Steering wheel height/dash visibility options

[Paulbeard]

Since I may be doing another R&R of my dash (I found a new in the box blower fan in some stuff that came from the PO — after I redid the heater box) to replace the blower fan and and track down a couple of other gremlins, are there any options to gain some instrument visibility?

This is what I get:

The column is at the stock location, not lowered as I had suspected (van was redone for a diminutive person and I thought perhaps the wheel had been lowered for her). So raising it seems unpossible. I have tried all the adjustments I can find in the seats but they have no height adjustment, just F<->R travel and recline, none of which seem to do very much. I'm not a recliner by nature so that doesn't feel right.

It's not a huge deal. My driving habit of many years is to scan the gauges periodically and it's distracting/disruptive to look down and not see them.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[Merian]

larger dia. wheel

not much in the way of gauges to see anyway tho - just drive until a buzzer goes off, then grab the fire extinguisher and run

[syncroluvr]

A couple of weeks ago someone asked the same question. I think Dylan suggested lossening the 4 retention bolts and lifting it a it higher, maybe try a search?
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1990 Syncro Westy with stump pulling 2576cc Subaru

Y2K V6 Passat

Calcandi Leviter

[newfisher]

Does the drivers seat have a swivel base? Do you use it? If yes and no, remove it to lower the seat 1 inch.

[Wildthings]

Swapping to a larger steering wheel from a bus without power steering worked for me.

[idahoskier]

I have a smaller diameter wheel so my needs will not be the same as yours. I was able to gain visibility of the part of the gauges I needed by lowering the column and raising the instrument cluster. I built a spacer that sits under the cluster and raises the leading edge about 3/4". It works for me and no one can even tell there is a spacer in there. I think it may be possible to lower the cluster a bit if you only need a small amount but it depends on how much you want to mess with it. Cheers!
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85 Westy w/ 2.2L Subaru
91 Westy w/ 2.5L Subaru - sold

[danfromsyr]

it was Paul here with the same question (inpart) a few weeks ago..
apparently hasn't come to a satisfactory conclusion yet.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=632869&highlight=

[Paulbeard]

[dhaavers]

After your recent dash project, make sure you've pulled the steering column
back to it's full length before bolting in place...there is some play at the rubber
coupler near the floor and it tends to lose altitude while unbolted. I noticed the
same issue after my first dash job and this is where I found the problem.

Good luck!

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[spitsnrovers]

After installing non original VW seats, I experienced the same problem. But as I was going to build a tilt steering system, I added 1 inch to the column length. Solved the visibility problem.

Not suggesting you'd need to or want to make a tilt steering mechanism, but perhaps you can add 1" somewhere in the steering shaft.

Tilt steering here:
http://www.griffco.ca/interest/vw/steer.htm
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'88 VW Westfalia
'75 Triumph Spitfire 1500

[syncroluvr]

[Paulbeard]

[danfromsyr]

you need to do the opposite of this, but involves a grinder that can ignite carpet and impregnate glass.

add in that the swivel bases (all 3 pieces) are of value (IMHO) to all non-westy owners, incl GLs, weekenders and multi-vans.

[idahoskier]

How much visibility are you needing to create? Move the wheel up or down? The required movement will depend on your specific viewing position. In my case the wheel cut off the top of the gauges after I installed Eurovan seats. I played with the steering column position and found no satisfactory way to raise the wheel high enough without the tilt column idea. It is easy to add spacers to drop the column and thus the wheel (I have a smaller diameter wheel from a mk1 so the wheel is not in my way). Doing this in addition to raising the instrument cluster allows me to see over the wheel and have a good view of the gauges (the top of the wheel sits above the clock and over the blanks in the center of the cluster). However, I am 6' tall and have gained an inch in seating height from the Eurovan seats. I did have the idea at the time of dropping the cluster and thought it would be doable but more work. I can take a pic of my setup this weekend if you think it would help.
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85 Westy w/ 2.2L Subaru
91 Westy w/ 2.5L Subaru - sold

[Paulbeard]

[j_dirge]

[idahoskier]

Sorry about the crappy photos and the dirty van This is close to what my view is now as it depends on how much I recline the seat. The wheel actually sits just a bit higher in my view. It is easy to shift slightly to see the temp and fuel gauges:

This is the spacer under the cluster (made of wood and covered with vinyl):

I also lowered the column about 3/4" but did not grab a pic of that though you can see how much lower the column/ignition cover sits. Certainly not for everyone but lets me see what I want to see. YMMV
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85 Westy w/ 2.2L Subaru
91 Westy w/ 2.5L Subaru - sold

[Jake de Villiers]