Hi all,

Just a quick question - due to the patience and kindness of David Chochrane I have bought a replica Ulster spec steering box. My question is that I have a donor steering box and column from an RP saloon - I want to fit a blumels steering wheel which I have, what length is an ulster steering column tube from the edge of the steering box to the base of the steering wheel?

Regards,
Piers

Location: Gloucestershire

Piers,

Without checking - I think the steering column lengths were mentioned in an earler discussion refered to here recently in connection with steering box angles.

Tony.

Location: Malvern, Melbourne, Australia.

Tony,

Many thanks for that, however the sports steering box thread is talking about the rake angle which I am ok with - its the length of the column I ideally need!!

Piers

Location: Gloucestershire

Piers,

I have measured just the "outer tube" length on the one I have here, it is exactly 24" long.

Many thanks Ruairidh, look like I am ok now!! Charles that sounds a sensible idea!

Location: Gloucestershire

Piers,

I should have referred you to the earlier discussion in April last year on steering box angles which included this from Bill Sheehan

"Stuart (and perhaps others) -
Steering Columns measured over many years :
1923 (Box XL296) = 22" to brass collar, approx 23 1/4" to top of box.
1925 = ditto " 23" "
1927 Top Hat = ditto " 23" "
1928 Splined = 24 1/4" " " " 25 1/2" "
1932 " = ditto " ditto
Ruby (both alum & steel box) = " 24" "
1933 Type 65 = 32 1/2" to collar - no access to box in situ
1935 Nippy = from memory shorter?
From July 1934 Speedy = 2 1/2" shorter for Ashby wheel - perhaps same
as 1927, or maybe 24" as for Ruby?
Big 7 = 28" to top of cast iron box

Note : lengths will vary dependent upon how far brass cover screwed into
box
Note : All standard Sevens have approx same wheel diameter, those checked
varied from 12 3/4" to 13 1/8" dependent upon covering thickness etc
Note : Some Sports fitted with Bluemel wheels (larger diam) so height of
floor to bottom of wheel may vary from factory drawings.
Note: For anyone shipping a Ruby-type tourer or Opal, with windscreen
removed, top of steering wheel rim to ground = 47".

Hope this helps. Cheers, Bill"

Tony.

Location: Malvern, Melbourne.

David Howe told me that he used a 65/Nippy column, as had the factory on the development car.
His car certainly has much better finger clearance between the wheel and the dash than ours which has a standard column.

Location: Gloucestershire

I do not think there is a correct length for these columns. Study of Austin Harris website shows these varied due to height and build of the drivers. Number 92 in the 1930 Double Twelve looks shorter to suit Poppe/ Frazer Nash and the column for the 1930 500 looks longer to suit Davis/March. I think make it whatever length is most comfortable.
Simon Thomas

Location: Comber