Sierra Steering column in a viper?

[steamyrotter]

Evening all.
Just a few questions, if anyone can help.

I am in the hair pulling what goes where stage of a Cobretti Viper.

I believe i have the sierra steering column but when placed in the tub up to the bracket (The one that crosses between the doors & Holds everything in(?!?!) the wheel ends up way too high for my reckoning. Temporarily sat in the tub on a block of wood places the centre line of the wheel level with the top of the tub. What is the general height for the wheel to be, relative to the tub top surface????

With the stalks still on and the column moved to miss the dash board fillet, the wheel feels too close, and there is only 1/2" of the triangular shaft poking through the bulkhead. removing the lights and wipers stalks, leaving only the indicator stalk on improves the situation but still needs to my mind to go forward a bit more....... So what is the general length from the dash to stalk assy???? (think the shaft is going to need extending a tad..) Having said that what could be a suitable replacement. (Push bike!!!!)

Am i correct in thinking that i don't need the lights and wiper stalks as a dash mounted replacement can work. I am thinking along the lines of just using the indicator stalk and incorporating a microcontroller setup for indicator timings, switching, immobiliser etc so fitting any SVA'able switches will not be a problem..

All this is giving me a bit of a headache, but i am sure all will become apparent..

I know there are viper owners out there. Is there any chance of a few pickies of the layout of the column arrangement please.

Also, and this is the last bit for now(!), any one live down this way that i can meet and have a nose please...

Cheers all

Dean.

[Iain]

Dean,

I am building a Viper and I too am using a Sierra Column. However, I'm afraid that is where the similarities end. Mine is a Classic Replicas Viper (just the same as the Cobretti) but I am using the Jaguar based chassis and it looks a damn site different to yours!

I have fitted my column after taking measurements off a friends Viper, who is using the Jaguar column instead. I can't say for certain but I think that it's bloomin' close and should be alright. Have you tried pulling the column apart? The Sierras have a small amount of play that you can use to lengthen the column. I did this and I got away without having to extend it or anything.

If you e-mail me (so I get your address) I'll send you some photo's of my setup, if it helps. I'm not in your neck of the woods but if you're ever up near Donington race track you are more than welcome to call in as I live just five minutes from there.

My build page hasn't been updated since February but work has been going on. Have a look and you can e-mail me from there. The address is http://www.fake-snake.com

Hope this helps.

[kevchard]

Hello
We are building a DMS / Cobretti Viper based on a MKIII Cortina. I have mounted the steering wheel below the cross piece of metal and it fits fine. I have used a Granada column and mine doesn't poke our far either. I have got a good welder to weld triangular shafts toether to make it long enough.
My parents live in Wellington (near Taunton) and we are visiting this weekend.
PM me with your locale, we will be v interested in seeing yours.
Do you have the fibreglass floorpan? and round transmission tunnel?
Cheers
Kevin & Helen