Fitting tilt steering to the Desert Splitty.

G'day,
If you are over 6' tall you no my problem trying to get comfortable driving the beloved Splitty, knees up in ya armpits head bent down to look out the top of the windsceen, etc. The only half comfy way is leaning forward with elbows on the steering wheel and hands at 5 past 11 at the top of the wheel.
Well seeing how I've done quite a few mechanical mods to the Desert Splitty, I've decided to fit a tilt steering column. I've already fitted Camira buckets which sit lower and are fitted 100mm further towards the rear which helps to see thru the sreen and straighten the legs a bit but now the steering wheel is too far away which makes my neck and shoulders ache, so the solution is Tilt the Wheel towards me for a more comfy position.
I borrowed the best set of ramps I've ever used, they're 400mm high and you can sit underneath and work comfortably.
Cheers, Ian.

This pic shows outer column bolted in and tilted down.

Column tilted up for extra room getting in or out.

Pic of cut down column with new end fitted ready for welding in place.

as I find splitcabs a bit small too,and lower seats are the go like sitting on an old barndoor bench seat feels much better than the later model ones,makes the cab feel bigger.

and next the gear stick extension !

Hi Seagull.
I hadn't thought of that, and I've got one of those screw on ones down in Vic, I'll get Rhett to send it up.
Cheers, Ian.

That's really cool!

What is the Tilt Column out of? Or did you fabricate it?

[Edited on 17-8-2004 by MikeM]

your a bit tall and i guess your wife is petite, love the mods keep up the good work

Awesome job Ian. I've been thinking of doing the same thing to gain some room between myself and the steering wheel in the '75, but I can't work out where it would tilt to... seems to me that if I tilted the wheel forward, the top (front) would hit the dashboard.

I suppose the answer to my problem is to fit a tilt column with a smaller steering wheel, but then I'd probably want power steering as well... :duh

The column tilt section is out of a Mitsubishi L300 forward control 4x4 bus, with a slight mod to the mounting bracket it bolted straight up to the Splitty mounting bolts using 2 original holes in the M/bishi mounting plate, the lower section of tube is from a Lancruiser column which ,cut to length fits nicely inside the M/bishi upper tube. Inside this tube is 3/4 of the original Splitty column with the splined end of the M/bishi fitted and welded into the top of it. The top part of the column is being modified to EL Falcon to fit the Falcon wheel, which has the centre offset about 25mm, so at the top of the wheel where you need leverage it is only 15 mm smaller radius and at the bottom it's about 40 smaller radius. The wheel is also nice and thick to grip. Once it is all fitted I'll make a vinyl cover for the tilt section to hide the mechanism and make it look tidy. I'll be using the Splitty indicator stalk and locating the horn button to the dash.
Cheers, Ian.

G'day,
I haven't had a chance to do any work on the column during the week due to a bout of the Flue, so hopefully will be able to finish it this weekend.
Cheers, Ian.

G'day,
Well the tilt steering is in and working great and have done over 1000ks since finishing it with no sore neck problems. The wheel is in a very comfortable position and is very easy to use.
Will post a pic when I remember to take one in daylight.
Cheers, Ian.

cant wait to see the mod finished is a great idea for us tall fellas driving buses!
ian i think you are gonna have to start manufacturing all these wonderful ideas!
cheers
rhys

Hey Rhys,
Mate I haven't got time to scratch myself, I'm having that much fun thinking up new ideas and mods for the Splitty, and having heaps of dead cars to get bits from makes it more fun. I enjoy passing on all my ideas so you folk can have a crack at doing them for yourselves. Next on the list is rear discs.
Cheers, Ian.

G'day,
couple of pics of completed tilt steering, still need to paint.
Cheers, Ian.

2...XF Falcon wheel is very comfortable to use. Need to fit horn button on dash. Will make vinyl cover to hide mechanism.

Well done. I like!