Right, I am in the process of mocking up my Volvo 360 Turbo, and I want to relocate the steering column a tad. Moving it over and down so it is inline with the seat shouldn't cause issue - just needs new/modified bracketry.
The other two things I wish to do may though, I want rid of the 'twist' that it has. The only way I can describe this is when you are holding the wheel with both hands at say 2:45, then one is slightly further away than the other. Like most cars as standard.
I was thinking (hoping) that adding an inline universal joint not too far behind the boss/wheel would allow me to straighten the relocated column.
Correct?
The last thing I want to do isn't as essential as the other two, but would make the car so much better to race and drift imo. I would like the steering wheel to sit a lot closer to 'horizontal', like a typical sports or race car such as below:
So my (limited) thoughts on the subject lead me to wonder if the same UJ for removing the twist from the column could be used to level it out too?
This would then have the column sitting in the correct plane, but too low.
I was thinking this could be solved by adding in part of another section of column to lengthen the whole lot and bring it back up to a useable height.
I see no need to mess about with where the column bolts to the rack, and space down there is tight anyway as it passes through the pedals. Add to this that I have a custom quick rack setup coming, I really want all of that part to be 'plug and play'.
Obviously it goes without saying that any and all work will be expertly welded, I do not take modifications of this nature lightly.
Some factory cars are similar to this are they not? A mate tells me the E39's have a similar arrangement, albeit in the engine bay.
What do we think then, have I missed something obvious? Is there another way? Also, where's a good place to buy UJ's from?
Here's some pics of how it looks (with the column moved centrally and lowered), and the race car above is where I want to be.
The other two things I wish to do may though, I want rid of the 'twist' that it has. The only way I can describe this is when you are holding the wheel with both hands at say 2:45, then one is slightly further away than the other. Like most cars as standard.
I was thinking (hoping) that adding an inline universal joint not too far behind the boss/wheel would allow me to straighten the relocated column.
Correct?
The last thing I want to do isn't as essential as the other two, but would make the car so much better to race and drift imo. I would like the steering wheel to sit a lot closer to 'horizontal', like a typical sports or race car such as below:
So my (limited) thoughts on the subject lead me to wonder if the same UJ for removing the twist from the column could be used to level it out too?
This would then have the column sitting in the correct plane, but too low.
I was thinking this could be solved by adding in part of another section of column to lengthen the whole lot and bring it back up to a useable height.
I see no need to mess about with where the column bolts to the rack, and space down there is tight anyway as it passes through the pedals. Add to this that I have a custom quick rack setup coming, I really want all of that part to be 'plug and play'.
Obviously it goes without saying that any and all work will be expertly welded, I do not take modifications of this nature lightly.
Some factory cars are similar to this are they not? A mate tells me the E39's have a similar arrangement, albeit in the engine bay.
What do we think then, have I missed something obvious? Is there another way? Also, where's a good place to buy UJ's from?
Here's some pics of how it looks (with the column moved centrally and lowered), and the race car above is where I want to be.
