I'm wondering if any one can give me a left to right measurement for mounting my steering column in my 31 roadster ?
It really depends on the wheel diameter and where you are comfortable with it, along with steering box shaft alignment/clearance, imo.
What kind of steering column are you using? Lots of vairables-engine fit, hood or no hood. seats you're using (if buckets you'll want it centered for the driver,etc.
Seat position. How tall, and how heavy you are. Is the car channeled? Chopped? Diameter of the steering wheel you want to use. Pedals, hanging or through the floor? Without knowing all that stuff, any measurements we could give won't mean anything. You need room for your knees under the wheel, room for your hand between the wheel and the door.
I'm using a 15 " diameter wheel and a bench seat. I'm mostly wondering about how far from the drivers door the center of the colum should be. I know it's all about ergonomics, but just a starting measurement would be great
In my 31 I have about 14 1/4" to the center of the horn button from the door. I have a 13 1/2" steering wheel and have about 7 inches between the wheel and the door panel. Can send you pic if you want to see it.
What engine size ? Does it have a/c ? Auto or manual transmission? You guys sound like the guys at parts store. It's a basic question. Needs a simple answer. Mine is about 9 inches to center.
Get yourself a broomstick and a round piece of wood the diameter of the steering wheel and sit in the car. What feels comfortable, is your dimensions.
With the bench seat in the car simply take your steering wheel with you and sit in the bench seat. Hold the wheel where it feels comfortable, making sure your knuckles wont hit the door. Then measure from wheel center to door and that's your measurement.
That's tight fit! With a 14" diameter wheel, that means you only have 2" for your hand not to hit the door? Plus if you have a 36" waist, the radius of that is just under 6" which doesn't give you much room for love handles! What do you do with all the space to the right?
I use the "hold the steering wheel in one hand while you are sitting in the seat, with the door closed, then measure" process. Seating position, pedal location, and steering column location are all about what is comfortable. I build drivers, and put some miles on them. The time invested in the locations of the things above are among the most important things you can spend time on when building a car. Those things go a long way towards the driving enjoyment of the ride.