Re: [AMC-list] Safety Weinie

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

Collapsible columns where introduced in 1967. I think that a small 
pattern (pre 75) Saginaw manual steering box will bolt to your car or 
one of the larger pattern (75 or later manual or all years power) box 
with the sill adapter plate.

Besides the column, American's were restructured sometime during the 
1968 model year to prevent steering column intrusion. They tied the 
front and rear frame sills together, changed the floor pan, firewall, 
and the inner fender panels between the firewall and shock towers.

One other fairly easy upgrade is with the seats. If you look at what 
cars have in them now, they all have fairly tall seat backs and head 
rests (there is a lot of engineering in them as well). Adding those to 
your car will reduce neck injury in a crash.

Matt

On 12/19/2009 11:09 AM, farna@xxxxxxx spouted this sage advice:
> You could possibly sell an article noting the differences between older and newer cars, and easy upgrades. Nothing wrong with making a collectible driver safe! Many, like most Ramblers, won't lose any value if things like seat belts (non-period even shoulder belts) are added as long as the work is neatly (and safely) done. In fact, that may increase their salability to someone interested in a driver. You might submit the article to Old Cars Weekly... I think they pay a minimum of $25 for articles they print. All I can offer is a couple issues added to your subscription. 
>
> Most things can be upgraded easy enough, but the steering column is tough. The only thing I can think of that would maintain close to original look is simply to cut he column and install a "rag joint" just above the steering box. The column won't collapse, but the box will tear away from the shaft in most instances, greatly reducing the possibility of being injured by the shaft being pushed back if not eliminating it. The Ididit collapsible section sounds like too little to be worth the effort. A common rag joint will tear away easy enough in a collision (IMHO). Then again, a few inches can mean the difference between life and death...
>
>
> ----------------
> Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:10:50 -0500
> From: Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>
>
> I got my wheels turning about various safety features in cars over the
> years, and wondered how those safety features related to lives saved,
> or percent reduction in fatalities. I have a friend that has worked in
> insurance for a good while (I'm not mentioning how long, as I would
> like her to remain as a friend!). Looks like a lot of that research is
> already done! Lives saved or injuries avoided by specific technology.
>
> I'm tossing around the idea of trying to write an article, but just
> looking at some of the info makes me realize how much I need to do
> with my car to make it a safer cruiser. Or at least by knowing the
> risks, I can try and mitigate them. Wonder if I could sell a safety
> weinie article.
>
>
> --
> Frank Swygert
> Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
> Magazine (AMC)
> For all AMC enthusiasts
> http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
> (free download available!)
>
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--
mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1967 Rambler American wagon
1968 Rambler American sedan
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