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Issue with steering shaft

PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:10 am
by jaydawgnit1000
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

Re: Issue with steering shaft

PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 9:52 am
by hammerdown7
Some of them do fit tight, I'd do some light tapping when trying to put it back in.

Dick

Re: Issue with steering shaft

PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 10:53 am
by 67shovel
You might be off a spline and then the bolt won't fit through.
Roger

Re: Issue with steering shaft

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 4:06 pm
by 74_Vega_GT
~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.

Re: Issue with steering shaft

PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 8:33 am
by 67shovel
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.

Re: Issue with steering shaft

PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 2:35 pm
by Smiley
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.
Image

Re: Issue with steering shaft

PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 3:50 pm
by marco_1978_spyder
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

Re: Issue with steering shaft

PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:26 pm
by 74_Vega_GT
Is the Flaming River joint stainless steel also? Do you have that part number? Thanks for the reply.

Re: Issue with steering shaft

PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 3:49 pm
by Smiley
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

Re: Issue with steering shaft

PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 11:03 am
by 74_Vega_GT
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.

Re: Issue with steering shaft

PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 9:21 am
by 74_Vega_GT
Thanks, the Flaming River joint solver the steering issue.