Steering wheel upside down!

[jforest1]

So I had to replace my crush can recently after a long bout with my horn.  Problem is the new can is keyed pretty much upside down from the old one.  Only way I figure I can get it right side up is to pull the column out of where it connects on the other end???

Is that true?  Or is there another way?

JF

[dodj]

Installing the coupling incorrectly can get you 180* out, but I thought all cans were keyed the same.

[the_engineers]

The coupling at the steering box is 180* off.  That's the only way to fix this.

[Killer_Mopar]

If the coupling at the steering box 180* out, your turn signals wont work properly. Sounds like the crush can is incorrect?

[the_engineers]

If the coupling at the steering box 180* out, your turn signals wont work properly. Sounds like the crush can is incorrect?

I am working off the assumption that if the end of the steering shaft was "upside down" inside the coupling, everything would still be functional but the steering wheel would always be indexed incorrectly.

How could the crush can be incorrect?  Did anything other than an E-Body use a crush can?  I know that A-bodies used the Tuff adapter...

[brads70]

How would the turn signals be affected? I can't picture that ? 
I'm starting to sweat a little , I sold him the crush can? If it's wrong somehow I have another one? If there is a difference I had no idea? I assumed they were all the same?

[72rtchallenger]

If the coupling at the steering box 180* out, your turn signals wont work properly. Sounds like the crush can is incorrect?

no this is not true,,when I first put mine back together I had it  180* out and my wheel was upside down but my signals worked fine,,when you changed the crush can did you have the column out and perhaps pull it out of the coupler ? thats how mine got upside down,,its an easy fix as coupler comes apart,,if you havent done so yet I would    replace the steering coupler seal

[dodj]

There is a notch on the coupling that should be lined up with the master spline. 

[72rtchallenger]

There is a notch on the coupling that should be lined up with the master spline. 

yes you are right but you dont have to take it off the spline to flip the the wheel,,just pull apart the coupler and it can be turned 180* and put back together and this will put the wheel back in the proper position

[Killer_Mopar]

no this is not true,,when I first put mine back together I had it  180* out and my wheel was upside down but my signals worked fine,,when you changed the crush can did you have the column out and perhaps pull it out of the coupler ? thats how mine got upside down,,its an easy fix as coupler comes apart,,if you havent done so yet I would    replace the steering coupler seal

Thats weird....when I put my steering column back in my car, I installed it 180* out and the turn signals didnt work properly. I was all set to buy a new switch (to install when I fixed the the column), but thought maybe I better fix the column first.....when I rotated it 180* my turn signals starting working again. Did the switch mechanism change over the years? or maybe I had something loose?

[dodj]

Did the switch mechanism change over the years? or maybe I had something loose?

It seems just about everything on a '70 is different from the rest.....

yes you are right but you dont have to take it off the spline to flip the the wheel,,just pull apart the coupler and it can be turned 180* and put back together and this will put the wheel back in the proper position

Isn't there a dimple on the steering shaft as well to help get it all together right? So you line up the dimple with the notch with the master spline? Or do I have an imaginative memory?

[72rtchallenger]

Thats weird....when I put my steering column back in my car, I installed it 180* out and the turn signals didnt work properly. I was all set to buy a new switch (to install when I fixed the the column), but thought maybe I better fix the column first.....when I rotated it 180* my turn signals starting working again. Did the switch mechanism change over the years? or maybe I had something loose?

unsure what yours did but when your flipping it 180* its just a round shaft turning  and doesnt affect the turn signals ,,or at least not my 72 model,,and i dont think there is any difference in the others

It seems just about everything on a '70 is different from the rest.....
Isn't there a dimple on the steering shaft as well to help get it all together right? So you line up the dimple with the notch with the master spline? Or do I have an imaginative memory?

I dont know about a dimple but its the way I flipped my wheel  ,,maybe if I had saw the dimple and knew to line it up I wouldnt have had my steering wheel upside down in the first place 

[CHL2T]

The wheel in the Cuda was also upside down and I found that the previous owner BENT the indexing tang down the have the wheel "look" right side up. After trying to drive I found that the tie rod ends were adjusted so far out of whack that once I centered the wheel it was "upside down" which is when I found the bent tang on the can.

What does this have to do with your problem?....prolly nothing, sorry it's late 

[brads70]

It seems just about everything on a '70 is different from the rest.....
Isn't there a dimple on the steering shaft as well to help get it all together right? So you line up the dimple with the notch with the master spline? Or do I have an imaginative memory?

  That's how mine went together.

[jforest1]

I think I'm going crazy.  I took the crush can off, , matched it up with my old can (keying was in the same position), aligned the key with the shaft, eyeballed it with the steering wheel on, and it was right side up!  Then I put it on, and lo and behold it was upside down again!  ALSO, the turn signal returns do work...

So I'm gonna start from the ground up.  No assumptions.

So to be clear, this is the correct position, right?



Mine is upside-down if that is.  Further, the crush can's seam is up (which is my second clue). 

If, in fact, I am upside down (because it's starting to look right side up), then the key in this can is in the 11 o'clock position (the toothless area), correct?



If that is the case, I align that with the toothless area on the shaft, hammer it down (using socket on the middle, of course), and it should be copacetic, jah?

If it is not, from what I'm reading, I'll need to disconnect the coupler, rotate 180, and reseat it.  In that case I MAY need to adjust the metal pin on the inside of the crush can 180 (which may be a task) so that the turn signal returns work.

Ideas/thoughts/advice/corrections?

JF