Very Hot Steering Column - is this normal ??

[Chryco Psycho]

I think there was a wool type donut in there or a rubber one thet dry rots out

[72ls5fla]

thanks for the info .....

I will figure some type of insulating ring that I can put in place.
I can make one.


I was also thinking about wrapping the steering shaft to reflect the heat from the exhaust manifold.
Then I can remove it for car shows and reinstall for driving.

Thanks

Bill

[422STROKER]

Something is up, I just drove 400+ miles at 31-3250 rpms (8+ hrs) and neither my column or console was hot.  It was 90 out today as well.

I have headers and a little bubble insulation on the floor.

Did you check the grounds like Brad mentioned?

Tom

[72ls5fla]

the steering column heat is not commming from a grounding issue.  I checked all body grounds and they are clean and excellent contact.

I'm pretty sure Super heated air is traveling up the column from outside.

[72ls5fla]

took these pics of the column - I am pretty sure there is a bushing missing between the lockout tube and the inner steering rod.

[Grec]

If I'm not mistaken, there should be a big white plastic bushing there...

[72ls5fla]

I made a nice fix for gap between the tube and steering rod.

I took a rubber 2" bidy mount and cut out the center to fit around the shaft.
Then I cut the mount in half - I made two rings that were about 5/16 thick.

I greased the shaft with silcon paste and slid each ring down into the lockout tube.  The first ring went dow about 1" and then the next was stacked directly on top of it.

There is NO WAY any hot air can now pass up into the steering column.  The steering shaft rotates freely in each of the rubber bushings I made, and the lockout tube moves freely as well.

I will post up a pic of what I did later tonight.

[72ls5fla]

sorry I was not able to get pics before putting the car back togther.......

But I have to happily report that after a 60 minute drive at HWY speed, the steering column got only warm.
I fixed the heat issues!!!!   

I also found the gasket that was installed at the fireawll for the steering column was previously done incorrectly and caused a terrible heat leak into the driver compartment.  I installed a new one and now that issue is gone too....

Want to thank everyone for all the great suggestions/ideas...

I hope that others can benefit from this thread...

[AARuFAST]

This thread was up before, There is a white nylon bushing (steering column seal) that goes inside of the shaft or locking arm.

There are two types: Solid seal... with this seal the steering column needs to be removed.
The other one is split, steering column does not need to be removed.
they are secured with a C clip.

Seal in inserted into locking arm until the groove is inline with the slot on the arm. C clip is snapped over the outside of the arm
to lock the seal in place,
About $35...

[72ls5fla]

the only bushing available is the one that goes between the outer housing and the lockout tube - uses the wire clip to hold in place.

I made a rubbber bushing to go between the lockout tube and the steering shaft - it is not available in reproduction.

[72ls5fla]

I had the column out and did not see/could not find - any slots cut into the lockout tube for the "C" clip in your picture.
On my column the only tube that had notches for a clip was the outer housing - you can see this in the two pictures I posted.

Is there any chance that this bushing was used on later vehicles and not on a 1970 model?
I have found that there are a BUNCH of 1970 only things that were changed beginning in the 1971.


If I am missing something - I would love to know where to look.

[Chryco Psycho]

I am glad you were able to create a sloution to the problem !

[dodj]

My column had a foam seal 'donut' around the steering shaft. It seals (more or less) between the shaft and tube in your pic.
When resto'ing my column, I just cut a donut out of 3/4" close cell foam. Never had my column hotter than the rest of the dash.
Floor just in front of the seat on the other hand, can cook my feet!

[72ls5fla]

using foam would have been way easeir than the rubber body mounts I cut...   
But I figured it would hold up much better to the extreme heat from the exhaust manifolds. 

On a big block  the manifold sits only 1-1.5" from the steering shaft..

And buddy you are right about the floor  heat! ...  The toe board on the DVR side gets VERY hot.

I am thinking about removing the carpeting and Dynomating the entire passenger compartment.

That would cut cabin heat dowm tremendously.