steering column spacer tubes

[jeremy]

Back building after long absence.Making dash,and pondering what depth of spacer tubes buiders have uses to drop down the steering wheel and allow maximum dash space above it.What depth have builders cut out of marlin dash to accomodate this?P.S. any templates for dash around-i have 2 large and 5 small smiths tailor made clocks.

[peterux]

Originally Posted by jeremy

Back building after long absence.Making dash,and pondering what depth of spacer tubes buiders have uses to drop down the steering wheel and allow maximum dash space above it.What depth have builders cut out of marlin dash to accomodate this?P.S. any templates for dash around-i have 2 large and 5 small smiths tailor made clocks.

Hi Jeremy,
my tubes are about 75mm long and the steering column is mounted upside down (if you get me?)

I made up a hardboard template and kept adjusting it until I was happy with the shape and fit. Then I made stick on dials by print pictures and stuck them on with blue tack until I could see everything from the driving position. I transfered the postions to the carbon fibre/ali panel by drilling small pilot holes through both.







You might spot that the final design was diffrent to these pictures



I hope that helps/

peter

[jeremy]

Thanks Peter for the reply and pics-you have done a great job with yours!Yes ,I have mounted the column upside down-but current spacers only 50mm-did you use ali tubing and cut it, or something stronger? -also wondering if suspending the column this length requires any bracing bracket.Did I read somewher that builders nibbled bits out of the lip on the scuttle to allow more dash space for warning switches and clocks?

[MartinClan]

I did a drawing in paintshop. 1 pixel = 1mm. You can download it from my website. http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/martinclan/pictures3.htm

[Patrick]

I didn't use spacers, I used an adapter plate like so:







The bit the steering bolts on to was a chunk off centre so this was the best way to get it right (while sad in the car with seat in place)

Dash looks like this:

http://www.msportster.co.uk/detail.asp?cat=13&offset=24

[peterux]

Originally Posted by jeremy

Thanks Peter for the reply and pics-you have done a great job with yours!Yes ,I have mounted the column upside down-but current spacers only 50mm-did you use ali tubing and cut it, or something stronger? -also wondering if suspending the column this length requires any bracing bracket.Did I read somewher that builders nibbled bits out of the lip on the scuttle to allow more dash space for warning switches and clocks?

Thanks, Jeremy.

Mine seems strong enough and the SVA tester gave it a good 'yank' and he was satisfied. I used steel tubing(10mm, I think) which you can get in any large B&Q diy store. No extra brackets but I did use washers either side of the BMW column bracket which is a bit thin. I didn't need to 'notch' my scuttle but I reckon you can take fairly big chunks out of it if you need to get the clocks in. The scuttle is pretty strong.
You'll see Patrick and Robin have taken other approaches so best to make it fit to suit your own preferences.

good luck,

peter

[jeremy]

Thanks for the sound advice.