1967 Steering Column Plastic Sleeve over Mesh (Mast Jacket)

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Steering Column Plastic Sleeve over Mesh (Mast Jacket)

Scott,
Do you have a standard (non-adjustable) or a telescoping column? I couldn't determine from your postings.

I have some Disassembly & Repair Instruction papers that you can download. Here are both telescoping and standard D&R Papers #1 & #2
Telescoping

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/67-68-corvette-tele-strg-column-dr_1-rev23ja2009.pdf

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/67-68-telescoping-column-dr_2-rev-23ja2009.pdf

Standard

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/67-68-corvette-std-strg-column-dr_1rev07se2009.pdf

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/67-68corvettestdstrgcolumndr_2rev23ja2009.pdf

Jim

Hi Jim,

Thank you for the links to your steering column papers. I have the standard steering column, early/1st design (dated "005 7" for January 5, 1967). About eight months ago I obtained what I thought at the time was a correct NOS lower bearing. It had no GM packaging, and was represented as "STR145 #7806142 Lower/Std. Col. 1967" steering bearing. I didn't have any parts books back then.

Since then, I have found this part listed in only two places. First in Group 6.521 of the July 1st, 1969 P&A (not in the Oct. 1, 1968 and earlier P&A's, or the April 1970 and later Corvette-specific P&A 30B catalogs). In the July 1969 P&A it is listed as "67-68 Pass ... 7806142 ... steering shaft lower", immediately below "67-68 Corvette ... 7800407 ... shaft lower bearing". The correct 7800407 lower bearing continues to be listed in the Corvette-specific P&A 30B catalogs and parts books through September 1976, after that I don't know.

The second place I found P/N 7806142 listed is in the April 1, 1972 Mitchell Collision Manual, where P/N 7806142 is listed as the correct (and only) replacement lower steering bearing for the 1967 Corvette. It cost only $1.33 back then, slightly less than I paid

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Steering Column Plastic Sleeve over Mesh (Mast Jacket)

Correction, I did have the September 1976 parts book back then, I just didn't know how to use it yet.

I just found an article on this subject that will be of interest to anyone working on a '67 steering column: by Deane Parker, Spring 1987 Restorer (Volume 13, #4). According to this article, VIN 09189 and earlier were originally fitted with the 1st design steering column, and VIN 09422 and later were originally fitted with the 2nd design steering column (sample of thirty-six 1967 Corvettes examined, two anomalies but in both cases the owner could not confirm their steering column was original to the car).

Also according to this article, lower bearing GM #7800407 (referenced in my previous post) was for the 2nd design 1967 steering column, not applicable for the 1st design steering column.

According to the Oct. 1, 1966 P&A, GM #7800407 was the lower bearing for the 1967 Corvette with telescopic steering column: "67 Corvette W/Tel. W ... shaft lower bearing ... 7800407"

The Oct. 1, 1967 P&A lists GM #7800407 as being for the standard steering column: "67-68 Corvette ... shaft lower bearing ... 7800407". A different lower bearing is listed a few rows down for 67-68 Corvette with telescopic: "67-68 Corvette W/Tel. W. ... strg. shaft column ... 7801324"

Whether the 7806142 lower steering column bearing that I have, and which is listed in the July 1969 P&A for 67-68 passenger (and listed as correct for 1967 Corvette in the 1972 Mitchell Collision Manual) fits the 1st design steering column, I don't know yet. But now I remember why I put this project off

[Brian M.]

Re: 1967 Steering Column Plastic Sleeve over Mesh (Mast Jacket)

Please advise on your findings with the lower bearing as I have a 1st design column that is due for some maintenance.

Correction, I did have the September 1976 parts book back then, I just didn't know how to use it yet.

I just found an article on this subject that will be of interest to anyone working on a '67 steering column: by Deane Parker, Spring 1987 Restorer (Volume 13, #4). According to this article, VIN 09189 and earlier were originally fitted with the 1st design steering column, and VIN 09422 and later were originally fitted with the 2nd design steering column (sample of thirty-six 1967 Corvettes examined, two anomalies but in both cases the owner could not confirm their steering column was original to the car).

Also according to this article, lower bearing GM #7800407 (referenced in my previous post) was for the 2nd design 1967 steering column, not applicable for the 1st design steering column.

According to the Oct. 1, 1966 P&A, GM #7800407 was the lower bearing for the 1967 Corvette with telescopic steering column: "67 Corvette W/Tel. W ... shaft lower bearing ... 7800407"

The Oct. 1, 1967 P&A lists GM #7800407 as being for the standard steering column: "67-68 Corvette ... shaft lower bearing ... 7800407". A different lower bearing is listed a few rows down for 67-68 Corvette with telescopic: "67-68 Corvette W/Tel. W. ... strg. shaft column ... 7801324"

Whether the 7806142 lower steering column bearing that I have, and which is listed in the July 1969 P&A for 67-68 passenger (and listed as correct for 1967 Corvette in the 1972 Mitchell Collision Manual) fits the 1st design steering column, I don't know yet. But now I remember why I put this project off

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Steering Column Plastic Sleeve over Mesh (Mast Jacket)

Please advise on your findings with the lower bearing as I have a 1st design column that is due for some maintenance.

Hi Brian,

I will do that, but it might be a while. For various reasons, the steering column and the engine rebuild are two problems that I have not figured out how to solve yet. The engine rebuild is a nightmare. No engine builder I've found so far (including an NCRS judge and Corvette restoration shop owner) believes the commonly accepted truths discussed on this forum with regard to compression ratios and currently available gasoline. The first engine builder who took the engine apart was about to obliterate all the numbers on the engine pad before I figured out I was in the wrong place and brought all the pieces home. There are (apparently) about 10,000+ mistakes to figure out and somehow avoid, without making the further mistake of telling the engine builder how to do his job. I don't know how to tell the engine builder all the things he should and shouldn't do without sounding like I'm telling him how to do his job, so that's another problem. I have never done this before, I don't know what I don't know, and I have to get it right on my first try. My first try is on a numbers-matching 1967 L79 Corvette engine. No problem.

The proper function of the steering column is somewhat critical to survival, so it's probably not the kind of thing I ought to be monkeying around with. Trying to find an experienced person who understands the tangled web of confusion surrounding the 1st and 2nd design 1967-specific Corvette steering column has been an hilarious experience

The more time I put into them, the more time they take, no real progress is made, and everything else grinds to a halt. So I put them aside and concentrate on the things I can actually do or figure out how to solve, which fortunately is just about everything else. They will probably be the last two things in the restoration process, when there's nothing else left to do, and I can focus all of my time and attention on them.