87 Steering shaft to a 66 C-10

[Turtleman]

Has anyone ever stuck a square shaft into a Round Hole?

I'm thinking of using the shaft from the 87 to fit to the power gear box (all 87) but was thinking of keeping the steering wheel for now,, Since the 87 shaft will slide and the 66 wont it will be just as easy to use it.. but its square.. LOL

Any Ideas??? or am I better to try to find another column with tilt?

[joedoh]

you might take it loose to be certain, steering shafts arent usually round at the ends where they attach, too much potential to slip. it is usually a double d (what you are probably calling square) or splined, to eliminate any potential of turning the wheel and not having the shaft turn. GM has used the same 1" DD on the steering column for many many years, and the same spline pattern on the steering box too.

in case does end up being different, borgeson will make any adapter you need, you can even buy a new telescoping intermediate shaft and get u joints for both ends to eliminate the rag joint.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/b...ew=ProductName

borgeson isnt cheap, but steering isnt a place to save money. save it on lucky dice or mexican blankets instead. haha

[63swag]

I used the steering box and intermediate (colapsable) shaft from an '83 then got a universal 32" column, which can be found fairly cheap for even a good one, for my new build. Only modifications I had to do was use capt fabs bracket to mount the box and drilled a hole in the new column D for the safety bolt from the colapsable part. I used the factory firewall mount and cover then used a hose clamp at the top of the column to dash mount.

[Turtleman]

Well I guess I'm at a stand still... the 87shaft (3rd pic) is double D (square) and I double checked ,, it kinda straight forward, at least on that I can remove the rag joint because its held on by 2 bolts and the upper section I can remove the boot so all looks fine.. But for the life of me I cant see how to get that hooked into the 66 shaft/column.
I'm trying to follow Capt Fabs Power Steering Plate instructions and see I need to cut the OEM shaft,, but the rag joint is all rivets and I'm not sure I can remove the press end to shorten the shaft (unless I'm missing something).. The 66 shaft is round and I see no way the 87 shaft will mount.
Hows others doing the shaft shorting?
what the heck am I missing?

[Blu64c10]

I used a 3/4 smooth bore to 3/4 DD universal joint to link my stock column to the shaft on the power steering box. I dismantled the existing joint on the steering shaft leaving the power steering box to get as much length as needed. The smooth portion of the universal joint needed to be welded to the column so the the steering wheel had to be centered while the steering box was centered from lock to lock then the joint was tacked. The column was removed and disassembled or final welding and great care was taken to keep the joint cool. Here are some pictures

[Turtleman]

Excellent Blu64c10...
Pictures are worth a thousand words...

Some day soon I hope to just go into the whole truck and start as a frame up.. I planed on adding the items I wanted first,, drive it ,, work the bugs out ,, then tear it down and restore it with the few mods I think I want....
Right now its still my daily driver so I'm doing little bit at a time when I can and I got stuck on the round peg, square hole thing.. I just "might" go ahead and pick up a tilt and install it, (I dont know yet)...
Heres a tilt I found on EBay, anyone ever use these or know of them?.. Pros/Cons?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271289329630...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[jonzcustomshop]

if you google "steering couplers" you get a lot of options, I first thought of speedway motors, because they have lots of steering options in their race catalog, but this company looked like they might have what you need:
http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/catalo...-p-1-c-24.html

[Captainfab]

To use that '87 intermediate shaft, you just need to drill a hole in the original steering column shaft for the thru bolt. I'm not sure if the bore on that '87 coupler will accept the 3/4" shaft without modification.

To reuse the original flange as in my installation instructions, you will have to drill out the remaining shaft and weld it back onto the shaft. For this you will need a drill press and a welder. I do offer the tube and flange for those that do not have access to a drill press and welder. The tube and flange installs the same as I described above. Drill thru the tube and the original shaft and secure the two with a grade 8 bolt.

[Turtleman]

Just as a FYI to anyone else;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271289329630...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I went ahead and bought this tilt... Its something I was going to do in the future and since its torn apart now I figured I might as well...

Just BEWARE..... its another Made in China junk... I'm highly disappointed with it.

The finish is great.. all looks fine... but turn the wheel and you can feel the rollers in the bearing grind,, not Grind per say but you can feel the drag... thats just plain Bad to have on any part let alone a important one... the worst was moving the housing that selects the "PND" on the shaft and its like fingers running down a chalk board.... Metal on Metal grind,, and yes,, its a GRIND..

Totally disappointed... Stick going to the wrecking yards and rebuild one instead of buying one of these.

[T and S]

Captainfab - do u have pics of how u coupled the collapsible shaft to the OEM shaft without welding ? Thinking of doing this myself to my 66'

[Captainfab]

Sorry no I do not.....I have not done this, just seen what others have done.

Originally Posted by T and S

Captainfab - do u have pics of how u coupled the collapsible shaft to the OEM shaft without welding ? Thinking of doing this myself to my 66'

[chevyrestoguy]

Check out my '64 build thread and look at post# 373. It shows how I did mine.

[T and S]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Check out my '64 build thread and look at post# 373. It shows how I did mine.

I did - good pics and info. One question - Is installing the 67' shaft into the 66' column a bolt in affair, or does the shaft need to be modified, and how difficult is it to do ? (two questions I guess!). I have the 3 on the tree column.

[low79fx]

Here is a link to post on how I did it. I used the collapsible shaft.



http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=522394

[vince1]

I used a 67 shaft in a 66 column and at the same time put in the 67 PS box. After the box was mounted the shaft length was found to be correct and everything went back together without any further modification.

I can't remember if the manual box and PS box rag joint couplings are the same distance from the column, like if the shaft length changes between the two, but my feeling is they are the same.

[chevyrestoguy]

Originally Posted by T and S

I did - good pics and info. One question - Is installing the 67' shaft into the 66' column a bolt in affair, or does the shaft need to be modified, and how difficult is it to do ? (two questions I guess!). I have the 3 on the tree column.

I didn't modify the '67 shaft at all. I am running a '79 power box, and I used the intermediate shaft from the same (79), along with a Flaming River u-joint (3/4 D-D to 36 spline).

[T and S]

Thanks - good info as always !

[Chevy Fleetside]

Mine is similar to the way Chevyrestoguy did his except I used a van tilt column. If you look in my build thread post #35. I know the steering box is an 86 year model and the shaft is from (if I remember right) a mid to late 70's truck. Basic 3/4 DD to 36 spline U joint .

[Gooker928]

You can collapse the old shaft by heating it with a torch at the plastic rivets... After all the plastic bubbles out hit it with a mini sledge and it will collapse. I had to do this when installing a tilt column from a 72 and using captainfabs gear box adapter..

[vince1]

Why would you want to collapse the shaft? It's meant to collapse only on impact like during a collision.

[Gooker928]

Originally Posted by vince1

Why would you want to collapse the shaft? It's meant to collapse only on impact like during a collision.

It's the esiest and most common way to make a tilt column fit in our trucks.
There are a few threads on here that explain how to do it. My column stuck out about three inches too long with the column how it was. Collapsing the shaft allowed me to push the column in three inches. I've never heard of anyone having any problems with this setup.