collapsing steering column?

[hollywood68]

I read through Putters post in the FAQ and it mentions removing the intermediate shaft. My steering shaft doesnt look to have a splined portion, the only "connection" I see is the part that everyone talks about collapsing. I have everything removed (under hood and dash) but dont see a way to remove the shaft without taking the entire steering wheel off.

I must be missing something, I drilled out the plastic pieces and hit it but no movement.

Thanks

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

What year is your truck, 67-68? If so it won't do you any good to collapse the shaft, because it is one piece. You probably have a spring and a large flat washer at the bottom of your column, on the 69-72 this is where a flex joint is and the column disconnects from the lower piece.

[OhioDan]

There should be a intermediate coupling right at the top end of you intermediate shaft. Above that, there's a clamp with a bolt going thru it. Remove the bolt, and you should be able to take the intermediate shaft off of your steering column.

[hollywood68]

truck is a 68, so I guess Im SOL then? Still seems like the shaft will collapse at the same spot, I just dont have an intermediate shaft to then work on the bench.

I was hoping to get some more room in the cab, dont really need it as the belly is in good shape, but the wheel just feels like its in my face.

thanks for the help, at least now I know Im not crazy

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

You could probably find one on here, but you would have to become a member because of the rules, or your post would be deleted, like they always do....

[hollywood68]

so the only way to get the extra room is to swap steering shafts? I can just put mine back together and wait until I come across one...if thats my only option. Just want to be sure that my steering shaft wont collapse no matter what I try...

[WIDESIDE72]

if you drilled out the plastic, it would seem to me that you would have to have a 2 pc shaft. Sometimes they are stubborn. I have had some that I have had to completely heat the entire shaft then work it over with a sledge and block of wood (to keep from damaging the splines) to get it to collapse. Do you have a way to post pics of the shaft in question?

[kyull67]

Your shaft WILL collapse and shorten. I've done it on two '67's. Unbolt all of the connections, drill and heat the plastic rivets out, and then hit the bottom(where it connects to the gearbox) with a big hammer till it collapses to where you want it. You don't even have to take it out of the truck if you bolt it back to the dash before hitting it. It WILL take alot of heat from a propane torch to get it moving.

[sneakysnake]

Here are a couple of pics to help identify.The spline is at the end of the column(red circle)the collapsible intermediate shaft clamps onto it.

[mr48chev]

I just went out and looked and neither the 69 4 speed column that I have stashed away or the column in my 71 will collapse.

What I would do is unbolt the intermediate shaft. ( 2 bolts on the rag joint and the clamp at the top on the joint). Take it out and loosen the clamps on the steering column (under the dash and on the firewall), and slide the column down the distance you want it away from you. Tighten the clamps and then you can shorten the intermediate shaft the same amount by either putting one end in a vise and hitting the other with a hammer or other methods. When it is the correct length put it back in the truck. you can probably get away without replacing the pins but if you redrill the shaft and put new pins in put in "soft" pins so they will allow the shaft to collapse if you get in a head on wreck.

Kyull67 posts faster than I do and even has the photos to go along with the instructions, kewl.

[hollywood68]

Well I put it all back together stock, dont have time to remove the entire column and screw with it. There is no splined section near the clamp, the portion there is just a support for the shaft, I have verified. The shaft runs from the rag joint at the steering box all the way under the dash.

When I have more time I will tackle it again, based on the posts before today I thought it wasn't possible on the 67-68 so back together it all went.

thanks for the info everyone

[kyull67]

Here's some more details.

[hollywood68]

Thanks for taking the time to do the illustration. Based on what I saw that looks like exactly what I need to do.

On a side note, with everything tightened up I can pull on the Steering wheel and it moves, looks to be moving at the rag joint. Im assuming I need a new steering rag joint?

Kind of funny, seems like as soon as I finish one small project three or four others surface out of nowhere. This all started because the steering felt loose, the support bolt wasnt tight under the hood and the spring etc. were rattling.

Gotta love old iron

[kyull67]

The snowball effect claims another victim!

[71BB_LWB]

I put mine in a press to shorten it up...
I also moved the safety switch up the housing and welded a new tab on the shaft.

[Dingfodgy]

I've done this mod to both my 67's. Drill out the pins, soak the joint where the the lower shaft slides into the intermediate shaft with a crap-load of PB Blaster, remove the two bolts on the rag joint and proceed with beating the holy hell out of the lower shaft with a mini-sledge and block of wood to get the 40 years of "stickum" loosened up. Bolt it all back up and you'll be happier than a pig in sh!t.

[68shortstep]

Originally Posted by kyull67

The snowball effect claims another victim!

The six easiest to say (& hardest to stop) words in rebuilding a vehicle, or remodeling a house:

"Oh Well, while I'm at it ..............."

[Anadrol]

Anyone know if this mod can happen in the new trucks- 72-87 ??

I'm dying to do this on my '78.

[ekgguy]

I have a 68 and am looking to do this mod. As I am also a rather "large" fella, i could use the extra room.

My question is that I have a 3 speed on the column. I assume that this changes the geometry of the shift linkage. Does the column shifter still work or will I have to go to a floor mount shifter?

Thanks,

[JointTech]

Same question but for an automatic on the column. Seems like the bump nubs wont be in the right place anymore.

[NobleSix]

kind of an old post but this thread has some pretty good info in it, and saved me starting a new thread to ask this same question... not to mention the cost of new parts etc. im a tall guy 6-3 ish and i dont like how close my steering wheel is in my 69. i swapped the column and wheel from my 67 because it was in better shape, then i drilled out the two plastic retainers. but i didnt beat on the shaft {phrasing} for fear of damaging something. good to know that yes, you can get away with a BFH and a block of wood. definitely going to finish the process and shorten that column down a few inches.

[sambudo]

Originally Posted by NobleSix

kind of an old post but this thread has some pretty good info in it, and saved me starting a new thread to ask this same question... not to mention the cost of new parts etc. im a tall guy 6-3 ish and i dont like how close my steering wheel is in my 69. i swapped the column and wheel from my 67 because it was in better shape, then i drilled out the two plastic retainers. but i didnt beat on the shaft {phrasing} for fear of damaging something. good to know that yes, you can get away with a BFH and a block of wood. definitely going to finish the process and shorten that column down a few inches.

I'm in the process of doing this now, hope to have it completed this weekend.

[veedubshafer]

I took the whole column out on my '67 to do it. Stood it on the floor steering wheel down on a blanket, drilled the pins out, soaked with PB and beat the heck out of it and it wouldn't move. Proceeded to heat with mapp gas and beat it and still wouldn't move. I kept heating until all the plastic oozed out then it moved :-)

[mi396ss]

Are you guys replacing the pins then? If so, with what?

[sambudo]

Originally Posted by mi396ss

Are you guys replacing the pins then? If so, with what?

I just finished mine, I got a good 3" more space. I didn't replace the pins with anything. I'm sure if you wanted to you could find a small plastic type pin and melt both sides. Good luck.