[PATTY/JOE]

what kind of steering column are you using?

[35terraplane]

Originally Posted by PATTY/JOE

what kind of steering column are you using?

I didn't notice if you are new here, if so welcome to the site.

Asking someone what steering column they are using, is like asking what tires they are using. Everyone has some thing different, like I have a Flaming River column in my 46 Ford, a 87 T-bird column in my 33 Ford, and a Gm column in my 35 Terraplane.

Not to be a sm,art a-- but that is all you asked, I could assume you want to know what people were running in a Cobra, As that is what you have. I don't assume.

We need to know what length you need, are you running a steering box, or rack and pinion, do you want the shifter on the column, or will it be on the floor, do you want the key on the column or will it be somewhere else, do you want a tilt column or no tilt.

I think you get the idea, you could have gotten a thousand answers, with not one being able to help you.
When you ask a question, put all the details you can think of into the question.

Bob

[PATTY/JOE]

Yes, you are right I have not used this before. I figured when or if someone replies I would answer questions they would ask rather then guessing what what info they wanted.
The car uses the fox body type suppension (1988 +-) and is using a rack. As for a shaft/ujoint we can make as needed. We were wondering what column or type as to have a starting point. I seen some used Vega's but not too interested in using that.

[35terraplane]

Originally Posted by PATTY/JOE

Yes, you are right I have not used this before. I figured when or if someone replies I would answer questions they would ask rather then guessing what what info they wanted.
The car uses the fox body type suppension (1988 +-) and is using a rack. As for a shaft/ujoint we can make as needed. We were wondering what column or type as to have a starting point. I seen some used Vega's but not too interested in using that.

You can buy the U-Joint at either end if you want to use double D shaft you can buy it in the length you will need or a little longer, and cut to fit. You don't want to use anymore than you have to and you don't want to use a bunch of u-joints, as you will have to run supports for them. If you use only two joints they must be 90* from one another, In other words they can not bend the same way.

You also must have clearance for the shaft you would like to have it as straight as you can. So you have to measure how far your column can go into the engine bay, and clear exhaust, engine ETC.

To give you any idea what to use we have to know how long the column can be, so we know a range of cars to work on, we also need to know about the shifter, would you want a Ford column over a GM, You have to help us out here. We could guess all day and not get it right. Most of the guys don't have cobra's, so we don't know what range to start in.
Once we know we can get just about any thing done, And if we were building it ourselves, many of us would go to the u-pick and find it.

Bob

[PATTY/JOE]

Would like to use Ford stuff. 5 speed manual Trans. From the wheel to firewall is 27 inches. Would be nice to have 6 to 7 inches after fire wall and that would give us a nice shot to the steering gear./

[35terraplane]

Originally Posted by PATTY/JOE

Would like to use Ford stuff. 5 speed manual Trans. From the wheel to firewall is 27 inches. Would be nice to have 6 to 7 inches after fire wall and that would give us a nice shot to the steering gear./

Do you want a tilt column? If yes then you will have to take that into account when you measure. But how much is it from where you want the column to be when you are in it, to the firewall, then can you go 6" to 7" past firewall without hitting anything, if you can go that amount, can you run the DD rod from column to rack without hitting anything.

Using a Ford you have Pinto, Mustang, T-Bird, MXK, to give you an idea I only have a 22" column in my 46 Ford, like I said before I have a 87 T-Bird in my 33 Ford, which I think is longer than 22". My 46 had a Gm column in it that was 38", it stuck so far out from the dash that I could hardly get in the car.

Bob

[PATTY/JOE]

There is lots of room once the column goes out of the firewall. Up and down there is about 4 inches on either side when it is where it needs to be.
Now to the fire wall, from where the wheel needs to be, at the wheel to firewall it is a good 27 inches so that part is important. As far tilt, either way is ok

[timothale]

Check out the CLUB COBRA web site and their forums. Originals and kit or replica's there. Another consideration is how much foot room you will have if the kit is close to an original. On the originals your feet were a little bit sideways., not much room. Factory Five Kits using the Fox Mustang parts also have a website, Later FFR kits have more foot box room. Some kits furnished a welded steering shaft extension DON'T USE IT> As 35 ter- says buy a new DD shaft and if you don't need a U joint at the connection you can buy the no U joint connector. I have a couple Tilt and Telescoping Caddy columns in my parts stash.

[PATTY/JOE]

Ok, thanks will take all of the info into account. May get back with you on some of your parts stash

[timothale]

Stash is for the some day projects . every once in a while when we need more room junior says are we ever going to use this and then puts it on craigs list. A friend owns a wrecking yard and when He is crushing cars we help him and trade for parts and any parts on the cars with the big red X are free to us. so we grab things we might use someday.

[35terraplane]

Timothale, had a good suggestion there with the other sites. One thing I like to put my wheel as close to the dash as I can and still tilt it, and have clearance. the length will depend on the angle, the biggest thing is, nothing is in the way, and get it as straight as you can.

Bob