Westfield... raising the steering wheel.

[dern]

I must confess to have second thoughts on selling my westfield and I thought I'd put a bit more effort into making it fit me.

The problem is that my clutch knee is against the wheel when my foot is on the clutch which means I can't turn the wheel past my knee which is a pain.

I don't want to move the seat or the pedals as they are pretty much as far apart as they can go and in every other respect than the knee/wheel interface the position is bang on.

Also I don't want a smaller steering wheel if I can help it as it's pretty small already.

So, I'd like to move the wheel up. The column is welded to the top of the bar that goes behind the dash. I don't know how it is secured at the back of the pedal box (if it is). It looks to me like if I could cut that weld and raise the column half to three quarters of an inch and secure it there with a bracket (I can't weld) then my problem will be solved (with a bit of trimming of the dash).

Any ideas if this is feasable and what can use for a bracket or indeed any other advice on what I'm trying to do would be gratefully received before anyone else comes and waves money under my nose and I'm tempted to sell it.

Thanks,

Mark

[jgmadkit]

The theory sounds ok as long as its carried out well and there's no chance of the bracket coming adrift.

What about the seat, can that go down at all or is it on the floor already?

John

www.madabout-kitcars.com

[dern]

jgmadkit said:

The theory sounds ok as long as its carried out well and there's no chance of the bracket coming adrift. What about the seat, can that go down at all or is it on the floor already?

It's on the floor already.

Mark

[BobM]

dern said:

The column is welded to the top of the bar that goes behind the dash.

Sounds different to mine, but I faced the same problem as you being 6' 5". I lowered the front of the steering column an raised the back end and gained quite a bit. I also fitted a D shaped smaller wheel which makes quite a big difference.

Pics and descriptions on my build site (check out 25th and 29th October).

[dern]

BobM said:

dern said: The column is welded to the top of the bar that goes behind the dash. Sounds different to mine, but I faced the same problem as you being 6' 5". I lowered the front of the steering column an raised the back end and gained quite a bit. I also fitted a D shaped smaller wheel which makes quite a big difference.

I think there are two types of steering column, the westfield one that is bolted to the cross member and the escort one which is welded.

Thanks for the pictures. Do you have any close-ups of the bracket that holds the column to the cross-member? Nice car by the way.

How did the D-shaped wheel help? I can see it would aid getting in and out but my problem is where I'm turning left with my foot ready on the clutch my left hand hits my knee and I'm not sure a D-shaped wheel would help in that respect would it?

Thanks,

Mark

[mattstead]

Have you considered a more heavily dished steering wheel? It did the job for me on my westie.

[BobM]

dern said:

Thanks for the pictures. Do you have any close-ups of the bracket that holds the column to the cross-member?

Couldn't see any on the site and that bit's under the scuttle IIRC so I can't really get at it to take another one for you.

dern said:

How did the D-shaped wheel help? I can see it would aid getting in and out but my problem is where I'm turning left with my foot ready on the clutch my left hand hits my knee and I'm not sure a D-shaped wheel would help in that respect would it?

You're right, but coupled with the raise and the other bit I forgot to mention ...

... which is that I fitted a quick release boss and had the welder extend the column by a couple of inches. You can see the column here

Bob

[dern]

Thanks for all the info. Am currently looking into buying a boss extender doo-dah from demon tweeks and possibly a smaller wheel.

I'll let you know what happens.

Cheers,

Mark

[dern]

None of the options really suited my build on closer inspection and I couldn't make up my mind what to do when a chap offered me cash for the car so I took it.

Thanks for the help but I'm off shopping for something that fits me a bit better.

All the best,

Mark