Customs Tilt Column for a chopped 1951 Chevy

I have a 51 Chevy. That is chopped and a work in progress. I have two questions.
#1. any ideas on a tilt column?
#2. What would you recommend for a front seat. The factory seat is too tall. Puts my head in the roof!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Don't even consider a tilt column. They're not even close to correct looking in virtually anything that could be considered on-topic for this board. They honestly look awful, unless you get some early T-Bird column and are building your car in the early 60s style. Otherwise, change the wheel, or figure something else out. Barris chopped car without using tilt columns, so can you.

Use the seat you have. strip it of al upholstery, and cut down the frame. Then reupholster.

 

Tilt columns aren't too popular with this brigade and anything old enough to look close to right like a mid 60's Pontiac column would be hard to find. Maybe a Chev van tilt out of a van that still has the key in the dash. Those are a lot cleaner than the other stuff.

Another thought on the subject. A lot of these o/t front wheel drive cars have a column that pivots under the dash rather than tilts. If you could use the steering shaft out of one of those and the pivot mechanism and incorporate the original column from just under the dash out it would look proper but have the ability to move down a bit when you were driving.

On the seat an early Toronado or Eldorado seat sits pretty low and doesn't look out of place if you upholster it right. I had a 66/67 Toronado seat in the 48 after I first chopped it an that was the most comfortable seat I have had in it since I chopped it.

You might look into cutting the base on the stock seat down to lower it though.

 

drop the column rather than tilt, should be way easier.

do the seats need to be recovered? they can be dropped at the same time.

 

I had thought about cutting the column tube, using a joint and fabbing a firewall mount so I could drop the column instead of a tilt. I want it to look it was done in the 50's. It's all about the cool factor.......
thanks for the replies.

 

Here is the 51 with the chop.

 

Cool factor?

It's about comfort cause I drive the **** out of it....That's what's cool for me.

Tilt, auto, power steering, and A/C in my chopped 46 still using the stock seats.

Faster, handle better and safer....that is what traditional is.

Damn nice looking chopped custom you have there....

 

thanks jaws, I drive the **** out of mine as well.....I don't build them to haul on a trailer... My 49 still has the 216 and the 3 on the tree..at 55, she is screaming for another gear...lol. I considered cutting the factory seat, on the 51. It has to be recovered anyway. Just looking for ideas....took me a year to decide on the dash color...lol and it was hands down to be gloss black on the body.....now I am having trouble deciding on interior color....maybe white! not sure.

 

I can see the need for a tilt, those columns in the old Chevys are really high. For the look you want though, I would cut the shaft and u-joint it. But, go the extra effort and have both the shaft & gear box machined for a double d joint rather than welding or pinning it will be much safer.

 

any of you guys know how to override the gm column locking mech once you remove it from a 2000 astro van. Before you had to step on the brake pedal to unlock.

 

Dont listen to Jaws. A/C, I cant knock, provided they are at least halfway hidden, But generic GM style tilt columns dont fit. You gotta sacrifice somethings in the persuit of cool. I vote for dropping the stock one to where it works for you.

 

Well I'm a believer in comfort so a tilt column is going into my Lincoln.
You know what?
I am building this car for me. Not anyone else.

 

How traditional is it when you have to leave it sitting in the shop ... because you cannot drive it ??



I put a tilt in both my 32 Fords ... cause I am 6 foot 2 inches tall and overweight.

The Chevrolet/GMC van tilt shown above is 40 years old. They used that same style until about 1978/1979.

Here is a mid 60's GM column with the tilt ...


If need NEED a tilt ... by all means do what YOU need to do to drive YOUR car.

 

I agree with eveyrbody !!!!! LOL Tom (Tired Old Man)

 

I dont know... I think if it makes the car more compfortable put the tilt column in it. My 52 is chopped 5 inches and channeled 2 inches, you better believe that I put a tilt column in it. As far as the front seat goes, I was able to cut up the stock seat for enough headroom and clear the trans tunnel. I think this car is a good example, its chopped and channeled and has a late model column in it. The car is incredible, dont think the column takes anything away from it..

 

I got a 72 Chevy van column in my 51 and I love it!!!!! I don't even use the tilt but when my wife drives she puts the wheel all they way down. Im 6'2" with monkey arms.

 

I've got a tilt column out of a 62 olds. Throw a deep dish 59 wheel on it and call it good. Be careful though, the olds column are really short.

 

Yikes! How tall are you? I'm guessing about 6'5"

Seriously though- I'd avoid a tilt column if possible. It will draw away from the early 60's vibe you're seeking.

Stop and think about the tilt column in your OT vehicle- how often do you adjust it? Most people find the one position that is most comfortable and leave it there forever. If you can find that position with your stock (or any straight) column, and mount it that way as you build, you can have your comfort AND the traditional look.

 

Bingo, I've had plenty of vehicles with tilt columns, never adjusted them but the first time to find the spot,

 

'zactly

 

There is nothing wrong with a tilt column!
I have a '65 or so Riveria tilt column that I plan to use in my '51 coupe and by the time I'm done with it, it will NOT look out of place. (By the way, hit eBay and you can find plenty of early 1960s tilt columns.)
I bought one that needed rebuilt because it was cheap and I plan to modify like heck but in my opinion the original '51 Chevy column is pretty ugly - skinny *** tube and then that big ole plate at the end.
"Looks right" and "looks good" are not always the same thing.
Just stay pre-1968 and look before you buy.

 

i have a early caddy from the 60,s no key that i want to put in my chevy

 

if your going to use a tilt column why not look for a tilt & tele column out of a mid 60's car. I'm using a tilt & tele in my 40 truck from a Chrysler/Imperial with no key
great thing to have in that small cab on long trips.

 

thx for all the inputs..

 

Just laid the paint on the 51... What you think?

 

thanks for all the input...I'll let you know what goes in the sled.

 

I would have to respectfully disagree. The column looks way wrong in this car, key switch painted black is more of a 90's thing, and the colorful arangement of electrical wires running down under the column looks like **** as well. (see picture of interior)

 

A 60s tilt will look fine in there and should be easy to adapt. I score one cheap every once in a while, I've had them out at shows and can't sell them there so I put them on eBay and usually get more than I would have at a swap. Ultimately, I don't know what difference it makes, you can't see the damn thing from outside when someone's driving the car.

Most GM 68 and back don't have the key switch on them.

 

I'm add so I adjust my tilt all the time........ and the one it the coupe.

 

Plenty of motor homes with gm tilt wheels without key on them.They don't tilt as high as a standard tilt.Jimmie King