Steering coupler - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

68GMCCustom · 04-04-2008, 09:12 AM

What size coupler was used on these trucks for the steering gearbox shaft rag joint? 13/16ths? And...where to get one quick?

My truck (w/'72 chassis) had an '80's motor in it, along with the accessories and evidently the steering gearbox. I recently pulled that motor and replaced it with a '70's 0010 block based 383... and have found one issue after the other. 1st the 305 manifolds (a temp solution) wouldn't bolt up to the 350 heads so we had to weld up some old headers, then the power steering pump brackets wouldn't work so I substituted a '70 Camaro keyway style ps pump and brackets that were on hand...so then the press on ps pulley wouldn't work...and neither would the high pressure hose since it was the o-ring type hose and now I had a flange type pump. So, my steering gearbox leaked so I decided this was a good time to replace it...and found my old lower rag joint is evidently about 1/16" to small.

I was about to just say to heck with it and buy a new March setup... but I can't seem to scrounge up the cash.

So what do I need for my new '72 gearbox and where can I get one quick?

Thanks!

smashingchuck · 04-04-2008, 08:38 PM

Check out the steering parts from Flaming River. Top notch stuff, and way better than stock. They make a replacement rag joint, but I would opt for a regular splined to double-d shaft universal.

http://www.flamingriver.com/index.cf...=cat/cat76.htm

billydonn · 04-05-2008, 06:50 AM

The gearbox outputs changed in about 77 or 78. I believe the later ones are the larger 13/36 x 36 size. Call borgeson.com sales.... they have the rag joint you need and they can answer your questions. Gil Evans is good to talk to.

68GMCCustom · 04-05-2008, 10:12 AM

ordered one from CPP today. Thanks though!

68burb · 04-05-2008, 11:26 AM

as always i'm late, but the fittings on the pumps come right out so you could have kept the other box and lines on with the other pump.

68GMCCustom · 04-05-2008, 09:50 PM

Didn't know that. Oh well...I needed to replace the gearbox anyway, and the pump was cheap. All the 80's crap on the truck has me irritated so I'm trying to replace it all. Seriously considering some new March brackets and pulleys since I'm finding issues there too.

04-04-2008, 09:12 AM	#1
68GMCCustom Truck and auto performance nut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: McKinney,Texas Posts: 3,848	Steering coupler What size coupler was used on these trucks for the steering gearbox shaft rag joint? 13/16ths? And...where to get one quick? My truck (w/'72 chassis) had an '80's motor in it, along with the accessories and evidently the steering gearbox. I recently pulled that motor and replaced it with a '70's 0010 block based 383... and have found one issue after the other. 1st the 305 manifolds (a temp solution) wouldn't bolt up to the 350 heads so we had to weld up some old headers, then the power steering pump brackets wouldn't work so I substituted a '70 Camaro keyway style ps pump and brackets that were on hand...so then the press on ps pulley wouldn't work...and neither would the high pressure hose since it was the o-ring type hose and now I had a flange type pump. So, my steering gearbox leaked so I decided this was a good time to replace it...and found my old lower rag joint is evidently about 1/16" to small. I was about to just say to heck with it and buy a new March setup... but I can't seem to scrounge up the cash. So what do I need for my new '72 gearbox and where can I get one quick? Thanks! __________________ Kurt - '68 GMC short step - NIB '09 LY6 6.0L crate motor w/mods, NIB '12 crate 4L85e w/billet 3k stall Circle D, 3.73 posi 12 bolt, DynaTech f-swap headers, 3/4 drop, handling mods, etc. - my toy '72 Chevy LWB C-10 Highlander - 350/350 ps/pb/tilt/ac - not original but close '06 Chevy TrailBlazerSS - LS2/4L70e - little black hot rod SUV - my DD '18 Kia Sorento - wife's econo-driver '95 Chevy S10 - reg cab shortbed, LS, 4.3, auto... my '68's powertrain and chassis build -links broken A surprise phase - carb to efi -links broken

04-04-2008, 08:38 PM	#2
smashingchuck It'd be alot cooler if you did Join Date: May 2003 Location: Three Rivers, MI Posts: 2,345	Re: Steering coupler Check out the steering parts from Flaming River. Top notch stuff, and way better than stock. They make a replacement rag joint, but I would opt for a regular splined to double-d shaft universal. http://www.flamingriver.com/index.cf...=cat/cat76.htm Attached Images __________________ 78 Build Thread 4Runner Build

04-05-2008, 06:50 AM	#3
billydonn Council of the Elders Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 212	Re: Steering coupler The gearbox outputs changed in about 77 or 78. I believe the later ones are the larger 13/36 x 36 size. Call borgeson.com sales.... they have the rag joint you need and they can answer your questions. Gil Evans is good to talk to. __________________ 66 C-10 Stepside 350 Tuned Port Injection Tremec TKO-600 Truck Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/user/billydonn Truck Video: http://good-times.webshots.com/video...ost=good-times

04-05-2008, 10:12 AM	#4
68GMCCustom Truck and auto performance nut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: McKinney,Texas Posts: 3,848	Re: Steering coupler ordered one from CPP today. Thanks though! __________________ Kurt - '68 GMC short step - NIB '09 LY6 6.0L crate motor w/mods, NIB '12 crate 4L85e w/billet 3k stall Circle D, 3.73 posi 12 bolt, DynaTech f-swap headers, 3/4 drop, handling mods, etc. - my toy '72 Chevy LWB C-10 Highlander - 350/350 ps/pb/tilt/ac - not original but close '06 Chevy TrailBlazerSS - LS2/4L70e - little black hot rod SUV - my DD '18 Kia Sorento - wife's econo-driver '95 Chevy S10 - reg cab shortbed, LS, 4.3, auto... my '68's powertrain and chassis build -links broken A surprise phase - carb to efi -links broken

04-05-2008, 11:26 AM	#5
68burb Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Keizer, Oregon Posts: 78	Re: Steering coupler as always i'm late, but the fittings on the pumps come right out so you could have kept the other box and lines on with the other pump. __________________ 1968 K10 burb- on it's way to being C10 sporting a 454 th400 and LTZ 20's 1995 K2500 Burb as daily driver 350 with 193K miles 1994 K1500 Silverado ECSB building a TBI 350 for it 330 horse

04-05-2008, 09:50 PM	#6
68GMCCustom Truck and auto performance nut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: McKinney,Texas Posts: 3,848	Re: Steering coupler Didn't know that. Oh well...I needed to replace the gearbox anyway, and the pump was cheap. All the 80's crap on the truck has me irritated so I'm trying to replace it all. Seriously considering some new March brackets and pulleys since I'm finding issues there too. __________________ Kurt - '68 GMC short step - NIB '09 LY6 6.0L crate motor w/mods, NIB '12 crate 4L85e w/billet 3k stall Circle D, 3.73 posi 12 bolt, DynaTech f-swap headers, 3/4 drop, handling mods, etc. - my toy '72 Chevy LWB C-10 Highlander - 350/350 ps/pb/tilt/ac - not original but close '06 Chevy TrailBlazerSS - LS2/4L70e - little black hot rod SUV - my DD '18 Kia Sorento - wife's econo-driver '95 Chevy S10 - reg cab shortbed, LS, 4.3, auto... my '68's powertrain and chassis build -links broken A surprise phase - carb to efi -links broken



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