Making a race style steering column

[Prostreet]

Hi Folks
This 41 Willys we are building the customer would rather have a race type steer column with a quick disconnect. So I gathering some of the parts. Most of the parts will need some light machining and we could have bought one from Jegs or summit but I would have to modify it and most likely machine it a bit so may as well use my own materials.
we started out with some 1018 X.750 bar stock and needed to machine a double D on the end.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/machining-DBL-D.jpg
To get both sides of the flats we use a protracker set at 90 degree's.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/Indexing-D-flats.jpg
When the one side is complete we simply turn the shaft 180 degree's untill the pro-traker reads 90 again and machine a flat in the opposite side.
After we fit the steer joint from flamin river to make sure we have a nice fit.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/Flaming-River-Ujoint.jpg
Here are some of the other parts we will be working with .
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/materials-used-for-the-colu.jpg
Now tomorrow we will machine and fit some of the other parts of our home brew column.

[Prostreet]

ARRRGG
Still waiting on my steering wheel quick release. Then we can finish the rest of the column . I'm thinking we are going to put the master cylinder sideways over on the passenger side and build a fairly trick looking pedal assembly. Quite like the one I built for the 39 Willys delivery.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/pedal-drille-tapped-3.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/pedal-drille-tapped.jpg
This will be a neat piece and the master will be mounted on the knee bar right below the dash . It will be an all billet 6061 T6 aluminum and the actuator rod will be stainless . It will work off a bell crank and transfer the push threw the a heim end.

[Prostreet]

Hi Folks
Well I'm back on the column and let me up date you on what we have done this far since our last post.
I got the quick release in this week so I am going to weld it on to the 3/4 1018 steel shaft wich one end if you remember we machined to a double D .
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/Double-D-shaft.jpg
Here is the splined end which the quick release will attach to.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/drill-threw-and-pin.jpg
I took the extra step to drill and pin the spline seeing this is a street car and will see the abuse of the road. The red circle is were I tig welded the pin in place .

[Prostreet]

continued:

After that was welded in place I finished welding both ends.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/weld-end.jpg
Not that it is going to be seen but knowing its there I cleened up the ends in the lathe.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/cleaning-up.jpg
From the Lathe to the milling machine so I can mill a small detent in the Double D end so when it steering joint is in place the allen set screw will have a place to seat it self and not move .
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/making-detent.jpg
I used a protractor to make sur the flat was sitting square with the end mill.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/detent-cut.jpg
Here is the result of just a few passes .
Well stay tuned I will posting the assembly & installation of the column in the Willys here shortly.

[Prostreet]

Hi Folks
Here is an update on the steerin column.
this is a finish product before the installation which is a bolt in .
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/steer-column-complete.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/steer-column-mount.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/steer-column-clean-and-simp.jpg
And "Dats Dat Folks"

[Kidjavelin]

Hey Prostreet, how much does it cost to have one of those columns made? I have a racer in need of one...

John