Installing Flaming River steering column issues
 

Has anyone installed a Flaming River steering column into their car. I'm trying to mock mine up in my 68 Acadian (Nova) and the install kit they suggest doesn't come close to fitting. I took the stock mount off the stock column and might have to end up using it, but the only way to attach the bracket is to drill holes into the new column and run screws into it. If I knew they would hold that would be great, but that's a chance I'd rather not take. I've emailed Flaming River, but until I hear back from them, I thought I'd try here. I've attached some pics to show what I'm talking about. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

new steering column

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...PICT0001-1.jpg

bracket that comes with the install kit

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...verbracket.jpg

the bracket that came with install kit is supposed to fit in here, but it doesn't. As you can see from the next picture, the stock bracket has three holes in it and attaches to a fairly big piece under the dash. It isn't just as easy as taking out the stock bracket under the dash and putting the new one in.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...columngoes.jpg

stock steering column with stock bracket

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...ithbracket.jpg

stock bracket off column

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...toffcolumn.jpg

When I installed mine in my Cuda, I did have to mod the bracket alittle.... the holes didnt line up very well and the base flange was too wide to fit in the space I had. So I have to take a cut off wheel and file to my $60 brand new mount...always fun to hack on brand new stuff :)

I did talk to FR before I cut it, to see if I had other options, but there werent any. I considered trying to use the stock bracket too. I would call them rather than email..... much easier to talk directly about this stuff, than email back and forth...plus quicker...

So by the pix, I assume the "O" goes up into the "pocket" in your dash? Mine hung down, so the base width was the only issue for me. From the pix, I also assume that the issue is the "O" portion is too big to fit in the pocket?

Flaming River does have several different mount kits....have you looked at their website to see if any other will work?

If not, then you will either need to modify the new bracket to fit the opening or the opening to fit the bracket. Your choice....

I have mounted three of these columns in mid sixties Abodys. I did not use any mounting hardware from FR. All done with GMs mounts w/some minor mods. I make a insulator sleeve from close cell foam for the under dash brkt. and machine a bushing for the firewall brkt. from aluminum. No problems and one has over 25,000 miles since the install. My brackets look nothing like the one from your Arcadia. Basically a u bracket that bolts to the lower end of the dash support rods.
Mike Holleman

My bracket is only a U chanel 72 Nova. I would look to see if maybe you can get one like I have

Do you by any chance have any pics or a part number of the bracket you have.

let me look

Attachment 16627
If youneed something else email me mikess[at]sbcglobal[dot]net I didn't find a part number on it but my car is a 72 hopefully that helps

Thanks for posting that. If you were to cut the bottom portion on my bracket to lose the single bolt hole, they would be fairly similar. How did you attach your bracket to the new steering column?

Mine is still on the stock column but I went back and looked at it and I would mod you bracket to be similar to mine it is attached by the four holes that go around the column it looks like they just welded nuts on to the column I think that would be better for you rather than screwing into the column. Hope that give you an idea. sorry if I miss led you

No worries. I got a response back from Flaming River. Looks like they now have a bracket that works with the stock set up. $40 so not too bad. Will be ordering that tonight. Unfortunately I'm left with a nice billet bracket. Guess I'll have to try and figure out somewhere to use it.