TR4/4A TR4 steering column bracket

[Alan_Myers]

Hi all,

My TR4's steering column bracket (at the firewall, under the dash) was broken and repaired by the previous owner. He sort of made up a bracket out of two pieces of sheet metal and the one "leg" that remained welded to the firewall.

This contraption was bolted to the firewall in a rather odd jumble. I'm trying to reconstruct close to original, but haven't been able to locate a good photo or illustration of this under-dash area in my various books and manuals.

Does anyone have a reasonably close photo of this bracket with or without the steering column installed? Or, does anyone know of a specific book where this is clearly shown? Thanks in advance!

 

[trrdster2000]

https://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29141 Might help. There is a peice of felt under the top part, one of the pipe clamps for PVC pipe at Lowes or HomeDepot looks really close, has room in a concaved area for the felt. Wayne

 

[Alan_Myers]

Hi Wayne,

Actually, the part I'm trying to re-do from pictures isn't shown on the Moss page. It would more likely be on a body parts page, but I've not seen a photo or illustration from the right angle to see it. The dash and steering need to be removed to get a clear shot of it.

It's the bracket that is spot welded to the firewall. Refering back to the Moss page: #18 (felt pad, lower), the steering column, #17 (felt pad upper) and it's half round cover sit atop this bracket and bolt to it.

Another way of looking at it.... Sitting in the driver's seat, the steering column passes through the dash and is attached to it and a brace, then goes through the firewall. Strip all those pieces away. The bracket that I'm trying to make is welded to the cockpit side of the firewall, immediately below the large hole the steering column passes through.

The previous owner left me with three mangled pieces that may or may not be pieces of the original bracket. They've been bent, twisted, cut and drilled to jerry rig a replacement for the broken bracket. I could likely engineer some sort of improved replacement, but it would be a whole lot easier if I could get a peek at the "real thing" before I start cutting, bending and welding!

Thanks for your efforts!

 

[Geo Hahn]

Sorry, it's my TR4s turn in the sotrage unit so I cannot get a picture right away, but there is a Moss illustration that might help, it is on page 47 (item B) of their printed catalog. It is more of a 'tech tip' (for the problem you describe), nothing for sale so I couldn't find it on their website. If you do not have a Moss catalog I can post a scan if it will help.

 

[trrdster2000]

Alan, I will try and see if the one at the warehouse has this part left on it, if so I will try and get it off. Might be a day or two, raining and holidays. Wayne

 

[Geo Hahn]

[ QUOTE ]
...trying to reconstruct close to original, but haven't been able to locate a good photo or illustration of this under-dash area in my various books and manuals. Does anyone have a reasonably close photo of this bracket with or without the steering column installed?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's some shots. I was lying on my back in the storage unit so I was shooting blind, thus the composition is somewhat rough but hopefully you get the idea. Should be dead easy to make one up from cereal box cardboard, then sheet metal.

 

[trrdster2000]

Geo, great shots and hows your back? Alan, with these pictures, do as Geo says and away you go. Sure is in a ackward place. Wayne

 

[Alan_Myers]

Hi Geo,

Those shots are great and exactly what I needed! Yes, it will be pretty easy to make one up, especially with these photos as reference!

That bracket is even simpler than I thought. I was trying to judge by the contraption that the previous owner of my car cobbled together to make the previous repair. I'd thought he had just used the broken bracket, rebent it and bolted it back on. But, now I can see that he must have used some scrap metal from another source. For example, it has one or two welded nuts on it that were baffling me.

In my quest, was searching through the original TR4 parts manual yesterday and I see this bracket was simply part of the scuttle assembly, not sold as a separate repair item. I couldn't imagine buying that entire piece, were it available, and tearing the car halfway apart to replace it!

I heard in the past that these brackets are a bit prone to breaking. You'd think a repair kit or reinforcement might be offered by one of the "big three". Of course, any sheet metal man worth 2 cents should be able to knock out a copy of the bracket pretty quickly, assuming he knows what one looks like and how it's positioned midway across the hole in the firewall.

Yes, it must have been a bit of a challenge to get those pics under the dash there! Many, many thanks! Mine is alot more accessible, since the car is presently gutted, getting close to hoisting it onto a new, rolling chassis I've been putting together off and on over the past 5 or 6 years. (Best investment I ever made was buying a second frame and sitting it alongside the old car, gradually moving reconditioned parts from the old to the new. As a bonus, it included an extra set of most front suspension and steering parts, although some are beyond using.)

By the way, I was also looking in one of Piggot's books for info and came across a footnote that answered another question. I don't yet have a Build Certificate to confirm it, but believed my car was originally Spa White with Midnight Blue interior. Most TR4 color lists don't show this combo or even Spa White on a 1962-build car. Well, hiding in one of Piggot's footnotes is a rumor of a few cars built in these colors in late 1962! Cool! I'm planning to return the car to the original colors, instead of it's present Persimmon and black, even if the engine, suspension and a few other things are a wee bit modified.

Again, thanks for your help! I hope I can return the favor some day.