Tilt steering column in a 1970 Charger

[Kern Dog]

Here we are, over a week later with ZERO progress.
Why?
Numerous projects here that are all eating up my time!
A buddy and I are rebuilding a couple engines at the same time. I'm doing a 360, he is doing a 360-408.





I'm helping my nephew build a go cart which involves fabrication, welding, parts gathering and more.
Then there is the usual stuff....Mowing lawns and taking care of all the day to day matters we all have to do.
I have a roller cam swap planned for this car for late May. I also plan to replace the windshield gasket and get the A/C fixed....

[Kern Dog]

Late May?
That is getting pushed even further out. I've been busy with these engine builds. I finished my own 360 and have been helping Rich with his 5.9/408. His engine/trans/K member are on the rolling cart and almost ready to slip under the car.
He has never rebuilt an engine before so this is taking a lot of time. We are enjoying the process though.
The tilt column though....
I wanted to change to the tilt to get a more comfortable position for the distance drives that I like to take. I went on a 5 day trip from Northern CA to Southern CA a month ago and was happy with the angle of the steering wheel as it is. I could swap in the tilt column but to what end? If it already feels pretty good, what would be the gain?
I may still try this in the other Charger just as a trial fit. If it actually is an improvement, I could then modify another one for this red car.

Cheers!

[Mike DC]

On long drives, IMO part of the benefit of a tilt column is just the variability itself.  The original position might be the best one that you always come back to.  But after a few hours you just want it to be different for a while.  At least I do.   


It also could help for smaller drivers like a wife or GF.  But that issue really needs a telescoping column.  Those weren't common on classics.  And the more ways the column can move, the more rickety it tends to feel on bumps, which I don't like. 



For shorter drivers, our Chargers probably need adjustable pedals as much as anything.  The stock steering wheel & pedals are so far apart.  But that's a lot of cutting & welding to add a feature that most guys don't need. 

I could picture a set of quick-release pedal pads.  Like, they click into place and boost the foot surface out by an inch or two. 

It might make the driving more comfortable overall for a short driver.  Another inch of pedal pad is another inch that the seat can stay back.  They don't have to be so crowded up against the steering wheel. 

[Kern Dog]

I keep saying that I want to teach the wife how to drive a manual shift using the red car.




I'm 5'10", she is 5' 1". When I've had her help bleeding brakes, she has to move the seat up quite a bit.
In the late model cars, some have telescoping steering wheels so that does help. My truck has adjustable pedals which also helps her.

[Mike DC]

I keep saying that I want to teach the wife how to drive a manual shift using the red car.

Yep, been there done that. 

I like to tell them this:   

- The clutch is basically a neutral pedal.  Picture the 3 pedals being labeled 'Gas' 'Brake' and "Neutral.' 

- Your instincts are backwards for a clutch pedal.  The gas & brake pedals both make things happen when you push them down. So you always push those pedals down in a deliberate careful way, and you don't think much about letting off them.  But with a clutch it's the opposite. Letting off the clutch is when all the drama happens.  You have to push it back down as a reflex when things aren't going smoothly.