Steering column mounting bracket

There should be an inverted 3/16" steel T' that gets a horizontal bolt through it secured to the 2 x 2.  A  VW column clamp gets bolted to that ...sometimes you need to re-drill things to get it aligner correctly.  Depending how the horn is going to be wired you may have to isolate the column with rubber from touching ( grounding) against the steel sub frame.

Alan Merklin posted:

There should be an inverted 3/16" steel T' that gets a horizontal bolt through it secured to the 2 x 2.  A  VW column clamp gets bolted to that ...sometimes you need to re-drill things to get it aligner correctly.  Depending how the horn is going to be wired you may have to isolate the column with rubber from touching ( grounding) against the steel sub frame.

Alan can say "Been there, done that" to anything and everything do do with most any Speedster.  He has been a lifesaver for me on many occasions.  I can also name a few other owners here on the SOC who are great resources too---what a generous bunch of great folks!

Thanks Alan, if its not too much trouble could you post a picture of yours, or maybe someone who has a shot of their setup. 

Thanks 

@keefer    My current project is still bare in side ….can anyone else  take pic of the column mount?

I used the steering column from my 1969 VW Donor, and it seemed to fit without too much messing about, but that also means that the key inserts into the column just to the driver's side of the dash, much like most "modern" cars, not into an ignition switch on the dash.  I happen to like it that way.

I went out there to my 30 degree garage and waking Pearl up was like waking up your wife (or wife equivalent) out of a quiet slumber - She was surly and ungrateful at being disturbed and unequivocally unhelpful, but I took a couple of iPhone shots to back up the CMC build directions.

First, see the attachment of the page from the CMC build book for the column mount.

There is a tab welded to the top of the CMC bulkhead crossmember just above the drivers knees.  There is a corresponding horse shoe-shaped piece that is bolted to that  tab and then the steering column (apparently ANY year of VW column) is bolted to that piece.  Beware that the tab is NOT welded to the crossmember in the exact, right spot for the column to line up correctly with the center gauge.  If you are obsessively OCD you could move the column mount around til it lines up correctly, or not.

If you have a later column and attach it this way, the horn will not work - or rather, it will not stop beeping.  You'll have to insulate the column from the crossmember with nylon bushings/washers because the column must float from ground and the steering shaft (inside of the column) is actually grounded.

I had some detailed measurements a long time ago for cutting the column hole in the fiberglass just in front of and above the driver's pedals, that I sent to Gerry over in Scotland.  You can read that thread here:

https://www.speedsterowners.co...586#2135445019085586

It'll give you a pointer and save a bunch of time.   It gives you precise measurements from the splash tray under the master cylinder and from the side of the body to locate the hole in the bulkhead for the column and keep everything straight.

Here is my photo of the column mount, but it just shows the actual VW column mount bolted to that horseshoe piece going up to the crossmember tab.  Passenger side:

Hope this helps.  If not, ask more questions!

On my CMC I use an early column with the switch in the dash.  It needed to be spaced down from what Gordon calls the horseshoe to fit below the dash.

I used something like this to attach the column:

I drilled and tapped the horseshoe thing for the bolts through this thing and put rubber around the column tube.

I like that a lot - very classy there, Michael!

Thank you for your replys, all very good ideas. 

Keefer. 

@Gordon Nichols, after I posted I realized the column mount above was for a bus diameter tube.  I use a '67 bus turn signal and busses have a smaller diameter tube.  Later I switched to a Beetle tube and used this:

Later I switched to this to hold my air/fuel and cylinder head temperature gauges:

Such a clean install.

Nice installation you installed there.

tremendo como queda ese 4to pedal!!

Michael McKelvey posted:

On my CMC I use an early column with the switch in the dash.  It needed to be spaced down from what Gordon calls the horseshoe to fit below the dash.

I used something like this to attach the column:

 

I drilled and tapped the horseshoe thing for the bolts through this thing and put rubber around the column tube.

Did you fabricate the whole thing?  If not, do you know where I can get one?  And/or the one with the gauges?

@Todd M,  I still have the two pieces, one for a bus diameter tube and one for a beetle diameter tube.  I assume you want the larger one for a beetle diameter tube.

PM me your address and I will send it to you.

I got the one for the gauges from airkewld.  It looks like they no longer sell it, at least when I checked some time ago.  I used it because I didn't want to make changes to the dash with non-matching gauges.  But, it is hard to see the gauges there.  They are obscured by the steering wheel.

Misteplic posted:

tremendo como queda ese 4to pedal!!

El cuarto pedal es para descansar tu pie. Muchos de los chicos los pusieron porque es más cómodo.

Michael McKelvey posted:

@Todd M,  I still have the two pieces, one for a bus diameter tube and one for a beetle diameter tube.  I assume you want the larger one for a beetle diameter tube.

PM me your address and I will send it to you.

I will measure the tube when I get home from work, because I have no idea what year it came from, or what type it came from.  Thanks for the offer.  Will talk soon.