1965 Standard Column steering coupler

[Lawrence S.]

Guys,
I need the above and found a few however, one has a part number on both halves of the coupler and the other has a part number on only one of the halves. Which is correct or are both correct? My car is a 65 L78 non tele.

Thanks

Lawrence

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 1965 Standard Column steering coupler

Trying this again. Anyone out there know if the steering gearbox coupler should have a part number on both halves or just one half, 65 standard non tele.
Thanks guys

[Gary B.]

[Gary B.]

Re: 1965 Standard Column steering coupler

Lawrence,

I just found a DB posting by Rick Hensley from 2022 when he posted this image of what he said was a 63-66 standard rag joint:

IMG_9179.jpg

Rick said the upper and lower forging were identical, which would mean the unit in his photo has the same casting number (5686624) on

[Donald H.]

Re: 1965 Standard Column steering coupler

I have restored a few of these and all but one of the halves I have seen have the 5686624 number. The one different one has casting number 7813276. That one is likely from some other GM vehicle. It is pretty much the same as the 63-66 coupler with a slight variation (a small notch on one side) but is perfectly functional as part of a corvette coupler.

As far as judging, I do not have the current 66 JG but the prior version I have does not mention the casting numbers; however, there may be some Chassis judges that expect to see the casting numbers. If so, likely no more than a 1 point deduct.

Don

[Gary B.]

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 1965 Standard Column steering coupler

Thanks guys. Here are the pictures. Don thanks for your help and replying to this post. I was saying part number in my OP and should had said casting number.

Here are the picsIMG_1663.jpgIMG_1655.jpgIMG_1656.jpgIMG_1657.jpgIMG_1658.jpgIMG_1659.jpgIMG_1660.jpgIMG_1661.jpgIMG_1662.jpgIMG_1654.jpg

[Gary B.]

Re: 1965 Standard Column steering coupler

Lawrence,

Is the coupler in your photo likely a GM MOS example?

Gary

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 1965 Standard Column steering coupler

I have no idea. I bought it off eBay from a guy that needed a tele coupler and mistakenly bought this one. It does have the copper ground strap in place.
Lawrence

[Gary B.]

[Robert P.]

Re: 1965 Standard Column steering coupler

that looks like a correct 63-66 coupler to me sold 3-4 in the last few years
Bob Peckham

[Gary B.]

[Richard M.]

Re: 1965 Standard Column steering coupler

Gary, Although not a 63-66, these are 2 rag joints from 2 different 1967 cars I restored. It shows the copper ground straps. As you can see, one of them was broken. This particular car jolted me unexpectedly, while testing the horn while test driving the car. Before I did any body off restoration, on a legal, registered and insured car, I always drove the car to get a "feel" for it to compare before and after test drives.

I did not like that feeling while driving 70 mph on Rte1 here in Florida along the Intracoastal waterway. It was quite enlightening when I got a electrical shock right through me. While traveling northbound near my home, on a curve as well, I was about 75 feet from going fishing(without fishing gear) "in" the Indian River in this convertible when I blew that horn to test it. This was a L71 427/435HP beast, and had loose steering and suspension, bad brakes, and during restoration, I discovered so many problems it's a wonder I didn't land in the river, or worse.

This one from a November car
P3180018.jpg

P3180019.jpg

P3180020.jpg

This from a March car....(the car that scared me) with the broken copper ground strap.
P6120032.jpg

P6120034.jpg

P6120035.jpg

And when I pulled the body off the frame, I discovered the driver side differential frame crossmember gusset was about ready to depart from it's home.
P2060020.jpg

P2060011.jpg

P2060007.jpg

P2060008.jpg


Rich

[Donald H.]

Re: 1965 Standard Column steering coupler

Here are some pictures of the 63-66 before and after my restoration with one clearly showing the ground strap. Someone added an external grounding wire, probably due to corrosion. What I have found in both the 63-66 and 67-69E rag joints is that even though the ground strap is in place, most of the ones I have restored have lost continuity due to corrosion.

Don

[Richard M.]

Re: 1965 Standard Column steering coupler

Don, How did you install the 2 rivets?

Rich