Issue with steering shaft

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Issue with steering shaft

Postby jaydawgnit1000 » Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:10 am

Ok, so first thing; I have a 1978 Monza 2+2 3.2l with power steering no tilt. I'm replacing the dashboard and the bottom peice has a 10mm screw right above the steering column and I can't get to it. So I figured I'd drop the column down and I went to remove the steering shaft to try to make more play room. Well I removed the insert bolt that is at the bottom of the shaft and now it just isn't fitting back in. I don't believe I shifted anything. I have the clamp positioned correctly on the shaft (where it is groved inward so the bolt can slide in) but it seems that the bolt doesn't want to line up with the other end of the clamp. I know I had to tap it out with a hammer originally. Not sure if I'm missing something out of the obvious?? Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you
1978 Chevy Monza 2+2
3.2 litre v6
5 speed Manual

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Re: Issue with steering shaft

Postby hammerdown7 » Sat Mar 21, 2015 9:52 am

Some of them do fit tight, I'd do some light tapping when trying to put it back in.

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Re: Issue with steering shaft

Postby 67shovel » Sat Mar 21, 2015 10:53 am

You might be off a spline and then the bolt won't fit through.
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Re: Issue with steering shaft

Postby 74_Vega_GT » Tue Oct 24, 2017 4:06 pm

~issue with steering shaft~ The knuckle and rag joint have excessive play. This is a tube within a tube type, tilt steering out of a 77 Monza..The knuckle is HUGE and almost drags on the stock exhaust manifold of the Vortec v6. The rubber boot is bound to melt. What are my options here? Go with a Japanese knuckle that may be smaller and allow more room between the exhaust and the knuckle? Is there a replacement shaft that most folks are using?...Thanks in advance.
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Re: Issue with steering shaft

Postby 67shovel » Thu Oct 26, 2017 8:33 am

if you want to loose the factory rag joint you could call "Flaming River" or "Borgenson" (might have that spelling off) and see what they offer.
79 Monza wagon Pro street, cage tubs narrowed 9
73 GT Vega wagon street car 355 700r4 a/c
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65 Corvair Corsa midengine 301
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Re: Issue with steering shaft

Postby Smiley » Thu Oct 26, 2017 2:35 pm

Like 67shovel said-
If the bolt wont go through the clamp then it may be off a spline. Can you post a picture of it?

74_Vega_GT wrote:~issue with steering shaft~ The knuckle and rag joint have excessive play. This is a tube within a tube type, tilt steering out of a 77 Monza..The knuckle is HUGE and almost drags on the stock exhaust manifold of the Vortec v6. The rubber boot is bound to melt. What are my options here? Go with a Japanese knuckle that may be smaller and allow more room between the exhaust and the knuckle? Is there a replacement shaft that most folks are using?...Thanks in advance.


I used a Flaming River joint at the steering box. it is about 1 5/8" O.D. at the largest part and has no rubber boot to melt or crack.
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Re: Issue with steering shaft

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Fri Oct 27, 2017 3:50 pm

Once you get the Bolt back in consider that you can leave that attached and all you need to do is drop down the column just a few inches to get to that screw I use a small socket wrench or a short driver
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Re: Issue with steering shaft

Postby 74_Vega_GT » Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:26 pm

Is the Flaming River joint stainless steel also? Do you have that part number? Thanks for the reply.
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Re: Issue with steering shaft

Postby Smiley » Tue Oct 31, 2017 3:49 pm

Flaming river joints used to be nickel plated but now they offer stainless steel.
For the early manual steering box (5/8" x 36 spline) to a non tilt shaft (3/4" DD) natural stainless steel # FR2522DD, polished stainless steel # FR2555CPL
If you are using a Cosworth or power steering box it should have the larger 3/4" spline O.D. Verify your spline count before ordering as there are several choices on the 3/4" aftermarket joints.
If you need a joint at the firewall for a power or tilt shaft there was spline size change for 78 and up.
https://www.summitracing.com/search?Sor ... 4294919637 has them.
the Helix SS joint is $73 it has the same O.D. as the flaming river joint.
Flaming river SS $99, SS polished $120
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Re: Issue with steering shaft

Postby 74_Vega_GT » Wed Nov 01, 2017 11:03 am

Thanks Smiley, Upon closer inspection, I have looked at both manual steering boxes that I have over here and have discovered that I have 2 types of manual boxes. The one that we cleaned up and painted was the one original to the 74 Vega GT. It has a short double splined shaft that is approx. 1.5 inches in length. The splines are not continuous around that shaft but appear to be 8 splines on each side of the shaft separated by a smooth area on one side and a separation in length of the splines(non-continuous) where the bolt goes through. The shaft has a flat spot all the way down..The number cast into that box is 7808990.
~ The other manual gearbox is the one from the 75 Cosworth and has a "S" logo cast into it with numbers 5679142 "O.P" has a 3/4 diameter splined all around shaft that is 3.7 inches long. I didn't get a spline count.
~ The steering shaft section that fits into the upper shaft section, only slips in about 2.5 inches where holes are supposed to line up for a pin of some sort.
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1982 Chevy S-10 longbed 2.8v6 A/C
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2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 Coupe,Silver Sapphire Blue
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Re: Issue with steering shaft

Postby 74_Vega_GT » Sun Nov 19, 2017 9:21 am

Thanks, the Flaming River joint solver the steering issue.
>I Love the H-Body forum and am grateful for it and all its members contributions, disclaimer below is directed at search engines.
> Photographs posted by this user (74_Vega_GT) are the sole property of this poster. Any use without express written permission is prohibited.
1974 Chevy Vega GT Hatchback
1982 Chevy S-10 longbed 2.8v6 A/C
2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 Coupe,Black
2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 Coupe,Silver Sapphire Blue
2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster N.A., Silver Sapphire Blue
2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster N.A., Aero-Blue
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