I'm trying to get my 70 Cutlass S back road worthy and one thing has been driving me nuts. The steering wheel is way too low for some reason. I got the car a few months ago and have been living with it, but it really is a pain. The top of the wheel is just about dead level with the top of the dashboard so I can't see the top half of the speedometer when driving unless I hunch down a lot. It looks like the column is tight against the dash (maybe 1/4", probably less) and the mounts under the dash are all nice and tight. I know that at they guy before me replaced the engine with a mid 70s 455, but from the grime built up on the steering box and shaft it doesn't look like he touched the the wheel. Any ideas on where to start trying to move things around?

 

Not much you can do. I used to use my Tack to know how fast I was going, or stay with the traffic. You can move the seat up, or back. That is about it. I lived off 183 back then.

 

there should be a wedge that is placed in between the column bracket and the dash. it goes in the rear hole on the passenger side to pivot the steering column up or down. if that's missing, the steering wheel will be very close to the seat.

 

Bench or buckets?
It's a lot worse with a bench IMO.

It only goes up so much and there isn't any other adjustment.
I put in a tilt column.

They designed them for smaller people I think.
I could barely fit in my Vista until I put in the tilt and moved the seat back a little, still pretty tight.

 

scr8p, I'll check to see if the wedge is there or not. As far as the bench or bucket thing, It's got buckets in it now, but they're not original and I have no idea what they came out of. Pretty much like the rest of the car . They feel like they're about the right height, but I haven't measured them yet.

 

Your steering wheel doesn't tilt and telescope? I thought they all did!