Steering column off angle

[Richard M.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Different opinion...

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...ng+wheel+angle

Harry, Yes I saw that post last week that Stu(RIP) made then(his Post#5), but have spent a tremendous amount of time researching and came up empty. I don't know where Stu got his info then but unsure if he was talking about the vertical angle adjustment or horizontal(side to side).

As we know moving the column forward or rearward in the rag joint/firewall/under dash will in fact change the angle up or down, but not side to side.

Rich

[Harry S.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Harry, Yes I saw that post last week that Stu(RIP) made then(his Post#5), but have spent a tremendous amount of time researching and came up empty. I don't know where Stu got his info then but unsure if he was talking about the vertical angle adjustment or horizontal(side to side).

As we know moving the column forward or rearward in the rag joint/firewall/under dash will in fact change the angle up or down, but not side to side.

Rich

Rich, I was always under the impression that the steering wheel on all C2's was at an angle by design. I just went to the garage and did the broom stick test and yes it is at an angle. The center right side of the steering wheel where the spoke meets the plastic is 11 3/4 from the cluster. The left side is 12 1/2 from the cluster. Other cars may vary depending on owners that moved the steering wheel in or out but I believe there will be approximately 3/4 of an inch difference. I'll do the other 63 later today. As far as I know that body has never been off the frame.

[Richard M.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Rich, I was always under the impression that the steering wheel on all C2's was at an angle by design. I just went to the garage and did the broom stick test and yes it is at an angle. The center right side of the steering wheel where the spoke meets the plastic is 11 3/4 from the cluster. The left side is 12 1/2 from the cluster. Other cars may vary depending on owners that moved the steering wheel in or out but I believe there will be approximately 3/4 of an inch difference. I'll do the other 63 later today. As far as I know that body has never been off the frame.

Good info thanks Harry. Was your car restored?

The last 5 C2's Ive body offs I restored have them dead on straight. 2-67s, a 66, 2-65's(assisted) When we dropped the body that was one of the things we checked and t w e a k e d before we wrenched the mount bolts down.

Rich

[Harry S.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Good info thanks Harry. Was your car restored?

The last 5 C2's Ive body offs I restored have them dead on straight. 2-67s, a 66, 2-65's(assisted) When we dropped the body that was one of the things we checked and t w e a k e d before we wrenched the mount bolts down.

Rich

The 63 I just checked was. The 63 coupe had work done such as the engine and some fiberglass work but best I can tell the body has never been removed. It's on the lift, I'll check later today.

[Harry S.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Just finished my third cup of coffee so I went to the lift. The right side is 12 inches from the cluster, the left side is 12 3/4 from the cluster. I'm measuring from where the spoke enters the plastic.

[John P.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Quite interesting all of this.

And yes Richard I have had these strange nonverbal "connections" frequently over the years. With many people in many situations. I should
examine how to tune into the high roller gambler types.

At any rate I think I will try the shims/washers as you suggested, and see if I can reorient the column.

Thanks for input from all.

[Richard M.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Quite interesting all of this.

And yes Richard I have had these strange nonverbal "connections" frequently over the years. With many people in many situations. I should
examine how to tune into the high roller gambler types.

At any rate I think I will try the shims/washers as you suggested, and see if I can reorient the column.

Thanks for input from all.

John, Yes maybe a bit of "Twilight Zone going on....LOL

Hmmm, Before you do anything you may want to wait a while as I'm actually seeing a trend in the Poll, that being many are angled right like yours. So far 75% are showing angled to the right.

I'm going to try to reach John Hinckley and see if he can post something he may know about this.

RIch

[Paul D.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Does the drawing in a earlier post, which I assume is from a factory service manual, not show the column angled to the right based on the frame rails? I can't believe they would depict it that way if it were not a factory design element. Remember that any shimming of the box gets you that much closer to the exhaust manifold and the heat could be a factor on the grease inside. Chip.

[Richard M.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Does the drawing in a earlier post, which I assume is from a factory service manual, not show the column angled to the right based on the frame rails? I can't believe they would depict it that way if it were not a factory design element. Remember that any shimming of the box gets you that much closer to the exhaust manifold and the heat could be a factor on the grease inside. Chip.

Chip it's a factory drawing out of a CSM but it's a Lubrication Chart. It is a definite indication of a angle but also as I noted earlier they have the engine and driveline dimensions totally wrong. It should show that as being shifted to the right and they don't.

I'm still researching and trying to find some form of factory documentation specifically showing if there was a designed in steering column angle to the right(or not) in specifications. I'm on a mission but I'm at a dead end. That's why I did that Poll to get a good sample to help figure this out.

I sent a email to John Hinckley earlier. He may come back with a answer to help put this to rest.

Edit..... I just thought of this. AMA specs. I'm going to be doing a lot of reading now.

Rich

[Chuck G.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Nothing to do on this lazy Sunday morning, so I went out and checked my 63 convertible. Never hit, never off the frame. The steering column has been out a few times, as has the instrument cluster over the years.

Put a straight edge across the steering wheel. Outer measurement is 12.25 inches. Inner measurement is 11.50 inches, a difference of 0.75" or 3/4" inch.

[Richard M.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Thanks Chuck. Did you go to the Poll and add your result there too? I think you did as a few minutes ago there were 8 pollsters now there are 9.'

I'm really leaning now towards Factory Designed in this angle to the right thing. Why? I'm still baffled about that.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Ok.... The 1963 AMA Specs has tons of dimension design data. One caveat. I don't understand it all.

Could someone take a look and see if you can make sense of the interior dimensions and if it shows the column/wheel data I'm looking for.

It's too big to download here. link.....

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Corvette/1963-Chevrolet-Corvette.pdf

PDF page 39 (spec page 22) is the start of the car and body dimensions and goes to PDF page 58.

PDF page 51 (spec page 34) has the definitions

PDF page 56 (spec page ?) has the Exterior and Interior dimensions.

Edit... PDF page 46(spec 29) shows Steering Column Angle - Horizontal Ref # H18 as 15* 23". As viewed from the side. Doesn't show the dimension left to right.

Lots of data but it's not jumping out at me.

Rich

[Harry S.]

Re: Steering column off angle

Ok.... The 1963 AMA Specs has tons of dimension design data. One caveat. I don't understand it all.

Could someone take a look and see if you can make sense of the interior dimensions and if it shows the column/wheel data I'm looking for.

It's too big to download here. link.....

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Corvette/1963-Chevrolet-Corvette.pdf

PDF page 39 (spec page 22) is the start of the car and body dimensions and goes to PDF page 58.

PDF page 51 (spec page 34) has the definitions

PDF page 56 (spec page ?) has the Exterior and Interior dimensions.

Edit... PDF page 46(spec 29) shows Steering Column Angle - Horizontal Ref # H18 as 15* 23". As viewed from the side. Doesn't show the dimension left to right.

Lots of data but it's not jumping out at me.

Rich

This is a horizontal view and it may be the answer, is 15 degrees 23 inches over the span of the width of the steering wheel 3/4 of an inch?

[Harry S.]

Re: Steering column off angle

I just did a very crude drawing using a length of 16 inches (steering wheel width) market off the 15 23 then drew a line from end to end. It is about 3/4 of an inch. Am I off or have I had too much coffee.

[Tom E.]

Re: Steering column off angle

I read that as the vertical angle of the steering column. To confirm this theory I attached a magnetic angle Guage to the steering shaft coming out of the rag joint. It measures exactly 15*23’. 23’ is equal to minutes of a degree. 60 minutes in a degree so 23 is About a 1/3 of a degree.
Tom
26BFE468-9503-45C8-9250-5370CEF76B6F.jpeg

I added this photo to help clarify the location of the measurement.

E54DC1E5-B5BD-40BB-A7AE-13595512C0DF.jpeg