MTFCA Forum

Hi All,
I have a 26/27 model T touring body on an older frame with an engine from May 21. The steering column seems to not fit correctly to the firewall. Is there a significant difference between columns in terms of length and, is there a shape difference in the the flange that bolts to the firewall? Mine is round and doesn't seem to fit properly.
Does the flange bolt to the inside or outside of the firewall?
Does the steering column to firewall support bracket (3515a) bolt to the inside or outside of the firewall?
And finally, the column seems to twist. At the base, it's bolted to the frame. The flange which attaches to the firewall is not lining up horizontally as can be seen in the photo. Can this be un-twisted safely without breaking anything?
Thanks all who can advise.
John

Wrong column. Fits most anything from '15 (or there abouts) to '25, but not yours. Not safe to drive as is installed.

You can see the difference here: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1429310035

Column mounts from the inside. 2 top bolts. 3515 mounts from the front to bottom 2 bolts.(as if a trim plate) The correct column has a square base plate & if not changed out, 5-1 steering gears as opposed to the earlier 4-1 ratio. See T1 manual for gear mixing dangers.

Seems that your car is put together from a collection of parts. 26-27 body on an older frame and engine. The 26-27 T’s were different here and there from the earlier T’s and several of the parts don’t interchange. The steering column is one of them.
It’s best to get the correct column and fit it the best you can to the frame and front end steering. It’s not safe to drive as it is. Good luck.

And when you come up with the correct steering column (square not round) mounting flange; you’ll probably need a specifically ‘26-‘27 lower column bracket. And there’s 2 different designs of them !! I hope you have one

The lower bracket George mentions sits at a lower angle than the earlier items, due to the lower line of the 26-7 bodies. They are distinguished by the greaser being fitted at an angle near the top of the bracket, whereas the earlier greasers are fitted at right angles to the shaft and a little lower on the bracket.
If you can't get hold of one, the earlier one can be used. With the column correctly fitted at the firewall, and the bracket in place on the lower end, you will see that it does not sit truly on the frame. You need to fabricate a wedge to make up any discrepancy, just like speedster builders do when lowering the steering column.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

Call Lang’s old car parts. They have lots of good used T parts and he may have a 26-27 column. Go to the MTFCA resources page and then to Lang’s Old Car parts. Contact and tell them what you have to work with and they may can help you.

Take a look at my thread viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9508&start=100

At the end of page 2 going on to page 3 you can see how i rebuilt my 26/7 steering column.

Hope it helps.

Regarding the brackets on the improved fords this came up earlier this year.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20380&p=156825&hili ... er#p156825