Steering Gear... Final Chapter...................................?

[BIGSHCLUNK]

WEW, again I feel like a $2 hooker... up/down (repeat). Played with the swivel for AWHILE. Seems to be a fine line between crank/no crank  and park/reverse w the key in the off position. Sometimes shed crank right away other times not at all other times only if I put here through the gears first other time in neutral only. Hope I got it right, shes still up on stands so I hope nothing changes when I bring  her down.

Got her fired up, man its good to hear her coming to life!!  When I fired her up a few of the neighbors had to stop by to see whats up. They thought I broke something, I lied a little and told them better , louder faster!!

Had some minor return line issues as I filler the p/s pump. The only hose I could find locally is a smaller OD even tho the ID was the same couldnt use just a pinch clamp coming off the box. Ever run into this, the pich clamps dont get tight enuff! 

Got that handled but of couse its the first fire-up of the year and other issues arise. I thought the alt bearing was shot, nope the belt is so gotta replace that sqeak sqeak sqeak

Radiator cap was leaking, I thought crap not that quality mex made cap I got. Actually the upper lip on the spout of the rad was not flat. A little gentle persuation with a body hammer appears to had fixed that problem.,

Then oil spots under the car.... snugged the valve covers ,let her run a good 20 mins,  looks good at the moment.

Gonna get a belt tomorrow and get her off the stands. Cant wait to see waht the new steering feels like.

http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv82/BIGSHCLUNK/Steering%20Gear%20II/?action=view&current=SteeringGear11003.jpg

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Hey she's back on the ground!!! I ran her one more time just to check for any leaks and it looks all good!! 

Now I have to remedy my Milodon dip stick situation... (condensed story) I turned the stick tube to make it more of a straight shot. Now I cant get the stick to read!  I bent that thing 6 ways past next month last nite. I moved the tube cause my stick was kind of resembling a corkscrew making it a trick to get in and out. 6 quarts in the pan and ....     
http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv82/BIGSHCLUNK/Steering%20Gear%20II/?action=view&current=SteeringGear12001.jpg

[BIGSHCLUNK]

 

This Milodon setup up is killin' me.  I played for 2 hrs tonite. After the first hour I moved the tube more forward again (look at the first pic in this post).  I cant even get the stick back in all the way. It dont help with the battery and tray back in it either. I suppose I should have left it alone, but I had to move it to get the exhaust man out. The car is low again so the arthitis in my neck is really acting up. The main problem is the design of the Milodon stick. I understand they made it that way for a more universal application and to fit the tube BUT being essentially a wire and NOT (spring?) steel, the curve of the tube, curves the stick keeping it that way. Which is no freakin good!           



Maybe I'll come up with something, but I'm runnin' low on ideas. Gonna let het sit tomorrow, gonna watch the nationwide boys at Elkhart Lake. Maybe a 318's the answer? naw...........................................     

[Topcat]

I'm watching intently as I need to wrestle the tube around the Schumacher mount myself. Everyone I heard so far said it's a PITA. One guy claimed to re curve the repro OEM one and made it work. Others claim only the Milodon stainless steel braid tube works.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Hey guys another day of aggravation. I had to walk away from her tonite.... before I broke something. I swear I've aged 3 years in the last week on this thing!!

Mike- I DO NOT BELIEVE THE SCHUMACHERS ARE THE ISSUE! I think the problem is really in going around the ext manifold.

Today I thought I'd try putting things in the original position-the one where things USE TO WORK! Refer to the very first pic in my thread. Well that went NO PLACE after an hour or so. Then I thought, what the he11 am I missing?? So I put her back in the air. The stick was definetly following the tube to the inside of the block ..... someplace?! I moved the tube in a zillion different directions.. at one point I did get just a little oil on the stick. Suddenly I thought maybe I got...

jack sh!t back to square one. It's as if (due to the twists and turns of the tube) the stick ends up running along the top of the windage tray.

In the pics, check out the schu's, look at the different tube positions, honest to God this was a functioning stick (even with the corkscrew effect). I'm runnin' out of ideas, and sure DON"T want to drop the starter and ext man again! Not that ,that would be a cure all anyway. I'm runnin' out of patience, and unless I dream up something (literally).............. 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

[BIGSHCLUNK]

            

[Topcat]

Hey guys another day of aggravation. I had to walk away from her tonite.... before I broke something. I swear I've aged 3 years in the last week on this thing!!

Mike- I DO NOT BELIEVE THE SCHUMACHERS ARE THE ISSUE! I think the problem is really in going around the ext manifold.

Today I thought I'd try putting things in the original position-the one where things USE TO WORK!

The Schumacher mounts tend to sit offset towards the trans. Correct? The factory mounts and K member allowed the slight bent stick to sit less curved.

Is there any possible way to grind out a small portion on the mount so the dipstick isn't so contorted? Making it more like where the facory would have it?

That may not be the answer or option you're looking for. But it just might re position the dipstick better so it will read.


[/quote]

[BIGSHCLUNK]

There's really more space around the mount than the pic shows... Its the ext man. Refer to the first pic in the second group of pics.  It worked before... honest! But for some reason I cant find the "sweet spot".  My blood pressures dropped I cant almost joke about it now. But tomorrow nite.......... 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Didn't have a chance to play with her tonite. But the wifes been asking if anyones had any other ideas.



Truth is I think she's sick of listening to me p'n an moan'in bout it! 

[67vertman]

But the wifes been asking if anyones had any other ideas.

I do Bigs.....stop playing with that worthless Challenger and sell it to me for $10...      

I wish I knew how to help you... but I have never had that much trouble with a dipstick tube....

I hope you get it figured out soon, or you are going to drive yourself crazy.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

  I dont know whats more screwy Ron, me or the dipstick. I got one idea today as I was standing in the hot (90 deg)sun at the auction. I'm gonna try it tonite. If that dont work I'm gonna drill a hole right thru the intake manifold...  

[67vertman]

I feel for you Bigs.  It should be the most simplest thing to install, an after market dipstick and tube........and thats were it all goes wrong! 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

The saga continues... I get this idea that if I can turn the dipstick in the tube it just may read. Sounds feasable right? I put a "mark on the stick to know where I'm at so to speak. I undo the bracket and try it.... it works!!!! I got a reading!!!      Ok I think rock n roll! I reattach the bracket and........................ not a freakin thing!!!!            I ordered a new MOPAR setup today. I already know this will take on a whole new set of mental and physical gymnastics. But I gotta move on and get a few other things done. 

[Chryco Psycho]

I have used the same set up but really had no issues , it was a PITA to install the tube but once in it read fine , my guess is it is wiping off the stick inside the tube as you pull it out