69 Charger, steering shaft doesn't engage box far enough..

[INTMD8]

Working on my Charger and installing the restored column.

When I got the car there was no roll pin holding the u-joint to the gear box and I didn't pay much attention to how far it was on.

Now that I'm trying to put this back together the u-joint is pulled all the way out to the end of it's range, column as far as it will go through the firewall seal plate and it's still about 1/4in short of lining up so I can install the roll pin through the u-joint.

Any suggestions as to why this may be happening? Thanks!!

 

[moparnation74]

Sounds like the shaft collapsed possibly.......Can you grab the shaft on the engine side between the coupler and the housing bearing and pull the shaft towards the front of the car?

 

[66 Sat]

If it did collapse and you pull it back, make sure you replace the shear pins with some plastic dowels, otherwise the column can walk back out of the coupler and your steering becomes disconnected. Very dangerous. Happened to me with my 69 Barracuda.

 

[moparnation74]

If it did collapse and you pull it back, make sure you replace the shear pins with some plastic dowels, otherwise the column can walk back out of the coupler and your steering becomes disconnected. Very dangerous. Happened to me with my 69 Barracuda.

Everyone should use one of these whether the pin is sheared or not.....A cheap safety item...
http://www.megapartsusa.com/proddetail.asp?prod=181-SCC101

 

[INTMD8]

Great idea, thanks guys! I will check it out and let you know what I find.

 

[NJRR]

Aren't manual and power shafts different lengths? Maybe you have the wrong one on the car. Is it original?

 

[AR67GTX]

Everyone should use one of these whether the pin is sheared or not.....A cheap safety item...
http://www.megapartsusa.com/proddetail.asp?prod=181-SCC101

These will definitely help hold the whole thing together - especially if your sheet metal cap is so flimsy it won't clamp on to the coupler. But they are a real bitch to install as we just put one on a 69 Roadrunner.

On this Roadrunner - the column was separated from the bolt plate when we tried to install. There were two sets of dimples on the column sleeve and it looked like the intent was for the bolt plate to sit between the two and be restrained in both directions. But we couldn't get the plate past the first set of dimples so we ground down the lower set until the column slid past them and then we managed to get it slid together and bolted up.

Not sure if this was all correct but what we had to do. I don't know the history of the column and the owner was a bit rough with it. I did worry about the pins being sheared but I didn't take it apart to check them.

 

[hunt2elk]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Mopar...aining-Clamp-most-Dodge-Plymouth/301416193929

Here is another one. Doesn't look like it would be to hard to install?

 

[moparnation74]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Mopar...aining-Clamp-most-Dodge-Plymouth/301416193929

Here is another one. Doesn't look like it would be to hard to install?

Looks are deceiving........they require some manipulation/bending prior to installing.....

 

[Kowal]

Looks are deceiving........they require some manipulation/bending prior to installing.....

The reproductions are made from wire that seems more easily manipulated, making the installation not too bad. (Detroit Muscle Technologies makes them, DMT. These are the guys that make all the body gaskets). The originals are a real challenge to put on, quite a bit of spring tension. All of this assuming you are reaching around the battery/tray, under the valve cover, etc!

 

[moparnation74]

The reproductions are made from wire that seems more easily manipulated, making the installation not too bad. (Detroit Muscle Technologies makes them, DMT. These are the guys that make all the body gaskets). The originals are a real challenge to put on, quite a bit of spring tension. All of this assuming you are reaching around the battery/tray, under the valve cover, etc!

I have used both and both are not easy.....

 

[INTMD8]

You guys were spot on! I put the shaft in a vice (with a cloth) and had to tap on the column to extend the shaft. Pulled out a little over an inch. Certainly didn't move freely, feels very stuck in place but understood about the function of that lower retaining clip.

Thanks!!!

 

[AR67GTX]

Looks are deceiving........they require some manipulation/bending prior to installing.....

Absolutely - I was in charge of the bending/manipulation. We didn't think it would be too hard either until I got the instructions from the owner and looked at them and saw the ends are supposed to go into the recess's for the drive pin. We probably started out at least 1/4 inch shy of being able to easily do that.