[Droidac]

Hi All,

I'm in the middle of a restoration on my "69 Camaro, and have run into a snag that I don't know how to fix. First of all, I had all new floors put in the car, from firewall to rear bumper. Right now I'm trying to connect the steering box to the column, and I've got about a 3/4" gap. I have not touched the steering column mounting at all, and the steering box mounting location is not adjustable either. What could have changed? The only thing I can think of is that perhaps the body was not put back on the sub-frame in the right spot? How much adjustement is there in the body mounts? Is there anything else I should look at?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

[77thor]

The steering column is the only adjustable part.
You should be able to loosen up the bolts and push it forward.

[Vega$69]

You should be able to pull the column shaft back down so the flange can couple at the rag joint.

The attachment bracket has some adjustment where it bolts to the bottom of the dash Loosen the 2 nuts and the two bolts at the firewall braket and see if that does it.



If that doesn't work the steering column shaft is collapsible.

Maybe the shaft has been pushed up the 3/4"

[mahunt]

There are two half inch gauge holes that are easily spotted on the flanges for the middle two body mount locations.

A tire iron provides a great gauge as it's about half an inch in diameter.

Poke the tire iron into the driver's side middle gauge hole and see if it engages in the body gauge hole on a perpendicular line. If it doesn't, loosen the two body mounts on the driver's side and pry/align the tire iron until they do and then tighten the body mount bolts.

Repeat for the passenger side.

[JIML82]

This is a drawing of a tilt column lower end, but the 2.00 inch dimension should be the same for your standard (non-adjustable) steering column.

If the face of the flange to the face of the bearing adapter is less than 2.00 inches, you will need to pull the steering shaft back our of the steering column jacket. It may not come back out easily, but try and pry it out to the 2.00 inch dimension. Please try to NOT hammer on the steering shaft because that kind of procedure is very hard on the steering column bearings.

Looking at the bow tie shaped flange that attaches the flexible coupling assembly to the steering gear input shaft. The height of the bow tie flange appears shorter than the production cast bow tie flange on the production flex coupling assembly. That would tend to aggrivate your condition. From the face of the bow tie flange next to the steering gear to the surface of the bow tie flange that touches the rubber coupling disc, the height of the barrel should be 0.95 inch. If it is less than that dimension on your replacement flex coupling assembly, that would also cause problems.

Jim

[davidpozzi]

To re-center the subframe, you must loosen all 6 bolts plus loosen the bumper braces at the subframe.
Verify the subframe alignment before adjusting the steering column.

[Droidac]

Thanks for all the tips, guys. I will check further this weekend.

To JimL82, so what you're saying is that the end of the column moves in and out in the housing (see pic below)? I did try pulling on this, but it didn't want to budge, and I didn't want to force it too much.

[Milt's 68 SS/RS 396]

You could try longer bolts from the flange to the rag joint. Tightening back & forth to pull the shaft towards the box. Once that is done put the original bolts back in.

[67sc]

Where is the steering wheel in relation to the steering column? I had to (sorry cave man) bash the steering shaft down the column a bit to make things right.

This made the top of the column, lock plate, and wheel all look right.

[Droidac]

Success! There were 2 more screw right at the firewall that I missed before. Lossened them off and, with a bit of persuasion, got the steering column to slide down the amount that I needed. Column and box are now connected and everything moves nicely.

Thanks guys!

[x77-69z28]

I would say check the alignment of the subframe first and work from there. There are two alignment holes that match up with holes in the floor. Then you may have to move the steering column. Should be an easy fix. Good luck
Buddy

[Droidac]

I did check the body-to-frame alignment, and it was good. Anyways, problem has been solved now.

Cheers.