Re: Need parts Breakout Drawings of 47 Steering Column

Posted by HH56 On 2017/10/16 15:59:26

That arrangement on the Custom and maybe Supers appears to be a bit different than the other models because of the dash carpet entirely covering the steering column area on Customs. If yours is missing or not usable I think there might be a couple of options.

One is to make both sides out of the water resistant cardboard with the 1/2" or 3/4" jute glued to one of the cardboards as per the illustration. Place the jute and cardboard side with cardboard against the firewall facing the engine with the dash insulation pad over it as was the original. The second cardboard piece would take the place of item 15.302 if you need that piece.

The other option is to go ahead and buy the 15.302 rubber piece from Steele, use the jute and cardboard under the dash pad, rubber over the dash pad and lay the carpet over the rubber. That is what I did but since the rubber isn't seen on the Custom and really doesn't do anything but provide a finished appearance on models without carpet, I felt it was a waste of money.

Water resistant cardboard sheets are available but it comes in large sheets and the oversize freight charge is horrible. Restoration Specialties among others sell it. You can get the original jute from a few online upholstery places too. Most local upholstery suppliers are wholesale only but If you have an upholsterer friend or lucky enough to have a retail upholstery supply house close you can possibly get cardboard thru them at a reduced freight charge. The upholsterer friend is what I did in getting some 39 x 65 sheets as well as some modern felt type carpet padding instead of the jute. The modern felt is a bit thinner but a couple of layers glued together worked well.

If your trunk seat back piece does not need replacing and you don't need a large sheet then you can do a passable cardboard replacement by using small sheets of black Sintraboard available from Amazon. but the black finish on that is not quite the same as the cardboard.