Swapping a tilt steering column into a 1970 Charger

[Kern Dog]

With every project that involves making a part designed for ONE car fit a DIFFERENT car, there will be obstacles to making it work. I expect those but sometimes there are things that pop up that you didn’t think of.
The wiring looked to be the hard part but thanks to some helpful members, that may have been the easy part.
I figured that making the column fit would just be a matter of sone cutting and welding. It still may be but here are a couple snags that I just found:
First, this column is longer than the stock one. I expected that to a smaller degree.
Measuring from the under dash mounts to the mounting face of the adapter….

That is about 15 5/8” to 3/4”. The one in the car…

Forgive the angle. I measured 14 1/4”. That puts the steering wheel about 1 1/4” closer to my chest. I don’t think I’d like that. Where it is now is actually comfortable. If I can ever get my wife to learn to drive the manual transmission, her short legs would put her closer to the dash and her chest right up near the wheel.
No, she isn’t a midget. She is 5’ 1/2”.
Now yeah… this is my car so I should make it fit me and maybe that 1 1/4” wouldn’t bother me. What if I could weld tabs right here?

This would allow me to move the whole column toward the firewall.
Uhhhh, not so fast. Looking at how it is right here:

…. There is about 6 5/16” from the middle of the mount to the face of the lower collar on the column.
The stock column is at 6 1/8” so that is close enough to make it work if I installed the column as it is. To push the column toward the firewall any, I’d have to cut this:

Not a deal breaker but there are other things in there to consider.

 

[Dennis H]

Hands! I have girl hands and haven’t done any real work since unloading trucks at Roadway, Tannersville in 1974.

 

[Kern Dog]

If I cut too much, I expose some of the ugly inside that is usually hidden. The ignition pushrod is one thing.



That is on the left side. If I cut too much of the collar off, it will be visible through the drivers door.
I still shake my head at the way the ignition switch is in the GM columns…

The Mopar lower column collar has a nice taper to it as seen here.

That is the column in Jigsaw, my ratty Charger. It is FK5 and easier to see than the black column in the red car. You can see how the tapered collar is a nice fit around the dash plastic panels. The Cordoba column collar is not tapered much.

Stock column…is barely over 3 9/16”. The wider collar won’t slip into the dash as nicely. I’d have to cut it back which will leave a gap.
That is unless I got creative with how it is cut. What if I cut the collar back about an inch at and above the dash pads but left the bottom untouched?

The shaded area would be cut away, the collar could then lay over the ridge on the lower dash pads above here.

 

[Kern Dog]

Hands! I have girl hands and haven’t done any real work since unloading trucks at Roadway, Tannersville in 1974.

Ha, yeah… when I was still working, you knew I wasn’t an office guy when you shook hands with me. The last 5 years though mine have been developing cracks and splits in the colder weather. I have tried a variety of lotions and balms but nothing works 100% other than sitting on the couch.
Screw that!

 

[eldubb440]

 

[CoronetDarter]

Ha, Good eye.
When I had the automatic, I put the trim on both the gas pedal and brake.
When I swapped to the 5 speed, I didn’t bother to get the trim for the brake and clutch pedals. The brake pedal pad is a pisser. I’ve tried two on two different pedals and I can’t get them to stay on.
You’d think that would indicate that I am hard on my brakes but I’m not so sure.
I have thought of putting a pan head bolt through the pedal, the clutch too for continuity.

I was having the same issue with the pad falling off. I think it's the cheap knockoffs supplied with the Tremec kit.
I finally got a set of pads and trim from PG and they've stayed on.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I was having the same issue with the pad falling off. I think it's the cheap knockoffs supplied with the Tremec kit.
I finally got a set of pads and trim from PG and they've stayed on.

I think the stainless trim actually helps clamp the rubber pads around the pedals

 

[Kern Dog]

I think I like the pedals better with no trim on them. Today I took the trim off of the parking brake pad and gas pedal and I like it that way.

I was having the same issue with the pad falling off. I think it's the cheap knockoffs supplied with the Tremec kit.
I finally got a set of pads and trim from PG and they've stayed on.

PG Classics?

Thanks for the tip. I just ordered a pair. They should be here well before Spring Fling in Van Nuys!

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

I was having the same issue with the pad falling off. I think it's the cheap knockoffs supplied with the Tremec kit.
I finally got a set of pads and trim from PG and they've stayed on.

Which supplier is PG? I have a repop brake pad from Classic Industries, but no trim, and the pad keeps peeling away on one corner. I replaced the trim on the gas pedal after installing the repop on that one and the trim kept catching on my shoe so I removed it. I probably should remove the pedals to more securely install the trim instead of trying to install it while in the car.

 

[CoronetDarter]

Which supplier is PG? I have a repop brake pad from Classic Industries, but no trim, and the pad keeps peeling away on one corner. I replaced the trim on the gas pedal after installing the repop on that one and the trim kept catching on my shoe so I removed it. I probably should remove the pedals to more securely install the trim instead of trying to install it while in the car.

PG Classics in Canada. Really good people to work with. Unknowingly, I ordered my parts during the first round of tariff wars between the US and Canada. About a week after my parts arrived, I got a $100 bill from UPS for duty fees, taxes, etc. I called PG and was obviously miffed. The rep said it happened so fast that they didn't know about the fees either until it was too late. Apparently, the trade agreement between US-Canada allows items under a certain $$ amount to cross duty-free (I think its around $500), but the tariff wars suspended the agreement. PG refunded me the $100, which was more than the retail price of the items I had purchased. Since then the duty fees have been suspended again, but call them before placing an order to be sure.
PG Classic - Dodge and Plymouth Restoration Parts

Since installing the new pads and trim, I haven't driven the Coronet very much. But when lining up the PG pads next to the SST pads, you could see the slight differences in the molding; the PG pads were of better quality. Plus, the trim has tabs that fold under the pad and pedal to hold it in place.

 

[CoronetDarter]

I think I like the pedals better with no trim on them. Today I took the trim off of the parking brake pad and gas pedal and I like it that way.



PG Classics?

View attachment 1830877

Thanks for the tip. I just ordered a pair. They should be here well before Spring Fling in Van Nuys!

That's them.

 

[CoronetDarter]

I think the stainless trim actually helps clamp the rubber pads around the pedals

Yes, it does.