05-04-2022, 07:25 PM
If it's crunching going into first it's usually because the clutch is dragging. Checking the adjustment of the clutch fingers and pivots would be worthwhile. Lengthening a steering column involves stripping out the inner and outer columns, cutting the inner at 45 degrees and welding in however much length length you need. Then weld the same amount to the outer tube and reassemble; fit all the components in the vee of a piece of steel angle when you tack weld them to ensure the column ends up straight. I've done this job several times, often easier than trying to find the correct length of column from however many variants the factory made. Might not be aesthetically pleasing on your car, but if you fit a Ruby steering wheel it will have the same effect as a lengthening the column by a couple of inches.
If your car started life as an RN, it would have left the factory with a 5.25:1 CW & P. The gearing with that ratio should give reasonable performance on a light car.
If your car started life as an RN, it would have left the factory with a 5.25:1 CW & P. The gearing with that ratio should give reasonable performance on a light car.