steering column install issues 1970 cuda

[culp71]

so one step forward two back, prepped column for install with all restored parts, gaskets, grease, new shoes, clip spring, seal, etc.
slide column through floor/connected to PS box with no issues, lined up master notch and tapped in pin. went inside car, lifted column temporally into approx. spot, slide down floor/firewall gasket, larger yin-yang plate, then smaller plate finger started all fasteners all looked great.
Then slide on main column bracket and its about 1 inch from the stud that stick down from the dash/column bracket. no matter how I shift or move stuff it will not reach, furthermore I can see the indentation on the bracket and it looks like the original bolts that where there where centered in the slots, which mean it about 2 inch's off....

what am I doing wrong??
pictures would help.

[burdar]

Did you measure the length of the inner steering shaft before and after you rebuilt the column?  The inner shaft could have collapsed a little bit.  Pull on the column and see if you can get the shaft to extend.

[1 Wild R/T]

I'm guessing you put the small plate with the two bolts on the column from the top so it's above the area that it won't pass over?  It goes below that...

[culp71]

sorry I didn't clarify, its too far towards rear of the car, wont shift forward enough... 2 inches too long.

I put on the small plate ,then larger floor plate then gasket ,loaded them up from bottom before installing new pivot/shoe/spring seal setup on steering shaft.

I did not measure at any time but it was in the car before and everything fit...

[1 Wild R/T]

Well then as mentioned the shaft length changed... There are two pieces that slip together, originally it's pinned with two nylon pins but those shear pretty easily & when that happens you can shorten or lengthen the shaft pretty easily by pushing or pulling on it...

[culp71]

assuming that's what happened, how do you correct it?
remove and tap the bottom of the shaft?
is there a easy way to see if that's what happened?

[Cuda Cody]

Post a photo of the end of your steering shaft.  The Manual shafts are longer then the Power Steering.  They are designed to collapse in an accident.  The right way is to have the correct shaft.  If you post a photo of the end of the shaft I can tell you what you have.

[1 Wild R/T]

Post a photo of the end of your steering shaft.  The Manual shafts are longer then the Power Steering.  They are designed to collapse in an accident.  The right way is to have the correct shaft.  If you post a photo of the end of the shaft I can tell you what you have.

Since he posted this....


'I did not measure at any time but it was in the car before and everything fit..."

I'm thinking it's the right column...

I've seen someone had posted the length specs for both columns, unfortunately I didn't save it.....

[burdar]

In a previous post, he was talking about the lockout linkage on his column.  I think he has a 1970 column in his 71.  It could be either a power or manual column at this point. 

[culp71]

it is that same column originally from a 1970 that had ps... I will try to take a picture tonight.

[anlauto]

With the mixture of parts culp's been dealing with, who knows if it's even an E Body column....We need pictures

[culp71]

alright here's a few pic I took of the column, I believe it is a 70 e body version ( I cut off the lower lock out arm) but need clarification, and what the length for a PS application would be, or another why to determine why it may be too long.

please excuse the "strap metal hold up bracket", it killed me to do this as the holes where almost 2 inchs off, and I didn't want to leave it hanging with no support and with the in, out , in ,out,I am going to have to repaint it anyway.

look close at pic DSCF5843.JPG
should that raised bump on the column tube be against the floor plate when installed?

[Cuda Cody]

First off, it's much easier to build the dash out of the car and install it as one unit.  Maybe you are just test fitting it? 

It looks like a PS shaft to me.  The "raised bump" is the floor plate mark.  It goes up against the bump.  70 (to 72?) couplers are 3" and the 73+ are 3.5".  Might double check that.  Why did you cut off the lock out tube?  What are you going to do if it slips in to the lockout?  And what's the part number on the PS box? 

[HP_Cuda]

Wow looks to be too long. Can you collapse it?

Otherwise the only variance you can get is how far in and out the coupler will go when mating to the gear box.

[Cuda Cody]

It might be the steering shaft is broke the plastic pins and slipped out.  You would need to fix the pins if that has happened.  If it did happen a long time ago the shaft might be slightly rusted in place.  They are designed to collapse when in an accident.  Just another thought.  If I had the column in my hand I could tell you for sure what is wrong.  But trying to help with the photos is all I can do.