New steering column.. Ididit or Flaming River?

I was actually going to begin looking for a steering column soon too so I found this helpfull. Not only about the first mentioned, but now I will consider the Chrysler one too if I can find one at a reasonable price.
When I first read the brand of my freinds steering column I said how do you like your "idiot" column? He had a good laugh and said it's "I did it"

 

After dicking around with my 54 year old column to get the slop out of the steering shaft,
the shift linkage and the shift detents, I can't fault a guy for wanting a brand new column.

 

i am not embarrassed at all in saying that I have an Ididit column in my car..why would i go find a old junk column and redo it,,,this column made the most since to me.

 

Yup.^^^

 

I know the OP was asking about tilt columns.

My 26 RPU is not going to be 100% traditional, and I am using an Ididit column.

This one may make the traditionalists a little happier though.

http://www.ididitinc.com/universal_steering_columns/old_school_straight_column

 

Oh I see the trad. patrol is out again.

It must be wonderful to be so righteous.

 

For the record, Helix is a Hoffman Group brand, and is all junk, just like everything else they sell.

 

Funny,,I thought the Hamb was a TRADITIONAL site! HRP

 

Tilt wheel not traditional?! The "Fatman" tilt up steering wheel was offered by Ford in 1909, in '55 you could get a telescoping wheel on the Thunderbird, in 61 Ford came out with the swing away column, and in '63 GM came out with a tilt column.

I think generally speaking the Flaming River is a better looking column than Ididit, but I have had more than one break internally in the tilt mechanism. Their chrome column is part chromed steel and the shifter housing is polished stainless and they are two completely different colors.

 

If anyone has wisdom on finding parts for a "late model" saginaw column (other than spending a few hundred and dropping it off with someone; I want to re-build it MYSELF,) please post up or shoot me a PM.

 

Yes it is, but sometimes the holier than thou ,mentality of some members gets a bit much.

 

When I started my project, I was not intending a 'traditional' rod, more of a streetrod by Hamb definition. I did however frequent several of the local salvage (junk) yards looking for parts. Apparently all you other guys got there first, as I found squat. I couldn't even find wheels with a 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern! Actually, I did find a lot of them... they had all been welded to angle iron and used as bunks to set car bodies on. Every van I looked at was already missing the steering column. I applaude you guys and your dedication to keeping your rods in the traditional style, it was just more work and trouble than I was ready to tackle. It took me 60 years to start my first real hot rod, it's taken me over 4 years and I'm almost done.

 

Ha, I dam near sh** this summer, looking in a yard for an oddball offset '56 Olds 15" wheel to match the other one on my 32.....I did not find that wheel, but spotted a 32 junked in there. I bought most of the non-frame stuff, sold off some, and kept the good radiator and a so-so hood & cowl vent for mine.

 

Just walked in from the garage. Installed my Flaming river 30" straight column with quick steering wheel disconnect on my 29 rpu. Looks and works great.

I'm just trying to build a car and like to use the HAMB for its great knowledge base, tech and reference. This is my first A build and I need as much help as I can get. I see how some newbees get trashed by the traditional experts so I don't even ask questions. Thankfully I've been able to find most of the info that I need by searching the site.