So... is there an easy way to move vehicle controls?

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Fri May 08, 2009 6:31 pm

How big of an ordeal is it to move the steering and other controls on a vehicle?

The vehicle in question is a 79 postal jeep with right hand drive.

Our brainstorm was to elevate and center the driver's "box" at the top of the bomb structure for a Doc Strangelove kind of theme.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Fri May 08, 2009 7:01 pm

CapSmashy wrote:How big of an ordeal is it to move the steering and other controls on a vehicle?

The vehicle in question is a 79 postal jeep with right hand drive.

Our brainstorm was to elevate and center the driver's "box" at the top of the bomb structure for a Doc Strangelove kind of theme.

Universal joints n such method or sumthin fancier?

I think most ppl opt for the u joints since its KISS and fairly reliable if made well.

Post by **mdmf007** » Fri May 08, 2009 7:38 pm

If your simply extending them out, with a minimum amount of angle its fairly easy with u-joints and some frame work to hold joints rigid.

the farther out of the plane you move the controls, the more difficult it will be.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Fri May 08, 2009 7:40 pm

OK, this is something I've done a few times!

U joints are indeed your friends for the steering part of the project.
If you want to move the steering laterally, a chain-and-sprocket setup works well. A free and effective way to make mounts with bearings to hold your sprockets, and your steering extensions, is to cut the bottom pedal crank area from old bike frames. You can cut the pedal cranks off and weld on U-joints, and/or use the sprocket that will already be there. Make sure to incorporate elongated, slotted mounting holes to allow for chain tension adjustment.
The throttle is pretty easy since you can use a cable that only has to pull. Bike brake cable works fine. The shifter is a bigger deal. I used a boat shift cable, very heavy-duty and capable of push/pull. They're expensive, but I found a deal on one at a marine shop that had been cut to the wrong size for the boat it was intended for.
The brakes are easy to re-plumb if you want to build a new and solid mount for the pedal/master cylinder up at the new driving position, or just construct linkage to operate the original brake pedal from a remote one up above.
Of course the ignition/starter switch is easy to relocate. While you're at it, do some secret something to disable your mutant vehicle whenever you aren't at the helm!

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Fri May 08, 2009 8:05 pm

u-joints. Dur... I r tarded....

Yeah, nothing fancy or extreme. Basically raising the driver's seat up about 5 feet and over to the left about 2 at the most.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri May 08, 2009 9:18 pm

Friends of mine did that to a Volvo in 1999, moving the controls to the rear of the vehicle, but when that pissant Danger Ranger fucked them out of a DMV tag I had to get them a DPW sticker.

Lesson learned -- doing anything at bunringman isn't worth sucking bureaucratic dick. My friends mostly stopped going after 1999.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri May 08, 2009 9:33 pm

Try Darryl here, he helped build the car-bed and might be willing to give some advice --
http://ferrucci.com/contact/contact.html

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:04 pm

I got 3 dive lines with 2 U-joints each for free from the local Kabota dealer. They had a recall or some issue with the front drive lines on a small 4wd tractor. I went there looking for cheap U-joints for the purpose of elevating steering controls. After coming up with nothing I explained that I did not care what they went to or what they were for I just had to be able to weld to them. The service manager then stepped in and within minutes I had 6 U-joints 3 of which operated as new and 3 were stiff but serviceable.
I ended up doing the chain and sprocket thing in the end. It works well and was nice to change the ratio since it is armstrong steering.

falk · Post by **falk** » Thu May 14, 2009 7:15 am

Captain Goddammit wrote:OK, this is something I've done a few times!

Hey, hey, HEY! What did I tell you people about posting actual useful info on eplaya?! Now knock it off and flame hippies or something instead.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu May 14, 2009 7:37 am

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu May 14, 2009 9:29 am

falk wrote:
Captain Goddammit wrote:OK, this is something I've done a few times!
Hey, hey, HEY! What did I tell you people about posting actual useful info on eplaya?! Now knock it off and flame hippies or something instead.

Shut up, falk.

You hippie.

So... is there an easy way to move vehicle controls?

So... is there an easy way to move vehicle controls?

Re: So... is there an easy way to move vehicle controls?

U joints