Berrien Steering column support?

manxdavid · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:43 am Post subject: Berrien Steering column support?

Anyone got good photos of one fitted?

Thanks, Dave.

Zcarnut · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:41 am Post subject:

This link has info about it and 90volt has a pic of his.I bought one on his reccomendation as well and like it.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=232554&highlight=
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90volts · Samba Member Joined: August 10, 2005 Posts: 2637

yep, nice and solid. just need something to tie in the widshield on mine. otherwise worked great. clamps the steering, little shelf for the wiper motor an i even bolted an underdash plate to it to mount the cb/8 track.

Zcarnut · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:59 am Post subject:

Yeah..Im using the plate to mount my CD player below the dash on center too.
_________________
I do drive a Honda.
When im mowing my yard

sturgeongeneral · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:39 pm Post subject:

I just bought one and it worked out great! Installed in about ten minutes. My only beef is that they said it would ship on a monday. Ten days later I called them and they said it was back ordered for parts and shipped the day before. They should have called and told me. Otherwise, quality craftsmanship and easy install.
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manxdavid · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys...

Zcarnut · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 5:11 am Post subject:

It took them about that long to get one out to me too.Apprantly they make them or them made locally.When I called after a week or so finding out what the delay was,the lady told me more were getting made.
_________________
I do drive a Honda.
When im mowing my yard

eacook1 · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:44 am Post subject:

Do you have to tie in the windshield? I just need something to support my steering column, my windshield is fine.

EMPIImp69 · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:26 am Post subject:

Eacook1, yes you want to tie in the windshield and not just bolt thru the hood b/c over time the wind resistance will make it loosen up and oval out the holes in your fiberglass hood. When the bolts go thru both the glass & steel it is a much stronger with no flex.
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1963 Ragtop Bug

90volts · Samba Member Joined: August 10, 2005 Posts: 2637

but with this support you don't need to. or can't ... at least i couldn't figure out how to do it with the supplied parts. maybe someone else has more info on that if they were able to. it looked like you could with the directions but either because of the angle of my windshield or just because i'm an idiot at car type stuff i didn't get it. Shocked

Zcarnut · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:05 am Post subject:

Maybe im a dummy too,but after reading the directions..The additional brackets and bolts for the windshield dont tie in.The bolts and brackets just go through the hood/dash by themselves.I just thought of it as a "bonus".
The bolts that go through the windshield in this kit are fairly large diameter though.Much larger than the bolts the PO on mine used.

So your column just "sits" on top of the support 90volts? Is it bolted to it in any way?
Im actually hanging mine UNDER and using that small loop (THATS ON THE COLUMN) to attach the column with a HD muffler clamp.
Have another muffler clamp at the firewall adopting the same basic idea that the column has on it using the "hoop".Bolted a "hoop" to the body to hold the clamp.
Seems pretty sturdy and no "slop" when turning the wheel.
_________________
I do drive a Honda.
When im mowing my yard

90volts · Samba Member Joined: August 10, 2005 Posts: 2637

yes, mine sits on top. if it wasunder, the wheel would be right in my lap.
you should have gotten a ring clampwith the kit. thats why i am using to secure the column where it goes over the mount.
in addition the cross bar on the top of my column is bolted up through the dash at the windshield.

Zcarnut · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:48 am Post subject:

I got a hose clamp with it yes.But it looked kinda flimsy to me.If I mounted my over versus under,it would probably be OK.
With my body being raised,hanging it under isnt a issue as far as hitting it with my legs go..
Got a pic of that crossbar going into your dash?I thought that bar was for mounting the wiper motor or somthing.
_________________
I do drive a Honda.
When im mowing my yard

90volts · Samba Member Joined: August 10, 2005 Posts: 2637

the one molded into the berrien mount? yes thats for the wipers.
the one i mean is a crosmember on my column. don't know if its a stock piece or not. never had anything to compare it to. thi is my first vw. but i'll take a pic.

Zcarnut · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:03 am Post subject:

Looking at your pic,the piece mounted on your column with two bolts is either stock or modeled after stock (On a Bug,thats where the "back" of the column mounts..It bolts straight into the bottom of the dash area).Those two bolts and the hole through the firewall are all what really keeps the steering column in place on a stock Bug.
The one I have had one too but it was smaller (kept it as it might be good for mounting a tach there someday).My column is a older style with no ignition switch.
_________________
I do drive a Honda.
When im mowing my yard

donmac · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:06 am Post subject:

I would like to see some pictures as well, especially how the windshield ties in and how the wiper motor support works. There is one installed in my buggy and it does support the steering shaft but does nothing for the windshield. Also, I think it may be installed backward as, what looks like a tab to support the wiper motor, points to the rear or the car.

Don

EMPIImp69 · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:57 am Post subject:

I am not sure about the Berrien one, but I fabed up my own support bar that supports the windshield and the steering column ('67 column with no ign. switch). What I did was I got a piece of round bar with real thick walls and welded the flat pieces to the sides which attach to the body under the hood. I know others on here have done the same thing, that's how I got the idea. I figured the metal would cost me much less than $60 (the price of the Berrian) and it'd be a bit stronger too. Check this post below it has some good ideas and pics for examples.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=209157&highlight=column
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1963 Ragtop Bug


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