Can someone with a mid year power steering car tell me if the rivet in the steering arm is installed from the top or bottom, and what is the best way to peen the rivet? Thanks very much, Tim Barbieri
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Re: 1963 steering arm rivet
Tim------
I'm sorry I forgot to get back to you earlier on this. In any event, the rivets were supposed to be installed from the top (i.e. with the rivet head at the top of the steering arm). However, I'm not sure that they were actually done that way since the chassis would have been upside down when these rivets were installed and it would, thus, have been easier to install them in the reverse orientation. I guess we need to hear from some folks with original p/s cars. It doesn't have to be a 1963. This feature should be the same for any 63-76.
If the steering arms are off the car, I would peen the aluminum rivets using an hydraulic press.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: 1963 steering arm rivet
The AIM shows the rivet being installed 'upside down' (head at the top with bottom preened). But, my '71 is the reverse of this and the 2-3 Shark Star/Bowtie cars Rolf Kreuger selected for use in his advanced judging course at the Galveston National Convention were identical with respect to the orientation of the rivet plugging the rear hole of the steering knuckle....
As for how to preen, that's your call. Study the rivet and fabricate the best method you can. You want the rivet head to be TIGHT against the lower side of the steering knuckle arm or you'll be 'testing' the integrity of your upper ball joints in giving you proper suspension stance and the appropriate clearance geometry for the steering system's moving parts during rack-to-rack turns!Comment
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Addendum
Tim-----
I had a friend of mine with an original-owner 69 equipped with power steering check his steering arms. I'm absolutely certain that his car is as-original in this respect. As I suspected and mentioned in my previous post, the rivets are installed with the rivet head oriented toward the bottom and the "peened" end at the top. This is contrary to the installation instructions shown in the AIM. However, the frame and installed suspension was upside down on the line at the point that these rivets were originally installed. So, as I expected, I'm sure that the line folks found it much more convenient to install the rivets with the rivet head facing up WITH THE FRAME UPSIDE DOWN. Of course, with the frame in the normal position, this would result in the rivet head facing down. Functionally, the orientation of the rivet makes no difference, whatsoever, and that's likely why the line folks were able to assemble these at variance with the AIM. The ONLY purpose of the rivet is to prevent the utilization of the standard steering ratio holes in the arms for cars equipped with power steering.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Addendum
Good, Joe--that agrees with what Rolf Krueger showed us at Galveston in the school using Bowtie cars as instructional examples! BTW, Rolf also pointed out bracket(s) mounted to the control valve that provided a flex back-stop for the control valve to power piston hoses.
Looking through a few AIM books (e.g. '65, '67, '71), I don't see this bracket called out. Do you happen to know if this was a running change item, applicable to only certain years of Corvette?Comment
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Re: Addendum
Jack-----
The hose guide bracket first appeared on PRODUCTION valves sometime in the 1974 model year. Sometime thereafter the bracket was incorporated into SERVICE p/s valves for all 63+ Corvettes. The GM #5691955 valve assembly used for all 1963-73 Corvettes did not have the guide. The GM #7819980 valve assembly used in PRODUCTION for 1974 and 1975 Corvettes and the GM #7825636 valve assembly used in PRODUCTION for 76 to 82 Corvettes had the bracket. The 7825636 valve assembly became the SERVICE valve assembly for 1963-75 Corvettes when the 5691955 and 7819980 valves were discontinued in late 1982.
The bracket was once available as a seperate part under GM #7819613, but it was discontinued in December, 1988. You can still get one, though, if you purchase a GM #7825636 valve assembly or one of the aftermarket reproduction valves.
Folks with 63-73 Corvettes purchasing a replacement valve for their cars can remove the bracket for "strict originality". I DO NOT RECOMMEND it, however. GM didn't add this bracket to the valve because things worked just as well without it. I wouldn't be without one on my car.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Addendum
Thanks for your response and good information Jack Humphrey and Joe Lucia. I always wondered about the bracket that mounts on the valve and its purpose but all I have to do is look at the original hoses that came with my 63 unit and I see why it was installed.Comment
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THANKS, Joe!
Guess I didn't do my homework as thoroughly as I could of/should have (e.g. look at the LATE Shark AIM books). Appreciate your tutorial, amigo!Comment
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Re: Addendum
My very original 74 L82 has the bracket....it is VIN 1Z37T4S406823...CraigComment
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