Tilt steering

I have in my 85 359, the column out of the early 379 would bolt right up. It was tough finding an 88-93 with tilt that was in good shape thou. As for your freightliner I'm sure some thing similar would work but don't know what combination exactly good luck.

 

You know that isn't a bad idea. I bought an older cab over freight liner cause it had a sweet 3406b in it. Drove it home it has tilt and telescope wheel. I was shocked actually it's around early 90's or so. I have heard that later columns can be used with a little modification, but haven't done it myself. It's well worth the effort though.

 

Nothing is impossible. It only takes a vivid imagination and deep pockets. The best tilt and telescopic system I ever used was in a GMC Astro with the sierra interior. It was one of the later model years because it had the big grille. As I recall the whole column moved toward the driver. For me it resulted in a much more effective tilt.

 

The freightliner tilt wheel is a little bit different than the regular column. It requires not just the column, but the brace that holds the column.

I bought one thinking thinking that I could just swap the columns, but they mount differently. Then I bought another tractor that had a tilt wheel in it.

Freightliner parts are generally interchangeable, but I'm not sure that the cabover uses the same setup; it may but I wouldn't gamble.

My advice is to find a conventional at a scrapyard, and take the column and the brace. That way it will be in the right spot like it's supposed to be from the
Factory, and you will have the right mounts, etc.

And let me tell you, if you have never driven a Freightliner with a tilt wheel, you can't imagine what you are missing. Of all the trucks that I have driven, that tilt wheel gives you the greatest range of adjustment of ANY truck. It will feel like a different truck to you. It was one of the most brilliant things that Freightliner ever did.

Whatever it costs you, you will never, ever regret it.

 

There are aftermarket steering wheels available (I think on ebay and other truck shops sell them), but they are expensive and they have what appears to be a hard, wood finish.

Myself, I think the hard wood is hard on your hands. The original wheel is made of some kind of special rubber type material. It has a hardness to it, but when you grip it, it gives. I have found this to be easy on my hands, very comfortable, and I even feel that I have more control over the truck. It's one more thing that Freightliner really got right on the FLD.

I would try more scrapyards for a steering wheel and seat.

If your truck is an FLD model, even though it is an early model, I THINK, that if you get the tilt wheel assembly and you take the steel brace that the assembly bolts up to, everything should bolt in and be in the same spot. The brace bolts up from the firewall to under the dash. The brace itself should bolt up the same; the difference is that it is made to accept the mount for the tilt wheel assembly. If it bolts up the same, everything should line up, including the first joint.

 

I know this post is old im trying to do the same to my 84 359 I got a column out a 92 is there any pointers you could give me thanks