steering column or seat modifications
-
- G-Private
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2017 6:13 am
- Location:
steering column or seat modifications
Hello im in the process of trying to restore my ww2 willys jeep,
however im not the skinniest person and the steering wheel is very uncomfortably close to my gut ,
how can we modify this without messing with the originality too much?
1:can the steering column be shortened, and if so how? or would this result in the opposite: my knees hitting the steering wheel?
2: is there a way to modify the seat other than thinner cussions? without cutting stuff up too much (cutting in the seat is fine)
at the moment it is very uncomfortable to drive, even so for a less "big" friend of mine.
so any help would be appreciated.
however im not the skinniest person and the steering wheel is very uncomfortably close to my gut ,
how can we modify this without messing with the originality too much?
1:can the steering column be shortened, and if so how? or would this result in the opposite: my knees hitting the steering wheel?
2: is there a way to modify the seat other than thinner cussions? without cutting stuff up too much (cutting in the seat is fine)
at the moment it is very uncomfortable to drive, even so for a less "big" friend of mine.
so any help would be appreciated.
- Boyso
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1386
- Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
- Location: Quebec, Canada
Re: steering column or seat modifications
You can modify the seat back to allow you to be seated less upright and gain a bit of belly room. Or buy one of the panels that cut into the wheelhouse and modify the seat further.
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162
MVPA #36162
-
- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2473
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2016 4:56 am
- Location: Birmingham, England
Re: steering column or seat modifications
A mate of mine who is known as "Big Dave" for obvious reasons, had the same problem, a WW2 jeep supplier near us cut out some of the wheel arch, extended the seat frame by about 2 inches and Dave was very happy and comfortable. Then he had the bill for the work !!! Not quite as happy.
-
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5646
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
- Location:
Re: steering column or seat modifications
Hello,
Another option is to perhaps use a smaller steering wheel that will give you clearance and not have to cut the wheel wells.
I think a Farmall tractor wheel may fit and is a smaller wheel that a jeep.
You may want to look at old tractor wheels, to see what are out there and would fit the jeep steering column.
I have seen a wheel like that installed on a jeep and it does give more room, and looks good as well.
It may be something to look at.
Ray
Another option is to perhaps use a smaller steering wheel that will give you clearance and not have to cut the wheel wells.
I think a Farmall tractor wheel may fit and is a smaller wheel that a jeep.
You may want to look at old tractor wheels, to see what are out there and would fit the jeep steering column.
I have seen a wheel like that installed on a jeep and it does give more room, and looks good as well.
It may be something to look at.
Ray
-
- G-Sergeant
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2013 3:48 pm
- Location:
Re: steering column or seat modifications
I modified the seat frame to gain more room by replacing the round cross brace on the seat frame back rest and replacing it with a flat steel brace. After welding the flat brace in place I bent the seat back rest until the flat brace just hit the rear fender well. I was able to bend the seat back with out heating it by clamping the seat frame to a bench and then use a porta power to bend the seat rest back. The increased angle of the seat back provided more clearance from the steering wheel and you did not have to modify the wheel well. I believe I found the modification on this site.
Tin Ear
Tin Ear
- twinflyer17
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1348
- Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2013 11:49 am
- Location: Washington, D.C.
Re: steering column or seat modifications
Daryl Bensinger sells a frame which is already modified for larger drivers:
https://www.dlbensinger.com/product_inf ... bce7db3872
Something to think about instead of cutting up an original seat frame.
https://www.dlbensinger.com/product_inf ... bce7db3872
Something to think about instead of cutting up an original seat frame.
-
- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2010
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 4:13 pm
- Location:
Re: steering column or seat modifications
I like the idea of a smaller steering wheel from a tractor. Anybody try this? Where do u find a wheel with the correct splines? Best wishes; Leo
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2014 6:08 am
- Location:
Re: steering column or seat modifications
Cub cadet garden tractors used a Ross steering setup maybe worth looking into. I don't know the spline size. Steering wheel I'm sure is smaller diameter.Leo H Jankowski wrote:I like the idea of a smaller steering wheel from a tractor. Anybody try this? Where do u find a wheel with the correct splines? Best wishes; Leo
Sent from my CPH1605 using Tapatalk
-
- G-Staff Sergeant
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:09 am
- Location: Illinois USA
Re: steering column or seat modifications
Being a bit girth challenged, I had 1 1/2 removed from the top of the shaft and the machine shop redid the splines. As I recall it cost me around $100. I also put 1/2 spacers under the front legs to tip the seat back a little bit. What a difference and nobody notices.
Tom
Tom
42 Script GPW
-
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5646
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
- Location:
Re: steering column or seat modifications
Hello Leo,
I think the splines on the tractor are the same as the jeep.
I have a CJ2A that has a smaller wheel on it, and I think it just went on, I will take a closer look tomorrow.
Naturally it was off likely a vintage tractor like a Farmall Cub from the 1950's or a similar style from a tractor maker.
Will let you know what I find.
Ray
I think the splines on the tractor are the same as the jeep.
I have a CJ2A that has a smaller wheel on it, and I think it just went on, I will take a closer look tomorrow.
Naturally it was off likely a vintage tractor like a Farmall Cub from the 1950's or a similar style from a tractor maker.
Will let you know what I find.
Ray
-
- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2010
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 4:13 pm
- Location:
Re: steering column or seat modifications
I've been looking into alternate steering wheels from tractors. Most old tractor wheels are at least same diameter as the MB/GPW wheel or even larger diameter so far.
-
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5646
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
- Location:
Re: steering column or seat modifications
Hello Leo,
I looked at the wheel on my cj2A, it isn't a direct swap.
The wheel is 15" wide, but who ever made it used the original center spline from the jeep's original steering wheel.
They cut off the original wheel, and drilled new holes into center spline and welded the tractor wheels steel rods into the center.
It does look pretty straight forward, and the wheel they used, from a tractor, the arms were not a straight rod,
but were straight then had a taper down to the center.
I have an MB with a similar set up, but it appears that the original wheel was used,
and the steel rods of the wheel were cut down to fit a metal wheel on the outer circumference of it, then welded up together.
I would imagine either method would be fine, but both used an original center spline.
Best Regards,
Ray
I looked at the wheel on my cj2A, it isn't a direct swap.
The wheel is 15" wide, but who ever made it used the original center spline from the jeep's original steering wheel.
They cut off the original wheel, and drilled new holes into center spline and welded the tractor wheels steel rods into the center.
It does look pretty straight forward, and the wheel they used, from a tractor, the arms were not a straight rod,
but were straight then had a taper down to the center.
I have an MB with a similar set up, but it appears that the original wheel was used,
and the steel rods of the wheel were cut down to fit a metal wheel on the outer circumference of it, then welded up together.
I would imagine either method would be fine, but both used an original center spline.
Best Regards,
Ray
-
- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2010
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 4:13 pm
- Location:
Re: steering column or seat modifications
Thanks Ray, Best wishes;
-
- G-Private
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2017 6:13 am
- Location:
Re: steering column or seat modifications
does anyone know if a steering column of perhaps a later model (CJ series) which is shorter might fit?
i tried smaller cushions... didnt help comfort.
im not going to cut up the wheel weld as i have an Original 82nd jeep
smaller steering wheel doenst help that much.
only option left is shorter steering column (iNterchange, without welding which is dangerous for that part as it endures a lot of stress)
does anyone know anything?
thanks for all your replies alread
ps what actually was the original dimension of the column? since it is mentioned nowwhere
i tried smaller cushions... didnt help comfort.
im not going to cut up the wheel weld as i have an Original 82nd jeep
smaller steering wheel doenst help that much.
only option left is shorter steering column (iNterchange, without welding which is dangerous for that part as it endures a lot of stress)
does anyone know anything?
thanks for all your replies alread
ps what actually was the original dimension of the column? since it is mentioned nowwhere
-
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 6319
- Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:34 am
- Location:
Re: steering column or seat modifications
I'm 6'2", the seat backs in my GPW were already laid back by removing the bottom rear brace when I bought it back in '84. I fit very comfortably. Easy mod. Buy a repro seat frame if you don't want to butcher your original. I did the same thing to a buddy's Willys. He and his son are both 6'3".
43 Ford GPW 92098
53 Dunbar Kapple M100
Sold: 61 CJ-5, 41 T207 WC-1 Dodge closed cab pickup
MVPA #8266
USMC Tanker (1811, 1812), 85-93
ASE Automotive Master tech, former Chrysler-Jeep Level 4 Mastertech, CA state EA smog license
53 Dunbar Kapple M100
Sold: 61 CJ-5, 41 T207 WC-1 Dodge closed cab pickup
MVPA #8266
USMC Tanker (1811, 1812), 85-93
ASE Automotive Master tech, former Chrysler-Jeep Level 4 Mastertech, CA state EA smog license
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests