Hey all, just wondering what my options are for a collapsible steering column. Is there a model or era that has the bare bones 50s look up near the steering wheel, ie. doesn't have all the modern fruit? Or will I have to splice the bottom half of one to the top half of another? I've looked at a couple of collapsible columns that have plastic shrouds and modern accoutrement, and obviously don't look right
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https://www.borgeson.com/18-collapsible-shaft
Here is an option. They have more
We make everything from scratch and use a donor 18mm tapered 40 spline upper, mainly to retain the same hub adapter that we've used since the 80s and avoid adding another part number to the system. This matches Porsche 924/944 as well as 74-77 VW and a few Audis.
You'll likely have to fabricate everything, so you'll need to find a splined upper that will allow the use of a hip adapter that you like the look of. Many builders use late 60s VW, but I DO NOT recommend using their crush cage, too many have failed due to age and fatigue. Fortunately you can find Mardi/Momo hub adapters for SO MANY brands and years of steering shafts. For some UK based builds that require a slip style crush sleeve, I've even used Porsche Boxster upper and modified it to work.
I believe the steering shaft that matches 924/944 is also the same for Rabbit/Scirocco so that gives more options for donors.
Thanks guys, that's plenty of info to get me started.
I'll let my mate with the engineering shop know that his time to shine is imminent.
The VW Rabbit is the US version of the Golf? I don't think we got the original Scirocco in Aus, I don't remember seeing any, although I did have a hotwheels version.
Sorry, yes, Golf.
I had a Scirocco I, a Scirocco II 16V, and a G60 Corrado.
@DannyP posted:Sorry, yes, Golf.
I had a Scirocco I, a Scirocco II 16V, and a G60 Corrado.
All good, you're not expected to know international branding differences 🙂
I always preferred the looks of the Scirocco models. They were definitely more sporty looking than the Golf
@550aus posted:All good, you're not expected to know international branding differences 🙂
I always preferred the looks of the Scirocco models. They were definitely more sporty looking than the Golf
Yeah, but I used to read EVERY automotive publication! So I shoulda known better!
P.S.: I always wished we could get some of the European Opel and Ford stuff, and Australian Holden too. You guys had some cool stuff we couldn't get.
@DannyP posted:Yeah, but I used to read EVERY automotive publication! So I shoulda known better!
P.S.: I always wished we could get some of the European Opel and Ford stuff, and Australian Holden too. You guys had some cool stuff we couldn't get.
We did get a few cool things out of that corporate arrangement. My first car was a Holden Gemini coupe, which is basically an Opel Kadett. They're still quite popular in Europe, although there's not many of them left over here after the Gemini racing series took it's toll in the 90s
