C1: Steering worm gear

[Terry B.]

I have noticed two different profiles on the steering worm gear. On one the top of the worm is rounded and on the other it is flat. Sometimes listed on EBay with the flat type being for the 56 57 years. Been told that both were used for all C1's. Are they interchangeable for all 53 thru 62 Vette's? Is the roller the same for both of these gears?

[Richard M.]

Re: C1: Steering worm gear

I don't have the definite answers, but I just looked up some pages from my 29-59 Parts book. They do not list the worm separately between the years. They do however show the.....

SHAFT, Steering gear, w/Worm

53-57 CORVETTE (56 1/8" O.L.) -----------5666148
58-59 CORVETTE (51 1/4" O.L.) -----------5672001

There is no separate part# for the worm. I don't think it was ever sold OTC individually as it was press fit on the shaft. However, I have removed and replaced worms on shafts in the past with positive results. New kits include just the worms, sector rollers, bearing etc so it's done frequently.

On another note, the ST-12 53-62 Service manual on page 9-7 shows the parts breakdowns, and no differentiation for the years, but the above reference shows the 2 part #'d shaft assemblies. I could find no separate part number for the Sector Roller bearing either, but I would think it's also the same for 53-62.

Rich

[Terry B.]

Re: C1: Steering worm gear

Vette Gal has a "flat top" type worm gear on EBay now and it is listed to fit 53 thru 57 Corvettes. I have one of each but hesitate to use the flat type which is the least common in my experience. Suspect you are correct that all of the used ones circulating today were removed from original GM assembled steering shafts.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Corvette-1953-1954-1955-1956-1957-Worm-Gear-Steering-/140488946542?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20b5cb336e

[Richard M.]

Re: C1: Steering worm gear

I recall that when I had my '59 apart years ago, it did not look like that one in the ad. From vettegals' ad..........



It was more rounded at the top, and the "teeth" of the gear seemed more rounded too.

Zip has the kit, marked as "58-62", Here. Appears to be rounded teeth.


I also looked at the Corvette Central site. There's is marked "53-57" and has the rounded teeth on the worm. Here is the CC photo of their part#561026. Rounded.

Now I'm confused too!


====

[John F.]

Re: C1: Steering worm gear

Call Tom Parsons!

[Bill M.]

Re: C1: Steering worm gear

Here's the original from my '59:

[Jim L.]

Re: C1: Steering worm gear

How on earth, with '50s technology (read: no CNC) did anyone reliably and repeatedly manufacture such a complex part?

Expiring minds want to know....

Here's the original from my '59:

[Troy P.]

Re: C1: Steering worm gear

Same way they built the pyramids. Aliens?

[Bill M.]

Re: C1: Steering worm gear

Same way they built the pyramids. Aliens?

The guy who figured out how to machine this part also designed the Friden mechanical calculator that would do square roots...

[Dan D.]

Re: C1: Steering worm gear

I think it would be equally as hard to made a drawing for this. No CAD. -Dan-

[Paul J.]

Re: C1: Steering worm gear

Don't you guys remember the paper punched tape NC (numerical control) machines. I've used them before, and they were a marvel of engineering, well before computers, CNC, CAD, and CAM. As for drawings, I spent part of my first two years in college (and my first year of employment) sitting at a drafting table.