1968 early steering column

[Peter B.]

I am rebuilding my column and I need advice on how to remove the lower bearing. I have already disassemblied the upper and replace the bearing. I thought the shaft would slide out though the bottom and expose the lower bearing. But the shaft only slides down about 1" before stopping. What am I missing? I do have Jim She's pappers which are very helpful. Please shed some light on this for me. I am not sure why I can't get the shaft out in order to expose the bearing.
Thanks
Peter

[Terry B.]

Re: 1968 early steering column

Moving you to the top. Hope someone can help.

Terry

[Peter B.]

Re: 1968 early steering column

Thank you Terry. I really could use some help.

[Jim S.]

Re: 1968 early steering column

You didn't mention if you have a standard (non-adjustable) or a telescoping column. They both have the same reason as to why the steering shaft will not just slide down and out through the lower bearing. There is a small collar welded? to the shaft just above that lower bearing. As long as the whole lower bearing package will slide out of the steering column jacket and slide out WITH the steering shaft. You should be able to slide the shaft down and out through the steering column. Otherwise, the shaft should come out through the driver end of the column.

The bearing package is somewhat different between the two columns.

The late 1967 and the 1968 standard column has the bearing pressed directly into a counterbore in the jacket. There is a small spring between the bearing inner race and the welded collar on the steering shaft. This entire steering column blowup shows the order in which the lower bearing package goes together on a standard column. I will try to supply a better scan shortly.



The late 1967 and the 1968 telescoping column has the lower gearing held in place by a cup shaped retainer. The retainer has three screws that hold it in place on the steering column jacket. It looks as if the bearing sits directly against the steering shaft collar. Remove the three screws and the retainer and the bearing should come out of the jacket (except for corrosion problems.)


Jim

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1968 early steering column

How late in the 67 model year did the column change?

[Jim S.]

Re: 1968 early steering column

I can't answer the question directly. I can provide the "Release for Production" dates for the various changes. Those dates don't indicate WHEN the changes went into effect throughout the model year.

1967 Standard Column
5698346 (Early 1967 with round wire ring retained lower bearing) Released sometime before 9/16/1966
7802101 (Interim release, wire ring eliminated; nut, bolt, & clamp added.) Released for production 11/16/1966. Cancelled 2/2/1967. I doubt that it actually got into production.
7803156 (Late release, same lower bearing package as 7802101. Released for production 2/6/1967.

1968 Standard Column
7803909 (1968 Steering Column with different welded mounting bracket). Same bearing package as Late 1967. Released for production 7/17/1967.

1967 Telescoping Column
5699524 (Early 1967 with round wire ring retained lower bearing) Released for production 2/10/1966
7803000 (Interim release, wire ring eliminated; nut, bolt, & clamp added.) Released for production 1/21/1967. Don't know if this actually got into production or not. It was cancelled only one month after release date.
7803280 (Late release, same lower bearing package as 7803000.) Released for production 3/6/1967.

1968 Telescoping Column
7803910 (1968 Steering Column with different welded mounting bracket). Same bearing package as Late 1967. Released for production 8/2/1967.

Hope that this helps,
Jim

[Peter B.]

Re: 1968 early steering column

This helps. Thank you. Mine is the standard column.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1968 early steering column

I can't answer the question directly. I can provide the "Release for Production" dates for the various changes. Those dates don't indicate WHEN the changes went into effect throughout the model year.

1967 Standard Column
5698346 (Early 1967 with round wire ring retained lower bearing) Released sometime before 9/16/1966
7802101 (Interim release, wire ring eliminated; nut, bolt, & clamp added.) Released for production 11/16/1966. Cancelled 2/2/1967. I doubt that it actually got into production.
7803156 (Late release, same lower bearing package as 7802101. Released for production 2/6/1967.

1968 Standard Column
7803909 (1968 Steering Column with different welded mounting bracket). Same bearing package as Late 1967. Released for production 7/17/1967.

1967 Telescoping Column
5699524 (Early 1967 with round wire ring retained lower bearing) Released for production 2/10/1966
7803000 (Interim release, wire ring eliminated; nut, bolt, & clamp added.) Released for production 1/21/1967. Don't know if this actually got into production or not. It was cancelled only one month after release date.
7803280 (Late release, same lower bearing package as 7803000.) Released for production 3/6/1967.

1968 Telescoping Column
7803910 (1968 Steering Column with different welded mounting bracket). Same bearing package as Late 1967. Released for production 8/2/1967.

Hope that this helps,
Jim

Jim:
My 67 has a body build date of March 21 and a telescoping steering column. It has the bolted clamp and spacer so I guess that makes it a late column. Is there any difference between a 7803000 and a 7803280?

[Jim S.]

Re: 1968 early steering column

I cannot find any differences between the 7803000 and the later 7803280 telescoping steering columns. There were a lot of "politics" that were involved with the design changes that occurred throughout the 1967 model year. Since there were safety implications with the design change of the lower bearing and steering shaft, possibly the final 7803280 steering column assembly was more of a documentation issue than anything.

Jim