I have a '23 touring(see images) that needs a brace/clamp for the steering column. Top of column to bottom of dash is 1 1/4". Bottom of column to bottom of dash is 3 5/8". There is a horn wire tube.

There is a visible mark on dash but no holes, does anyone have any suggestions?

What you need looks like this:

I have an original 1923. It was built in Nov. 1922 and has a wood firewall and no dash bracket.

My 21 never came with a brace from the factory and I have never put one on (using it as an example) and don't have any real issues as far as needing one and it gets driven a good amount. It does have a steel firewall.

I'm pretty sure that the steering column clamp is a "high radiator" change and therefore the '23s didn't have them originally.

But if you want one, probably the best and easiest way to go is to get an entire '24 dash panel and install it as a unit. Much easier than cutting holes and riveting. Also eliminates potential alignment issues.

Don, I also have a '23 built in Nov. of '22. It has a steel firewall but I'm pretty sure it came with a wood one.

https://www.modeltford.com/item/3500H.aspx

This is what's in my 1923 touring. I don't know if it's correct. It was held in by ridiculous modern fasteners, so I replaced them with carriage bolts which I think look much better.

And I'm also in the '23 touring 3 rib steel firewall club. Was my first Model T. Got it in '66. It's the only Model T I've ever seen with a cast iron support instead of the sheet metal column-to-dash supports like above. I'm sure it is an accessory. Anyone else have a cast iron support here?

I have a '23 touring (cut off) with a wood firewall. It has this aftermarket clamp. There is a wedge on the backside with two studs that clamp it against the firewall.

The early metal firewall '23's didn't have a bracket. That came along a bit later as Ford hadn't figured out yet the metal firewall was a bit more springy than the wood it replaced.

So aftermarket companies made these brackets until the Ford design later in the '23 model year.



On Nellie, the early '23 steel firewall, resourceful owner back then hand-forged this one from iron, and used a Stewart speedo bracket clip for the surround under the steering column



Here are some others, aftermarket.

Maybe we should be more specific (running changes, don'tcha know). My touring pictured above is an April 1923 car with steel firewall.

Steve

Correct to that..specific

Posted this before: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 - 07:54 pm:

According to Bruce's CD, this is the info I gleaned from his research:

The low metal firewall was first introduced in March or April of 1923, you can tell original early ‘23 bodies with metal firewall, as the dash does not have a steering column bracket on the dash.
The steering column bracket was added later in the spring, probably late April or May, and then in June 1923, the high metal firewall was then used.

My '23 has a low radiator, wood firewall and has the factory brace. It has a 1920 engine S/N 3715122 so the actual date it was built is unknown.

My February 1923 Low radiator Touring has a wood firewall and no holes in the dash panel for any bracket so it never had one that I can tell. I drive it a ton and it really is solid enough that I don't see any need to add the bracket now.

Hope this helps.

John