a final fit on the dash panel & steering column (I made the upper & lower column brackets) and take everything to the powder coater monday. I am going to have the polished hub bead blasted to match the column. They do black twice a week so it should be back in a couple days. I will post a few photos of the flaming river column install later today. Later, Karl

[KarlCSX2498]

[KarlCSX2498]

[KarlCSX2498]

[mickmate]

Looks good from all angles Karl. Now we have a go button and some left right stuff!