While my 68 was in the body off stage and they had the steering column unbolted.When they bolted it back up it was about 180 out.My question is can I just seperate the column at what I think is called the rag joint at the frame and spin it around or is there an easier way I can strighten my wheel.Thanks :confused:

You need to make the correction at the rag joint.

Will I need to drop the column inside or does it come loose easily at the frame?

My history is a bit shakey but here it goes.

Did you ever take the flexible coupling off of your gear during the restoration? Around 1969 Saginaw began milling a flat on the gear input shaft. They also changed the flexible coupling to include a mating flat. The flexible coupling could only be installed one way if there is a flat. Before that time I think the coupling could be installed in any orientation.

In 1969 the flexible coupling should have had two different size bolts sticking out toward the column. The flange on the intermediate steering shaft should have had two different size hole to match the bolts. They should only go together one way.

The pot joint and clamp on the intermediate shaft should mate up to the column so that the clamp bolt passes through a notch on the column steering shaft. They can only go together one way. They should only go together one way.

At the steering wheel end, there should be a stake mark on the tip of your steering shaft. There should be a corresponding stake mark on the steering wheel hub. The steering wheel and hub should be assembled to the steering column with the marks aligned.

It seems to me that the most likely place for your 180 out problem is at the steering wheel hub to column attachment. Next most promising area would be the flexible coupling to the gear connection.

It is possible to exchange positions for the two different sized bolts on the flexible coupling. (Just knock them out and reassemble.) This will rotate your steering column 180 degrees. However, it doesn't explain how you got the problem in the first place.

I quess when the guy put the body back on and did some reassembly he put it in any old way(this was a friend of a friend not a professional)It wasn't a complete restoration.So I can disconnect it at the steering joint by the motor and spin it around, bolt it back up and be ok?

I'd check and make sure that your steering wheel is lined up correctly first.

I'm pretty sure its 180 out.When I'm going stright down the road the bottom of the steering wheel is at the top.

Ok guys,I took the two bolts out that hold the shaft to the power steering pump at the rag joint.The problem is I can't get the bottom of the shaft(where its seperated)passed the two pins on the coupling thats on the pump.Any suggestions?

The steering system is a super critical safety system in a passenger car. GM and Saginaw designed all the parts so that even if someone failed to tighted critical fasteners, there would be a lot of warning (i.e. lash, rattles, clunks, etc) before you totally lost steering. This is what you are experiencing even though you have totally removed two very critical fasteners. (i.e. The stop pins are still engaged in the slots on the column flange.)

Unfortunately, from a service standpoint, this will cause you some more work. I haven't personally worked on a GM A-car but I am quite sure that you have two alternatives:
1). Loosen the gear at the frame enough to cock the gear so that the flexible coupling pins can become disengaged from the column flange.
2). Or loosen the steering column inside the car so that it can be pulled back an inch or so, thereby disengaging the flex coupling pins.

Anybody out there with any easier ideas.All I need is about a half inch and it will clear.

Would it be easier to just pull the steering wheel and correct it there or continue at the rag joint?

If you rotate your steering wheel, you will find that your turn signals won't cancel properly. They will cancel just either side of center. You really need to position your steering wheel hub with respect to the ding mark on the end of the steering shaft.

Ok,I'll give that a try.Come think of it my turn signals are a little goofy right now,is that from the wheel being upside down?

You *MIGHT* be able to slide the collapsible column together a little bit to clear the pins and then knock it back down once you have rotated the shaft.

Probably less work to take 2 of the 3 bolts that hold the box to the frame out and tilt the box.

K

You can always move the steering box instead of the column It's much easier. Three bolts thru the frame and it's loose...

Ok I took the 3 bolts out under the dash that hold the column up,oulled it back a little and rotated the column.Worked out good.Thanks everyone. graemlins/thumbsup.gif