More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

[Greg C.]

Hey guys

First off, my car is a February 17th Build 67 Convertible, and the Column's Signal Switch cover is dated 043 7 (odd, that is a Sunday)

I am trying to get my arms around this steering column re-build, but, as ever, its full of surprises.

I have Jim Shea's Column Rebuild PDFs... and I am going through it slowly. I have my column apart... and have already hit some obstacles.

Here is a picture of what I am dealing with.


My column "appears" to be the late style, with the spacer and the clamp.

When I got it all apart, it had the lower bearing pictured above which I labeled as "5 early". The picture shows the exact parts that were on my column shaft in the order that they were in.

Jim's Column info, Paper 2 list that it should be (from steering box end):
18 Spacer, 17 "Packing", 16 Spring, not shown 7802124 Washer, 5 Lower Bearing Late, Not Shown 262474 Spring Seat, 21 Spring

Paragon has a schematic for the Late 67 Column as well


Here are my Questions
1) There should be #17 "Packing" between the spacer and the spring. What exactly is packing? Is there a part number for this? The spring seems to fit in a lip on the edge of the spacer... is that where "Packing" goes?

2) Do I have the Lower Bearing Labeled correctly? The one that came off the shaft is the one that I have marked 5 early.... the one I bought to replace it is the one in GM packing above, marked "5 Late", is that correct?

3) What I have labeled ?c... is that any of the things that Jim has marked in his PDF, or is it a broken part of a bearing or ?. To my eyes, it looks like a "spring stop", and 21 is resting against it... So is that the 262474 Spring Seat?

4) 2b... what part is that, in Jim's 67 Late Corvette Standard Steering Column Blowup pic?

5) I have a mysterious piece labeled ?a that is a black paper like ring that was floating around on the shaft... Have no idea what it is, or where it is supposed to go... any ideas?

6) Paragon list a 12355K Steering Column Lower Bearing Kit... how does that fit into the equation? Is it one of the items in Jim's Doc, with a different name?

Lastly... when assembling the column... which way is up? Or what is the top facing the sky? The shaft has two flat spots and the steering box end has a flat side... how should I "orient" it when butting it all together?

Thanks! VERY MUCH!

[Timothy B.]

Re: More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

Greg,

I can't answer you questions but will suggest there are parts on that column that look to me like they are from the early design column. Do some research on the campaign to recall these early columns and add the second design parts as that may be what your dealing with.

Your part ?c is the retainer that slips over a clip on the early design column. The lower bearing tells you that it has early parts, I have the early design on my 67 but it's not in front of me at the moment.

[Greg C.]

Re: More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

Thanks Tim

This has certainly raised more questions than it has answered for me...

I have been looking up the Column Campaign, and its pretty interesting reading.

My assumption is that my column is original to the car, and it looks to be a bit of a hybrid...


With both early and late parts... Again, its a mid-February build, possibly a week or so after the switch from early to late.

My had the clamp/nut/bolt, then the late spacer, no "packing" spring, early style bearing, early style retainer washer, spring etc... as pictured above.

The real questions is how to I go about restoring it...

[Timothy B.]

Re: More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

Greg,

Looking at the scar in the steering shaft it may have been converted to the late design column in the recall. I would try to find others with February cars and get a read on first or second design. Others here know more about these columns then me and I am sure they will respond.

Be careful when you put it in the car because it has to be aligned straight to the steering rag joint. There is info here about that in the archives.

[Greg C.]

Re: More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

Interesting... as the cars VIN/Manufacture date is after the Feb 6 "start" of the Late Style Shaft/Bearings. The date on the signal cover is 043 7, which Julian Calendar wise, is the 12th of February (and a Sunday).

I'll look for info on how to align it properly... I am scared to death now.

[Jim S.]

Re: More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

Lots of questions. I'm not sure that I can answer all of them. First of all, with cars that are 47 years old, you just don't know what parts have been serviced or not. You also don't know how qualified or correct the service procedures were performed.
Anyway, here it goes.
1. What is packing? I think it is either a felt or foam spacer that fits between the plastic spacer and the face of the bearing. I think that it was just to prevent dirt, etc from getting to the bearing.
2. I think that the steering column jacket has a counterbore on the end that the bearing slides into. From my information, the late jacket had a counterbore about 0.38 inch deep to fit the later 7800407 bearing. The early bearing fit into a 0.19 deep counterbore. You should be able to measure the depth of the counterbore in your jacket. I would also try your new, late bearing and see if it fits the counter bore in your jacket. It should fit flush. If it does not slide all the way in, you will have to use your old bearing if it is in good shape.
3. Yes, I think that it is 262474 spring seat.
4. I think that ?b is the collar that is called out as located 8.4 inches from the end of the steering shaft. It may have been permanently pressed on the steering shaft.
5. There was a foam sleeve between the jacket and the steering shaft. It was located behind the collar (?b). The foam sleeve was to prevent engine compartment noise, engine fumes, etc from traveling up the gap between the column jacket and the steering shaft and into the driver compartment. Possibly that paper was part of that sleeve.
6. A "kit" designation would indicate more than just the bearing. I would call Paragon and ask what is included.
Jim

[Greg C.]

Re: More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

Thanks Jim!

Did all 67 Columns (early and late) come with the plastic covering over the wire mesh part?

and

When assembling my column... should I "hold" it with the flat part of the shaft up and the flattened side of the steering box end facing left or right or ?

[Richard M.]

Re: More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

Greg, Here are some threads which may help...
Rich

Plastic Cover......

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?93649-1967-Steering-Column-Metal-Mesh-Plastic-Cover&highlight=column

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?84412-1967-Steering-Column-Plastic-Sleeve-over-Mesh-(Mast-Jacket)&highlight=column

Early Column info.....

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?93158-early-1967-steering-column&highlight=column

[Jim S.]

Re: More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

Yes, all 1967 and 68 GM passenger car steering columns came with a black plastic cover over the jacket mesh.

There is a notch machined through the splines on the lower end that attaches to the cast flange. That notch should be at 12 o'clock.


There should be an indentation on the very end of the shaft on the steering wheel end. That indentation should also be at 12 o'clock.
This picture isn't correct. But the red arrow is pointing directly to the indentation.

When you assemble the upper solid shaft to the lower tubular shaft, the notch and the indentation should both be at 12 o'clock.
Jim

[Greg C.]

Re: More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

Whooaaa... I don't want to count my chickens before they are hatched... but I think I rebuilt my Column!

The Late style Bearing fit right up in the end of the jacket... I pressed it in with my fingers and viola'

Of course, the proof is in the pudding, but the column was/is just one of the many things I have to do before I get to test her out.

THANKS!

[Timothy B.]

Re: More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

Greg,

I mentioned a mandatory assembly procedure when installing the column to the rag joint, find the paper and read it so you will understand the importance of aligning things correctly.

Here is a picture of my 67 in the straight ahead position.

[Joe R.]

Re: More 1967 Steering Column Questions.

Bringing this topic to the top for member.