Steering Column - Lambo Lounge

Chassis - Steering - Column - Shortening

These are photos and comments from other builders about there methods in shortening the Fiero steering column to better match the Lamborghini. The Fiero Steering Column is designed to collapse in the event of a head on collision. There are two telescoping components to it.

A real Lamborghini

photo by Tony

Andy Bujtas

I examined the area around the steering column to see if there was a way to move the steering inwards. I noticed I had about 4-6 inches of play between the steering column tube and the steering rack intermediate shaft. This meant I could slide the steering column in about 3 inches or so without cutting the column itself. But I had to make an adapter bracket that would relocate the steering column bolt holes. The result are the 2 extender bars you see. They are 11 inches long, but I could have made them even longer. They are slotted to that I can make minor adjustments to the column. The 3/8 inch bolts that are welded to the bar are 8.5 inches on center. I weld the bolts at the hex side, then grind the weld flush with the bar.

The final result is a shortened (by about 2.5 inches) steering column. And I have some room to make further adjustments. Note that in order to use this method, you will have to relocate the clutch-starter permit switch and remove one of the switches connected to the brake pedal. I only needed 1 brake switch to handle the brake lights and I'm not sure what the other (upper) switch was used for. Otherwise, it was an easy fix and installed fairly quickly.

Robert Proulx Method on shortening the column, I hope these photos help, its real easy to do.
Take the column out of the car, leave the steering wheel on. Stand it on the steering wheel. Take a small piece of wood and a hammer and hit the bracket that bolts the steering column to the dash (the bracket closes to the pedals). Don't hit it real hard and switch sides as you hit it.
Remember to measure where the bracket is before you start hitting it.
Once you have the bracket where you want it just use the piece of wood and hammer and hit the center piece, this one will move a lot easier than the part when you are hitting the mounting bracket.

Dale Van Blokland I needed to shorten the steering column by 3.5" so that it would fit better against the dash as well as give a little more room in the car. First I picked a fixed point on the car and measured the distance to the steering wheel color. In this case my point was 16.5".

After disconnecting the wiring harness, the brackets and loosen the clamp at the flex joint. Remove the column. You will need to remove the spring and rubber seal from the shaft. Notice the small wedge that will have to be replaced. Tap out the bearing which will open up the column. Next tap out the inner column. You will notice there is an internal column that wedges the two pieces together.


Next cut off the bracket that had held in the steering brackets. I cut two opening in the existing framework so I could drill and put nuts on the bolts that will be holding the front brackets.

Once the column was separated, cut 3.5" of the inner tube.
Before cutting the steering column rod itself, be sure and scribe a line on the tube that will allow you to align the pieces up after you have cut out the 3.5". Be sure and that you bevel the ends of the tube into a "V" groove so that you will get good penetration on the weld. This weld needs to be good enough for your life to depend on it. I used a piece of angle iron to clamp the pieces of the rod to and then spot welded them together. Once I had verified the alignment was still good, I then final welded it.
I ground the weld on the rod smooth and took this opportunity to paint the column.
Insert the inner column and reassemble in the reverse order. The column is now 13" from my original measurement point.

Although my information comes from various builders and sources, if you want any information contact me. The photographs used on this site are used with permission, if you want to use any, contact them through the various links on this site. I did and you can see the results!