Floor Shift Steering Column Question ??

[Rack Man]

Just wondering if someone could tell me how to tighten or reduce the space between the lower bearing and the large washer where the spring is....This is a manual floor shift out of my 70...

The AIM manual says that the space should be around 1/2"...mine is around 1"......and my "before pics" show it at around 1/2" as well......I'm just not sure how to get it there ??......It seems I either need to push the whole Column down and compress it (not sure if the slot on the top of the column is long enough to do that).....Or maybe a spacer behind the steering wheel nut?.

I'm lost....any help would be appreciated!

[KevsClassics]

Loosen the bolts pictured at the end of column tube with 7/16 wrench then you can adjust bearing by rotating hosing. notice how holes are slotted diagonally.

[Rack Man]

Originally Posted by KevsClassics

Loosen the bolts pictured at the end of column tube with 7/16 wrench then you can adjust bearing by rotating hosing. notice how holes are slotted diagonally.

Thanks for that tip....I gave it shot just now and it only moved it out maybe 1/8" tops....As you can see in the pic there is was only about 1/4" or 3/8" of slot left in the "tighten" direction....I went all the way and the 1/8" or less was the result!.....Still seems quite loose?

Your the resident steering column pro....I know you got something else for me to try?

Thanks, Dan

Here is my before pic:

[KevsClassics]

Your the resident steering column pro....I know you got something else for me to try?

Thanks, Dan

]

Yes check if cancell cam is the correct one and not damaged. also check upper bearing.

[Rack Man]

I actually re-used the cancel cam that was on there before with the original steering wheel, it looked new and in good shape.....The upper bearing looked fine as well and all in tact...I just cleaned it & re-lubed it.....

I was thinking though that I did upgrade to a quick ratio steering box out of a later model (Wes from Classic Hearbeat said it was direct replacement)....I was thinking maybe by chance that the output shaft is a tad shorter on the later models?.....

[Rack Man]

Any other insight on this would be appreciated.....Afterall, its my steering...kind of important...LOL

[Rack Man]

Just for future reference, in case someone ever has this problem...I did get it figured out...

I simply noticed that the clamp on the intermediate steering shaft was lower on the main shaft than originally...there is a groove in the main shaft for the clamp bolt to reside in.....and that groove is much bigger than the bolt...so you indeed have about 1/2" of "play"....

So, I just loosend the clamp bolt, removed the main steering wheel nut and then tapped the shaft down a bit......Then just tightened the clamp on the intermediate steering shaft.....then tigtened the steering wheel nut...thus drawing in and tightening everything up.....

Then one final adjustment on the lower bearing to get +or- 1/2" dimension....and I was good to go!



RM