Steering Shaft Coupler and Header Clearance

[Mopar Muscle]

Working on my basket case '65 again. Slowly sorting out issues from the original build 20+ years ago. Currently trying to tighten up play in the steering. The steering coupler has a lot of play and needs rebuilt, however, it appears there are come challenges.

The car had a manual steering column installed from a power steering car. It came from the factory (and still has) a manual box, so they used an adapter. The power steering column makes the coupler graze the header. Because of the light interference no clip was installed to hold the top rubber cover in place.

What are others doing to fix this short of installing a proper manual steering column? Down the road I'll do that, but just trying to get the car safe to drive occasionally.

 

[Don Frelier]

They originally had no mechanism "wire clip" to hold the cover over the rubber gasket as the metal cover was crimped over the small bumps at the upper edge of the coupler.
Pretty difficult to reproduce.

In you situation I would consider denting the #1 tube as necessary.
Otherwise if you leave the wheel or drive it with the coupler right up against the tube you risk burning the gasket and damaging the grease in the coupler as well.

 

[dvw]

If the coupler is assembled properly it should have no play. If the shoes are worn or installed 90 degrees of it will be sloppy. Pesonally I welded a shaft and Flaming River U joint on my 64.
Doug

 

[493 Mike]

Do not be scared to dent the tube. If you ever watched the episode of Engine Masters where they beat the hell out a set of headers and lost no HP you will grab a hammer!
Mike