69 Steering Column 'Rag Joint'

[Wes G.]

Reading in the NCRS '68-69 TIM & JG' manual it states:

• "The bolts are hex-head shoulder bolts with a round shaft extending 1/4-inch above the hex-head end."
• "One of these bolts is brass and receives a cadmium-plated nut while the other is black-phosphate steel with a black-phosphate nut."

The 'rag joint' which appears to be original from my L69 has two bolts with the physical dimensions (two different diameters) as described above, however they are both cadmium-plated. Is this possible or were they all 'brass' & 'black-phosphate'?
Thanks
Wes

[Jim S.]

Re: 69 Steering Column 'Rag Joint'

This is what my drawings (and Joe Lucia) indicate as to which flange & coupling assemblies and attaching bolts were used from 1967 through 1982 Vettes.

5699250 Coupling & Flange Assembly 1967-1968.
One shoulder bolt with 0.5 inch hex head, 3/8-24 thread, SAE 1041 steel with no plating.
One shoulder bolt with 0.5 hex head, 5/16-24 thread, SAE 1041 steel, and copper plate per GM-4250M Code 0 (which I think is a very thin, flash copper plate.)

7806391 Coupling & Flange Assembly 1969 start of production and service for 1967 through early 1969. This would have been the third year with collapsible, energy absorbing, steering columns. I think that it was noticed that the steering column shaft could collapse, and the shortened steering shaft could tend to try and pull the flex coupling apart. Extended head (0.31 length) bolts were incorporated to provide more solid metal overlap in the flex coupling design.
One shoulder bolt with 0.5 hex head and 0.42 dia x 0.31 extended head, 3/8-24 thread, SAE 1041 steel with no plating.
One shoulder bolt with 0.5 hex head and 0.42 dia x 0.31 extended head, 5/16-24 thread, SAE 1041 steel, and copper plate per GM-4250M Code 0 (same as above.)

7808553 Coupling & Flange Assembly 1969 Late through 1972.
Same extended head bolts as 7806391. At this point in time a strap (we called it a capturing strap) was added to the assembly. This strap also provided additional integrity to prevent the flex coupling from pulling apart.

You can see the capturing strap and the big and small bolts with extended heads in this picture.

7818568 Coupling and Flange Assembly 1975 through 1982 (service back to 1969 Late) Extended head bolts were eliminated. At this point it was determined that the capturing strap was sufficient to prevent flex coupling pull apart and the extended head bolts were eliminated.
Jim

[Wes G.]

Re: 69 Steering Column 'Rag Joint'

Thanks Jim for taking the time to give a super detailed answer complete with drawings.
I have one more small question: What was the finish for the attaching (pinch) bolts?

Many thanks,
Wes

[Jim S.]

Re: 69 Steering Column 'Rag Joint'

7807271 pinch bolt
Phosphate & oil finish per GM spec 4435-M code A.
The drawing date was 5-31-68. So I would assume that it was first used for 1969 SOP. I do not have a part number or information on the pinch bolt that was used before 1969. If you can supply a part number I can try to obtain the drawing (assuming that it is a Saginaw part number.)
Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Steering Column 'Rag Joint'

7807271 pinch bolt
Phosphate & oil finish per GM spec 4435-M code A.
The drawing date was 5-31-68. So I would assume that it was first used for 1969 SOP. I do not have a part number or information on the pinch bolt that was used before 1969. If you can supply a part number I can try to obtain the drawing (assuming that it is a Saginaw part number.)
Jim

Jim------

The 1963-68 pinch bolt was GM #5686553. It was replaced for SERVICE in July, 1969 by the GM #7807271. I expect the PRODUCTION change-over occurred sometime in the 68-69 period.

[Jim S.]

Re: 69 Steering Column 'Rag Joint'

Joe,
Can you get me a part number for a 1970 Chevelle standard steering column with floorshift. And the part number for a 1970 Chevelle tilt steering column with column shift. Also, is there a part number for a compete intermediate steering shaft for a 1970 Chevelle.

I will try and get the 5686553 early pinch bolt drawing along with a drawing of the 7807271 pinch bolt with revision history.

Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Steering Column 'Rag Joint'

Joe,
Can you get me a part number for a 1970 Chevelle standard steering column with floorshift. And the part number for a 1970 Chevelle tilt steering column with column shift. Also, is there a part number for a compete intermediate steering shaft for a 1970 Chevelle.

I will try and get the 5686553 early pinch bolt drawing along with a drawing of the 7807271 pinch bolt with revision history.

Jim

Jim-------

My information on 1970 Chevelles is, unfortunately, pretty limited. The 1969 columns, which may or may not be the same as 1970, are as below:

standard column with floor shift except 396---7806790

tilt column with floor shift except 396---------7806792


the 1969 intermediate shafts are as follows:

except 396------7802915

396--------------7802923


Original information for 1970 Chevelles is a "gap" in my parts information coverage.

[Jim S.]

Re: 69 Steering Column 'Rag Joint'

Joe,
Thank you.
Could you provide a 1971 or 1972 part number for a Chevelle standard column and a tilt? The 1969 column had a slightly different upper bearing package than the 1970 and later columns.

Thanks again,
Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Steering Column 'Rag Joint'

Joe,
Thank you.
Could you provide a 1971 or 1972 part number for a Chevelle standard column and a tilt? The 1969 column had a slightly different upper bearing package than the 1970 and later columns.

Thanks again,
Jim

Jim------


I have a part number for the 1971-72 Chevelle standard column with 4 speed floor shift and it's GM #7812237. However, this might be a supercessive part number rather than the original part number or it might be the 1972 original part number which became supercessive for 1971.

I cannot find a part number for the 1971-72 Chevelle with tilt wheel column.