Fellow mad professors, I have searched for an answer to the following and failed so;
I would like to use the steering column from the Citroen BX the engine and wiring loom for my car came from, as it will make my life simpler on the wiring front (mechanical background, lengths of different-coloured wire make me break out in a cold sweat!). The trouble is is that it has no deformable/collapsible section in it. However, the first section of the column, the solid tube containing the bearings is only about 18in long, as opposed to the Sierras' at about 2.5 ft(ish) and the next section of steering linkage is attached to this short section via a UJ. Now then, will it satisfy the SVA inspectors do you think, if I route the column so that the second section meets the first at an angle, preventing an impact to the front of the car ramming the steering wheel boss through my sternum? Or can I just use a Mountney wheel with a collapsible boss?

[Edited on 8/11/03 by Browser]

the u/j (bottom half of column) has to be at more than 10degree angle,top of column needs to be telescopic and the wheel boss needs to be of a colapsible type,well thats london any how

Can't you weld brackets to a column that you know conforms and fit the switchgear to that?. What steering rack are you using as it would be easier to match it to that.

yours, Pete.

I'll be using a Mk2 Escort. I had explored the welding brackets route I was just trying for an easy life (lazy git that I am!) Thanks for the answers though.

Browser,

Further to the earlier comments, the shaft can contain any or all of the following:

1) Offset, but as Conrod says, angle s/be greater than 10degs, BUT SVA books says:

"Whilst it is unlikely that joints of this type will work at angles of greater then 30degs...."

so you want the angle to be between the two!

2) Telescopic:

a) Telescopic
b) Sliding Clamp
c) Disengagement device

3) Collapsible element in upper column.

So if you can incorporate either of the first two, you should be ok, but you ought to check with your local SVA centre.

ATB

Simon

I had the same problem, after lots of thought i used the sierra column and made brackets to fit the bx switch gear to it.
One problem was no self cancelling indicators as the bx indicator trip was no where the sierra wheel activator. a montrey boss has a series of holes in the lower part and by fitting a long bolt it was possible to to get both to contact and switch of the indicator.
I decieded not to use the column ignition switch and instead cut a hole in the sva exempt area of dash and mounted the BX ignition barrel in there. The only problem is there is no steering lock so my anti theft device is a removable key under the bonnet killing the diesel shut off valve.
If you use the BX wiring loom you must label every terminal you disconect as they use lots of same coloured wires!!,you must also use the fuse box as nearly every wire runs through it .I removed the loom and fuse box, laid them out on the floor,as if it was in the car and then removed any unwanted circuits e/windows-s/roof-c/locking ect..You may find loom is too long under the dash and several parts need to be shortened, only cut and shorten 1 wire at a time(the instrument panel has about 30wires going to it most are the same thickness and 95% are green or brown)
hope i aint put you off,
it can be done and it feels good when it all works
phil.........

Thanks Phil, nice to see someone employing an old Cit for good purposes. I stripped out the entire wiring loom including the fuse/relay panel so I could re-use it (cheapskate me!) and will be removing all of the unnecssary wiring as you said, which will have the added benefit of reducing the weight of the loom by about 5kg! I was thinking of using the Sierra ignition barrel and soldering it to the BX loom, just depends how much of a pain it will be.