Steering column angle

[wythac]

Using a stock older Type 1 steering column on my buggy. Have a 3" lift on the body, and a brand new beam, and need to know if anyone has information on the optimal angle for the steering box/steering column assembly.

I know that all I need to do to get the hole thru the firewall in the right place is to move it 3" down from the center of the original hole, but it would be nice to work outwards from the steering box, making sure that is at the right angle for the proper operation of the steering assembly, fix that angle, then put the steering column thru.

I posted something similar to this thread on the Off-Road column some time ago with mixed results...got some other useful info, but nothing on fixing the proper steering box angle. Couldn't even find it in the Bentley, but I would imagine that in a stock application, the angle would actually be set by where the steering column came thru the beetle firewall, so setting an angle first would be unnecessary.

So what I am looking for is the value of the angle between the longitudinal axis of the body and the axis of the steering column. Anybody with a protractor, a buggy, and a few minutes?

[dan macmillan]

[jspbtown]

I believe the beam has a tab that the lower mounting bracket rests in. Thats the factory location (one for a Ghia and one for a type 1 I believe).

I have used Borgeson joints to keep the box at the factory angle.

[JiI]

I used Kia u-joints I picked up at the Lansing show a few years back. They fit great.
JiI

[wythac]

No tab on a warrior beam. I plan to weld one on to keep the box from rotating under stress once I have the angle established, but I have yet to find out definitively what that angle is.

I have eliminated the original hole in the firewall and the dash, so with a 3" lift the whole steering column will be lower relative to the body but essentially in the same place and at the same angle in relation to the beam...no U-joint needed. It will be supported on the front by the firewall and near the steering wheel by a crossbar on my windshield rollbar. I suppose I can measure the angle between the old hole for the column in the firewall and the old hole in the lower part of the dash and extrapolate the angle from that....I was just looking for something more precise.

[MURZI]

Sit in your seat, minus the body, find a comfortable angle with the steering wheel in hand and measure ...

My column was way down from stock...but I had to be cool when I was driving you know....for the ladies

_________________
62 vert
2276
Tim’s welded heads
45 Dells
A1 sidewinder
Fk44 cam

[wythac]

Thanks Murzi. No bump steer issues with a non standard angle? I guess what I am most concerned with is really the pitman arm angle, and the affect of the geometry of the tie rods, etc. I have a warrior beam with more of a lifted stance.
Despite having owned and worked on air cooled VW's for over 30 years, I have to admit to a blind spot in working on front beams. Testament to the original design, I suppose....never had one I really had to work on much, outside of hubs, steering dampners and tie rod ends . The one on my buggy also happens to be a departure from the stock layout, which doesn't help.