Shortening a Steering column

[Cranky]

Here's a piece that I cut off at a junk yard just above the weld then ground the weld off and slipped out the end of the shaft. I didn't shorten it but did the same thing from another column and then slipped this piece into the column I wanted to modify. IIRC, this was from an E body.

 

[eric383]

Here is a link to info on the collapsable steering column which I don't have on my 63. Maybe I have a death wish!
http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=249

 

[Cranky]

My 66 Belvedere doesn't have one either but I have a 67 column for it. Someone says it's not a direct bolt in tho.....time will tell. The 67 came out of a PS car and I'll have to 'work' on that problem when I get to it.

 

[aldal]

So on my 1965 Coronet my options are cut it off or replace the whole column?

 

[HawkRod]

So I know this is an old thread, but I have been looking for the specification for the length of a power steering column for my 70 Road Runner. I have looked in the FSM, in old threads here on FBBO and on-line, and I can't seem to find it. I need to shorten my column, but don't know what length to make it.

Does anyone have the length of the inner shaft for a 1970 B body power steering column?

Many thanks,

Hawk

 

[The Horvaths]

MOPAR columns fold like a zydeco frontman with a losing poker hand.

 

[HawkRod]

Thanks - I know they compress, but I am not interested in compromising the original safety features of the column. This is why I asked for the length so I can cut the old column properly to make it work.

 

[A383Wing]

just tap the center section in, it's not going to hurt anything, it's designed to slide in and out....yer taking a bigger chance on cutting and welding in my book...

 

[HawkRod]

Hi Wing,

Thanks for the reply.

If truly the column was designed to slide in and out, then Chrysler would have used one shaft only for both power and manual steering columns, but they didn't. More different parts means higher costs, so there must have been a good reason for Chrysler to do it. I realize that the column will physically move in, but then there is almost no additional room for the column to compress in an accident, and this would defeat the safety aspect. I know our old cars certainly aren't the safest cars when compared to cars today, but I certainly want to stack the odds in my favor in case of an accident.

I guess we all have our opinions, and I am not saying you are wrong, just that I have a different opinion.

By the way, I am not intending to weld on the column, but merely to cut the end down to size and re-drill it.

Thanks,

Hawk