Steering column question! Please help!

[Wadmin1021]

The hubby and I are working on rebuilding the steering column for our 1971 Cuda. We want manual steering and will be having our steering box rebuilt for 24:1 ratio. During tear-down of existing steering column (that came with the car) we noticed that the coupler is too small to fit onto the steering box. Couple questions: 1) Will our current steering shaft work for manual steering set up??  2) We believe coupler is for power steering. Is this correct? Please see pics below:

Full length shaft:


Collapsed shaft:


Coupler doesn't fit onto steering box:









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[JS27N0B]

Manual steering and power steering columns have a different length shaft. You will have to find an inner shaft for a manual, or at one time someone made a short adapter piece to go from power to manual steering.

[Wadmin1021]

So what do we have? A manual or power steering shaft? And what are the measurements supposed to be on those? Also, what about the coupler I asked about?


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[Finoke]

Its been a while since I did a conversion. But the coupling is called a pot coupling. They are different between manual and power with the spline opening. The steering shafts are also different lengths between manual and power. There is an extension that is sold if you need to lengthen your shaft or you can buy a used steering column.

http://www.manciniracing.com/mopemastad.html

I believe the piece above will fit on the manual box then your power steering pot coupler slips on the male spline. Then you can use your power steering shaft which is to short without this extension.

[Wadmin1021]

Can anyone tell me what we have? Power steering shaft or manual steering shaft?


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[anlauto]

The coupler you have is power steering.
If the shaft you have is too short, it's for power steering too.
You can keep the restored steering column and just change the shaft and coupler.

[Wadmin1021]

Thank you - we thought so about the coupler but wasn't sure. We don't know if the shaft is too short. We bought the car in pieces basically and it's never been installed. Our car currently has no motor in it or any interior. How do we tell if it's for power or manual? Are there measurements for the two? We don't want to spend the money on anything when we don't know what we have?!


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[Chryco Psycho]

Sorry I do not have the shaft lenghts here to reference for you but Alan or Cody should have them .
 Really it doesn't matter as either shaft is usable , if you have the power steering shaft the adapter will correct to length & spline for manual , if it is for manual you are good to go .
 Don't buy anything right away anyway

[Wadmin1021]

How do I get a hold of Alan or Cody?


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[Lbs]

Not trying to hijack this thread but what I'm reading here is making me a little nervous. My 73 Cuda had manual steering and my son hit a curb and broke the steering box. So I took the opportunity to switch it over to power steering. I went to a junkyard and got a power steering box and pump with mounting brackets. I didn't change the steering column or the coupler and it seems it all went together well. The only thing I haven't seen mentioned here that mine had, is a collapsible steering column. I'm a little worried mine might not be safe.........any thoughts?


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[Chryco Psycho]

Alan is Anlauto in this thread , search cuda Cody on this site you can usually PM them

[Wadmin1021]

Tried PM but says inbox is full!


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[Chryco Psycho]

Not trying to hijack this thread but what I'm reading here is making me a little nervous. My 73 Cuda had manual steering and my son hit a curb and broke the steering box. So I took the opportunity to switch it over to power steering. I went to a junkyard and got a power steering box and pump with mounting brackets. I didn't change the steering column or the coupler and it seems it all went together well. The only thing I haven't seen mentioned here that mine had, is a collapsible steering column. I'm a little worried mine might not be safe.........any thoughts?


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 Well the collapsable shaft is damaged so the inner shaft can slide up inside the outer shaft , this could disconnect the steering shaft form the coupler , there is a tiny press pin in the side of the coupler that will prevent this from happening & allowing the shoes to slide up out of the coupler so you need to be sure it is in there .

[Chryco Psycho]

Tried PM but says inbox is full!


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[/quote
 With ALan & maybe Cody too there is a small envelope under there ICON when they post click on that & It will send an email drirect to them

[Wadmin1021]

Got it! Thanks Chryco! Email sent!


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