68-70 B body clutch/brake, steering column support rod

[89yjred]

Does anybody know if this support rod is on the 68-70 B body for any specific reason? 4 speed, automatic, etc? It seems to be a pretty rare support rod. Out of all the pictures/articles on support rods I have only seen this rod a couple of times and never found a real reason for it. Thanks

Update - I sent an email to Dave Rea who owns DB Restorations and used to work for Graveyard Carz until he opened his own place, and asked him about this support rod. He said this rod was only put on non rallye dash cars, RR, GTX, etc, not Chargers or some Coronets. Yes, it was for safety, but he's assuming they found out it was to hard to install the rallye dash so it doesn't come on rallye dash cars.

 

[Dutchrebuild]

I had that one in a 70 column automatic car ..kinda a pain as it mounts with the dash frame

 

[MarkLevi]

My opinion from an engineering standpoint: Triangulation
The steering column is a relatively long class-3 lever in this application. If a driver weighs 250lb and "hangs" on the steering wheel, that translates into ~500-750lbs of vertical down-force at that spot on the cowl. Adding the brace (a compression gusset, if you will) distributes that force diagonally -mostly outward/somewhat downward- to the side body. Whether it's "necessary" can be debated, but manufacturers typically don't add-in 'stuff' without a reason. Just my 2¢

 

[davek]

Its on my auto 70 charger

 

[Runner 68]

On my 68 RR as well. Not too bad to install. It just adds that much more rigidity. It's there for a reason.

 

[89yjred]

Its on my auto 70 charger

I put the dash in my 1968 Charger today and there was no way I could get the dash in with this rod attached. The rod was in the way of the tick tock tach. Is there some way you know of to get the dash in with this rod?

 

[davek]

Took my dash out and it was there,so are you sure you bolted it in the right position ?

 

[davek]

And yes I have rallye dash with tic tok tach

 

[89yjred]

Took my dash out and it was there,so are you sure you bolted it in the right position ?

Yes, I had bolted in the right position. I put the dash on the side bolts and rolled it up, but the tach was going to hit the rod. I took the rod of and installed the dash. I had a buddy over helping me so I just installed the dash without the rod because I didn't know when I would get him back over to help. I wonder if I can remove the cluster and install it and tighten the bolt from there?

 

[davek]

was looking at this thread and I see they did not put theirs on Dash frame installation

 

[davek]

and this is a pic of my charger

 

[89yjred]

That's why I started this thread, I have seen tons of pictures with out the rod and only a few with it. I don't think it will really make a difference if I don't install it, but I'm weird when it comes to stuff like that. If it's supposed to be there and I don't put it back it will bother me. Lol
I really don't want to roll the dash back down, but I might be able to remove the cluster slide the rod up and tighten the bolt on the steering bracket through there.

 

[89yjred]

and this is a pic of my charger

View attachment 1803538

I found this video you posted a while back that shows a dash without the rod. 69 Charger dash removal: I'll probably just leave it off.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Runner 68]

Strange that you're having that much trouble with it. Has the car been hit in the past perhaps? They have always fell into place for me.
I suppose you could leave it out but my guess would be some irritating rattles would develop over time. Again, it's there for a reason.

 

[davek]

That's why I started this thread, I have seen tons of pictures with out the rod and only a few with it. I don't think it will really make a difference if I don't install it, but I'm weird when it comes to stuff like that. If it's supposed to be there and I don't put it back it will bother me. Lol
I really don't want to roll the dash back down, but I might be able to remove the cluster slide the rod up and tighten the bolt on the steering bracket through there.

It would always be in the back of my mind if I didnt install it.

 

[Cop car wagon]

If anyone needs this one or one of the others, pm me.

 

[Bird 426]

I took all of those out, bead blasted, paint and reinstalled without removing the dash.

 

[6pktgo]

I have one in my 70 Charger & picked a few in junkyards over the years.

 

[89yjred]

I took all of those out, bead blasted, paint and reinstalled without removing the dash.

What car did you take them out of?

 

[89yjred]

I sent an email to Dave Rea who owns DB Restorations and used to work for Graveyard Carz until he opened his own place, and asked him about this support rod. He said this rod was only put on non rallye dash cars, RR, GTX, etc, not Chargers or some Coronets. Yes, it was for safety, but he's assuming they found out it was to hard to install the rallye dash so it doesn't come on rallye dash cars.