1st gen steering column swap?

deathbypsi · Mar 11, 2015

Im a big guy and its a tight fit in my 88 reg. cab with my bucket seats. I have always hated how far out the steering wheel is from the dash. I feel like I can steer with my gut better than my hands.

Im wondering if anyone has swapped in a different generation column that fit better or one from a different car altogether .

Im considering pulling my column out and shortening it a couple inches just to make some room between me and the wheel if there isnt a known interchangeable swap.

85_Ranger4x4 · Mar 12, 2015

I noticed this problem also when I put Explorer bucket seats. Swapping to EB BII seats made it some better, going back to a bench since for the 11 years I had the truck with a bench I never once felt claustrophobic in it.

Not really an answer about the steering column but that is my take on fixing my truck with the same issue.

It sucks because I love having a center console. :bawling:

deathbypsi · Mar 12, 2015

I agree with you. My 83 Ranger truggy still has the stock bench and I fit just fine. But my 88 Ranger drag truck has 84 Mustang SVO Recaro buckets,home built center console and Cheetah floor shifter. Going back to a bench is not an option in that truck.

85_Ranger4x4 · Mar 13, 2015

Best of luck to you, its too bad they couldn't have given us just a few more inches of cab. :annoyed:

rangerin · Mar 14, 2015

Perhaps a tilt column swap could help some?

alwaysFlOoReD · Mar 14, 2015

Perhaps it's time for some Kirkey aluminum buckets.

adsm08 · Mar 15, 2015

A gen 1 tilt column probably won't help at all. Only the wheel moves.

deathbypsi · Mar 15, 2015

adsm08 said:
A gen 1 tilt column probably won't help at all. Only the wheel moves.

Bingo

alwaysFlOoReD · Mar 15, 2015

Are you driving on the street? If not, you could gain a few inches by using an aluminum seat [Personally I would use them on the street too];
https://www.kirkeyracing.com/product/10/16400/SEAT-ALUMINUM-15.5-ECONOMY-DRAG

I use a similar seat in my short course off road truck and with an inch of closed cell foam padding I'm good for several minutes without discomfort. After having rolled once, I want as little body movement as possible when in my race truck. I use Hooker Harnesses as they have a ratchet system available for the lap belt...that sucks me into the seat. It's surprising how much better it is when I don't have to brace myself when cornering and hitting jumps. I realize that you won't hit jumps or corners but it really is best to be strapped down tight in case of accidents. IMO the svo recaros are built for comfort, not racing.

deathbypsi · Mar 15, 2015

Yeah this is my street truck and I couldnt stand one of those aluminum seats for very long

Ranger302Boss · Apr 1, 2015

this is what i see on mine.

hi, when i get my 8.8 the seller give me some explo seats, the driver seat have electrical stuff, and the passenger not, it looks realy the same but somehow the non electrical its less tall and deeper, i think its because that havent rail. anyway to install this i have to cut the bases on each corner and weld custom new ones :icon_welder:

. now this is good for me but in the future ill get 2 non electrical passenger seats (and hope dark grey). why 2 passenger seats? just because passenger seat always its on better shape than driver seats. btw i cant go back to bench because y swap an 87 jeep xj emergency/hand brake between both seats. :icon_bounceblue:

i hope to help a little.
Rick.

Mark_88 · Apr 3, 2015

Just don't do what I did on my first Ranger...cut the back out of the cab...

It was great for what I wanted to do...move the back of the seat back a few inches...worked like a charm on that...

The problems started when it rained or got cold...but this really sparked my creative genius into full fledged money gobbling project that ended, finally, when the engine blew...

At that point I simply bought an extended cab and went to work on swapping everything over to a carb setup...and another five year project till I got it working right...

Had fun...learned a ton of stuff about Rangers...but cost...ah, well, you can't take it with you even if you wanted to!

deathbypsi · May 5, 2015

Well I finally got around to this problem and my idea worked perfectly.

I cut down my column 1.5" and it made a nice difference and the wheel is in a more comfortable position. Due to the angle of the column the farther you cut it the lower the bottom of the wheel will be but with only 1.5" cut off I feel no difference in the slight space I lost between my legs and bottom of the wheel.My arms and belly are much happier now.

Heres how I did it...

I unplugged and unbolted everything for the column and removed with the wheel still on it.

I marked a center line on the shaft tube to keep my alignment once its cut apart.

Then I used my saw to cut just the outer tube and pulled it off the shaft. There is a bolt at end of the shaft that needs to be removed to slide tube off.

I cut 1.5" off the tube then slid it back together and welded it back up.

This bracket needs to have the rivets drilled out so it can be slid up the tube. I had it bolted together in this pic but found once back in the truck they interfered with bolting it back up and had to be removed. Just leave this bracket as two parts and use the mounting bolts to hold everything together once its bolted back to the firewall.

Cut 1.5" off the end of the shaft and I welded a small ball on end to replicate the bolt that was in it.

At this length I couldnt have gone another 1/8",its perfect with my dash cluster.

My wiper lever just touches the gauge in the high position.

Mark_88 · May 5, 2015

Congrats...looks good...

I just finished something similar on a Gen I cab with a Gen III column...I like the old style dash but had to move on to a 96 dash due to other mods...

Really nice turbo project you have there...awesome nice... :icon_thumby:

1st gen steering column swap?

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