Hudson to Saginaw Conversion

I know that there are a lot of posts on how to convert your Jeep to Saginaw steering, but this is a bit different. I've already got the box mounted, stub shaft made, column conversion mostly done and tie rods done. The last thing I have left to do is put a 3/4" DD end on the steering column.

This column is out of a Hudson car. The Hudson used a Ross box like the Jeeps, but it was much larger and had a lower gear ratio (more turns lock to lock). My grandfather installed it back in the '60s. So I want to keep the column. It's kind of cool and has self canceling turn signals.

The OD of the Hudson steering column rod is 7/8". I made an adapter piece out of 3/4" round rod by milling two flats on one end and turning down the other end so that it is 0.001" larger than the ID of the Hudson tube. I pressed the adapter into the tube and now I need to get it welded. So my question is this. Should I weld it and put a bolt through the entire assembly or should I just weld it?

When I made the steering box stub shaft I had the 3/4" round rod welded into the coupling it two locations and then I put a 1/4" grade 8 bolt through them. (I would have used a coupling that was splined on one end and 3/4" DD on the other, but I couldn't find one of those with my spline count) My concern with the column though is that the turned down 3/4" rod is now too small to drill a 1/4" hole through.






Here is the stub shaft on the Saginaw box. You can see where it is welded and bolted.


Here is the converted Hudson column.

 

Looking at the weld area in the photo below, there is way more than enough fillet room to get a weld that is going to be strong enough. If you want a bit of insurance, drill a couple holes in the column tube, like you would for a bolt, but do not drill the insert, weld the holes up with a rosette making sure you get the insert.

 

I'd weld it up and be done with.
If you have good welding skills (or a buddy) I wouldn't worry at all about it.
You do need a flex coupler/bell coupler of some sort; maybe it's at the box end.

The only real problem is see is you've painted or powder coated the chrome steering column tube.
Covering chrome is a crime where I come from.

 

Thanks guys. That is a good idea. As far as the chrome goes... it was pretty far gone. It was more like me removing what was left than me covering it up.

 

^Hey, I have one of those! Came out of a Jeep I bought for parts...I wasn't sure what it was.
Why did you take out that box? That parts Jeep I bought steers real easy, I was thinking about putting it in mine...

 

There's nothing wrong with keeping it, but in my case I didn't feel it was worth it.

1. If you think it's hard to put a V6 next to a Jeep Ross box, try it with a Hudson Ross box.
2. Saginaw parts are much easier to find than Hudson parts.
3. My grandfather had relocated the bell crank when he did the upgrade and all his welds were broken. It was only being held on by one very loose and bent bolt. It would have been just as much work to fix all this as it was to go to a Saginaw box.

 

The column is cool. If you are worried about the weld, take it to someone that can tig it together (certifed welder). If properly done, no way it could come apart, as stated plenty bevel and plenty of metal to blend together. BTW the fitting you made is really nice as well.