Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I've seen a few late model steering columns for sale on ebay lately, what does it take to switch from the "death spear" to the collapsible column? Thanks in advance.


Buddy
67 1600
67.5 2000 transplant

Buddy,

It is not all that easy to do, but not impossible. If you get a column from a 68 or early 69 (early style steering box) the end will be right. You will have to modify the dash to allow the larger diameter column through. The turn signal switch from the later car may be able to be adapted. If you are careful, you could remove the late ignition switch and use the early style trim - or keep the late switch and ad a little security to the car. Someone on the Roadster list (I forget who) was doing that swap. It all depends on how original you want your car to be, and how long you want it to be down for the swap. You may also have to modify the upper mount. I didn't look at that.

what about a column from a 67.5? Those are collapsable.

Not on any of the 1967.5s that I have owned. There may be some out there, but I have not seen one in the 7 or 8 67.5s that I have had. That includes both 1600s and 2000s by the way...

Really? Damn. I thought mine was collapsable - I read on a spec sheet that 67.5 columns are collapsable. Is there an easy way to tell just by looking at it?

thanks!

Well, crawl up under the dash and take a look. If the column looks like a piece of straight pipe with a flange welded to it so it can mount to the column, you are a member of the "to be skewered in the event of a head on collision" brigade. If it is convoluted and looks like one of those horrid bend it yourself exhaust pipes with a flange welded to it to mount to the firewall, then you have the collapsable one.

I too have seen where the specs indicate a collapsing column, but unfortunately, it does not appear to be so...

I took a look at the column last night, and indeed it is not collapsable All this talk of being speared in the chest with the steering column is makeing me a little uncomfortable driving my car now...

So some more questions about the swap:
1. will the early-model steering wheel fit on a late model column?
2. the hole in the dash will need to be slighly enlarged right?
3. will a flange will need to be welded to the firewall?

Thanks for any help guys - I drive the roadster around in S.F. traffic all the time, and though I really like originality, I like living much more.

The steering wheel will fit, no problem. The later turn signal switch will have to be used due to the increased diameter of the column. You may have problems with the wiring - I don't know for sure as I have not compared them.

The hole in the dash will have to be enlarged. You MAY need to modify the steering column brace (the under dash mount) which would mean that the dash would have to come out to do that. I am not certain about this, so caveat emptor!

You should not need to weld to the firewall. Unless I am mistaken, the mounting flanges are the same for the firewall mounting on both columns.

I think that the death spear thing is a bit exaggerated. I am not saying that it won't happen, because it can. I am saying that if you get into a crash that is so bad that you get skewered, the survivability would be problematic even with the collapsable column.

As an aside, if you want to do the full safety thing, keep in mind that the frames on the 68 and later cars are modified. They have crush zones created by holes being drilled in the forward frame rails and there are some reinforcements welded on the kick ups at the firewall. There is more to this safety thing than just a column...

Hey Sid,
Thanks for the reply. I was thinking about the column on my way to work this morning, and it seems like it would take a pretty horiffic head-on at over 55mph to speared by the steering column. And like you said, in an accident that bad survivability would probably be greatly decreased by many factors before the steering column would come into play. I know if I really wanted to I could make the swap, but it seems my efforts might have a bigger pay off elseware - headrests would be a great place to start.

A friend suggested that since the early frame has no crumple zone it would be much harder for the steering column to be pushed all the way through the cabin - any logic to this idea?

Redtail,

I think that I would disagree with your friend. The crumple zones are made to minimize the movement of critical items like the column, the engine and so forth.

If you want to improve the safety of car, have a competent welder put reinforcements on the frame rails where they kick up at the firewall. That is one of the mods to the later cars that was done to minimize the possibility of the steering column relocating. The other thing you could do is to drill large (like 1 1/2" or so) holes in the frame rails FOREWARD of the steering box and idler box. That would replicate the crumple zones that Nissan did on the later frames. If you think about the impact, that would help minimize the issues. Crawl under a late roadster and just look. It will make sense.

On the headrests, the OEM units for the 67.5 are obscenely expensive and not all that good. The better answer would be to keep the original seats, but put them in storage. Get some 68 - 70 seats with headrests. They are INFINITELY better in my not too humble opinion!

Hey Sid,
Ha! That is exactly what I was thinking about seats! I posted to the list a few days ago asking if the late model seats with headrests will bolt to the stock roadster floorpan - reply was same rails = direct bolt on. That will be much higher on my "to do" list than the column swap. I'll see about drilling the holes in the frame too - need to find someone in the S.F. area with a late model that I can take a gander at and get some measurements. Seems like an easy (and free) way to get a little extra safety. Reinforcing plates to the firewall/frame junction can also go on the list.

As an asside I have a 91 Acura Integra that I'm thinking of selling to fund a purchase of a 60's Volvo 122 I would use as my daily driver. I hear those are quite safe and reliable. Thanks for all the advice sid!

-Zack

Zack,

Glad to help! Now, as a thought, you could get a later roadster for the daily driver and keep the 67.5 stock. That would give you the column you want, the seats you want and the frame mods already in place. Plus you would have two roadsters to play with!

Sid

Hehehehehe.....Sid the Roadster Pusher Man!

Btw, what makes the late model seats more comfortable than the early ones?

They are no more comfortable in my not too humble opinion, but the headrest is better designed. If you sit in a 67.5 and try to lean back to touch the headrest, your neck will be at almost full extention before you contact. That is not good. The later seats have the headrest closer to your head in a normal position.

Psst, hey buddy, I've got a sweet deal on a Roadster for you!

OK I'll bite Sid...which of your roadsters are you thinking of parting with? I still have that beautiful 2000 Solex engine I picked up in Florida that I'm waiting to drop into something! Buddy