I'm 'helping' a guy with his stalledRenegade build, and have done a fair bit, a lot of stuff that was either missed or not done properly the first time. But now I'm onto steering, particularly the column. This is a standard beetle column, but it seems way too long for the renegade dash. Are they shortened for renegades? This looks like it needs about4 inches taken out?

Also, windscreen surrounds, anyone got one to sell?

Get the seats and steering wheel first so it can be sat in to find a comfortable length for the column it may be fine as is with a reposition of or different clamp.

I was thinking I should do that, just seems really odd that the mount is that far out..

I was thinking I should do that, just seems really odd that the mount is that far out..

That mount would normally be cut off and some sort of tubular cross brace fabricated to run between the inner wings and behind the dashboard. Something like a two inch exhaust clamp would secure the column tube to the brace when you've established the correct length.

Can't figure out this forum on my phone,can only find quick reply with no pic post option, and pics are on my phone!
Anyway, I ended up making a frame for the dash, like the regular gp style rxvept you can't do that because of the way the dash/bonnet lays on top of the body. Took a while to figure out,but got there.
I then took 50mm out of the column, removed the stock mounting bracket, and opened up the fast to take the shroud. I need to add another mount to the column and make a corresponding bracket on the frame to secure the column. I thought about the y bolt idea, but the column tube is really thin, and was concerned about the strength and crushing it with the u bolt.

good news then another job off the list, columns are thin tube but the U clamp method just holds them still it does not need ratcheting up silly tight.

Did this in the end.  Column was shortened 50mm, and I cut off the old mount and added a smaller one that will fit through the hole in the dash for the column. Oh, and just worked out how to reply 'and' post pics 😁

Another job off the list  it is worth ditching the beetle fuse box and fitting a blade fuse box as they have better connections and you will not end up spinning the fuse to get a good contact.