Fwd: Re: bucket seat/steering wheel clearance, springover report

[Curt Cleavinger <rcleavin@domain.elided>]

Forwarded to the list at Alan's request:
>From: "Alan St. John" <alan@domain.elided>
>Subject: Re: bucket seat/steering wheel clearance, springover report
>
>Curt,
>
>I have bucket seats in my Scout, too and I've noticed the same annoying
>proximity of the wheel to my legs while driving.  Coupled with the
>unrealistically long extent of the steering column inside the cab, it often
>feels like I'm sitting "over" the wheel while driving.  None too comforting
>to think of pulling my teeth out of the top of the steering wheel if I ever
>wreck!
>
>I'll prolly go to a smaller wheel at some point (i.e., install a Grant kit
>from Pep Boys or some such rot) to lessen the knee-bonk of the wheel.
>However, one other comfort/safety thought I had was shortening the steering
>column itself.  Very simple, in theory:
>
>1) disassemble unit completely
>2) cut 4" or so from outer tube and relocate the mount holes for the t/s 
>cluster
>3) shorten the engine side of the steering shaft accordingly
>4) reassemble the unit and replace worn junk in the process
>
>Have you ever considered how (relatively) easy this could be?  The only
>costs would be having a machine shop doctor the ends that are cut.  Any
>thoughts?
>
>Alan
>
>P.S.  What year/model Scout do you have?  I have two '67/'68 800s with
>one-piece columns, but this could work just as easily on a 2-piece column I
>think.  I'd post this to the Digest for discussion, but I'm behind a
>firewall here so my mail can't be authenticated by MajorDomo :-(
>
>

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Curt Cleavinger
x53723
R-332J
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