EB Fairmont Steering Column Conversion

[Rogue Trooper]

Here's another thread of mine detailing my steering column conversion. There's more to come so I thought I'd transfer this from the old site so I could add to it as it progresses.

[Rogue Trooper]

I don't know how many of you have noticed but the bottom of the CF steering column isn't mounted square to the floor. It is offset on an angle of about 10mm so the top of the steering column angles towards the drivers door.

I am mounting an EB steering column in the place of the original and am going to cut the CF mounting point out and weld the Falcon one into place. How much of a difference do you think this offset makes?

It's going to be a lot easier to weld the Falcon unit square to the floor rather than trying to replicate the offset but I also don't want to place any significant stress on the universal joint or the rubber flexi-joint. Would that 10mm offset really make that much of a difference? They must have done it for a reason.

Anyone come across this one?

Thanks.

[Rogue Trooper]

[user]Jeff[/user]
 

Hi, If you look at the angle the pinion shaft comes up at, I think you would have to follow that angle to get the steering wheel where you want it. That is unless you have an extra universal joint or two in the steering column.
My gut feeling is that to straighten up that angle would flex the rubber universal joint too much.

[Rogue Trooper]

Although it is only about 10-15mm difference. Something else to think about is that most modern cars have an adjustable column that you can raise and lower. This would be going through roughly the same arc and from what I've seen they only have one universal as well.

[Rogue Trooper]

Right well I know why the steering column comes out of the floor p**sed now. Looking at it from above (which is really easy with my windscreen out) it's quite obvious.

The offset on the floor is so the the steering wheel will end up centred with the drivers seat. The universal and shaft that joins with the steering rack have to be furthur over towards the passenger side to allow them to clear the chassis rail and cross member mountings underneath the floor pan. If the column came out square then the passenger would be able to help steer as it sits quite a way over to the left. Ok I exaggerate but you can see my point.

Anyway, I solved my problem by welding a new foot to the bottom of the steering column. The falcon one bolts up quite nicely now. Next task is to create a support structure to fasten it to the firewall. Just waiting on the new brake booster and master cylinder assembly.

[Rogue Trooper]

[user]Nigzy[/user]
 

Hey Rogue..thanks for the heads-up..Im planning on putting the XF falcon column in mine aswell as the dash,so I hope its gonna line up ok..My column is an adjustable one so hopefully I'll have a bit to play with...Did you have much trouble with joining the falcon shaft to the bedford steering box? How did you go about this,and do you have any pics??
Cheers..Nigz

[Rogue Trooper]

Unfortunately the adjustment in your steering column won't help with the fitting. You're going to be more concerned with moving the column left and right. You should be ok as many years ago when I was involved with a club one of our members fitted a dash similar to yours to his van. Looked really good and I'm pretty sure he didn't muck around with the steering column as I gave him a hand to sort out his indicator wiring at the time.

If you can mount the column in the same position then you should be fine and you'll only have to worry about the mounting points. I do know that he made an entire subframe out of boxsection to mount the dash.

I haven't joined the column to the steering rack yet as I have to build the support frame to mount the column and before I can do that I have to install a new brake booster assembly so I know where I can build the framing.

One thing I have noted is that the EB Fairmont shaft is thicker than the CF one so it looks like I'm going to have to have a new steering rack shaft made to connect up to the flexi-joint.

[Rogue Trooper]

Well here's a progress report of the EB Fairmont steering column fitting so far.

Here's a pic of the steering rack shaft that bolts to the flexi joint. What was done was to cut off the universal joint. Then the shaft was thickened up by welding up and down the shaft at the top and then the splines were cut into the weld.



Next, the foot on the steering column posed a problem as you can't seperate it from the column. What was done was to trim the foot right back. A disc of steel was made that matched the diameter of the original CF column foot with mounting holes and this was welded very carefully onto the remnant of the EB foot. Care has to be taken as there is a rubber bush in the foot and you don't want to destroy that otherwise you'll be out looking for a new column as this is not able to be replaced.



Now I altered the original CF mounting point on the pedal box by cutting off the original clamp and then welding the EB mounting plate into position.









You'll have to excuse the welding as I'm still learning.

This all fits up really well but I'm playing around with the pedal box at the moment for the new brake pedal so it's all in bits. I'll post a couple of pics again when I get it all together.

[Rogue Trooper]

[user]Chris Ryan[/user]
 

G'day

VERY Impressive!!!

[Rogue Trooper]

Thanks!

Here's another couple showing the 2 bits together..