427 steering column needs additional reinforcement?

ERA Tom · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 06:19 PM

Hello all. Anybody hear of a problem with the 427 kit's steering column requiring additional reinforcement? My neighbor spoke to an ERA owner at a club met recently and this guy said the 427's steering column has a problem with not enough support and requires some additional braces. Anybody had any problems?
Thanks, Tom.

John Martin · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 06:55 PM

Not to my knowledge , and I doubt it , but call Bob or Pete and let us know .

Jim Holden · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 07:56 AM

ERA Tom:

I have never heard of anyone having a concern about the steering column support. I should add that, I've done three cars and never had a problem, nor in speaking with ERA have they in some 700+ cars.

Where does this "guy" say the support should go? (Talk about hearsay!)

Jim

PatBuckley · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 08:12 AM

Neither my old car (ERA535) or my friends ERA have any issues with this.

Turk · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 08:38 AM

My Era didn't have any steering concerns, neither did my friend's.

PatBuckley · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 09:41 AM

Excaliber · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 10:16 AM

I never noticed anything loose or strange with mine, very solid.

ERA Tom · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 08:35 PM

I'll try to track this ERA owner down and find out what his concern is. I'll get back with everybody asap.- Tom

REDSC400 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 05:29 AM

No this is not a concern at all. Unless of course you are 350 pounds and regularly use the steering wheel as a lever to push/pull yourself out of the cockpit. ??

Mine is very solid.

sgianino · #10 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 11:07 AM

I had my column welded solid , keeps me from getting into trouble this way if the car only goes in a straight line

Works great!!

Jim Holden · #11 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 03:21 PM

Sal(monella):

So, you steer with the pedals?

Peter always said you were a bit up on your toes....

J

xcobraj · #12 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 03:32 PM

The only thing I found wrong with the steering column is it makes my knuckles turn white,or maybe its the gas pedal,I get confused

RICK LAKE · #13 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 04:31 PM

ERA TOM Tom I have no problem with my steering except for the car turns faster than my brain. Have to speed the brain up to get insink with car. Also white knuckle problem

No cure found for this yet. Bigger motor may fix both problems.

Rick Lake Ps ERA 428 is holding up just fine.

Pete Munroe · #14 (**permalink**) 10-18-2004, 09:07 PM

Tom, et al,

Tom, just sent you a mail I meant to post here, here it is again, but shorter...wheew!

I think you heard a story second hand from someone else at the Camarillo Airport Sandwich Meet...stories have a way of getting more interesting, but less accurate.

ERA DOES NOT, NOT, NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH STEERING, or STEERING COLUMN SUPPORTS!!!!!!!

But, as a matter of preference I modified my ERA #2027 289 FIA, a very early 289 car, to a column support that make it MUCH stiffer...the original was safe, but not to my liking.

I bolted a ~12 inch long aluminum angle vertically to the firewall.

I used one of the hood support bolt holes at the top and a thread-sert into the "cowl loop" of the frame at the bottom...hung a "triangulated brace" from the vertical to a square tube at the steering column.

Picture a "V" on its side, top and bottom at the firewall, the apex at the steering column support at the face of the dash...

Difference in "feel" for me was great...very little up/down flex movement was left.

When Robert's ERA 427", about #630 arrived, we did the same thing but added two triangles, one on each side. Very stiff.

Actually, on the 427" probably not needed, but we were putting his car together, so WHY NOT? Overkill, but very nice.

Saw a Kirkham 427", and it had as much or more flex than a stock ERA 427...the 427" dash is stronger I think than the 289 FIA dash.

Also, we did another ERA 289 with the double support, again very stiff and nice.

The ORIGINALS are JUST FINE...if you are happy, they are great...if you want stiffer, we did it.

There is NOT ANY ISSUE of a PROBLEM with ERA STEERING columns...it is a matter of taste, not necessity.

Hope the picture attatches, the file is probably too large.

Again, there is NO PROBLEM with ERA.

Pete

RICK LAKE · #15 (**permalink**) 10-19-2004, 04:07 AM

Pete Munroe Pete if you get a chance could you get a couple of pictures of your setup? Always looking to make thing better and strong than what it is. Thanks Rick Lake

Pete Munroe · #16 (**permalink**) 10-19-2004, 10:49 AM

Rick, and anyone else interested,

I have some great hi-resolution digital photos of the steering column support...but...can't get them small enough to post.

Can not get the photo's below 400,000 bytes...anyone know how to get them down to 40,000 bytes...

E-mail me your address at the Club Cobra box, and I will send you some photo's.

Pete

Pete Munroe · #17 (**permalink**) 10-21-2004, 01:36 AM

Rick, Tom, etc,

Just posted two photos' of the column brace in the Galleries section.

The 289" FIA is pretty much the same structure.

Again, unless you think it is a problem, the 427" is pretty good as it is already. I wouldn't pull the dash to add it on a whim.

My 289" FIA car with the all aluminum FIA dash is much more rigid with the brace added. More to my liking.

Pete

ERA 626 · #18 (**permalink**) 10-26-2004, 10:06 PM

I agree the steering colom is fine the way it is...

decooney · #19 (**permalink**) 10-26-2004, 10:32 PM

The column is not just supported by what is in your picture gallery. Once the column tube itself is secured in place through the top mount, its also tied together down below at the joint where it meets together where the steeering wheel shaft hooks in. Once everything is bolted in together, its fine. Proceed.