Steering coupling question
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Steering coupling question
My vehicle is a 1966 big block with telescoping steering column and power steering. Everything is original on the car except the steering gear. I have the original gear and it is in excellant condition but the gear on the car is a replacement gear and the spling on the input shaft has fewer teeth than the original, therefore, the coupling won't fit.
My problem is identifying and locating the correct coupling. First, the restoration manual says that the coupling assy consists of a "top hat" portion attached to the column and a "bow tie" portion attached to the gear. Can anyone verify that this is correct and if so, where can I purchace one ?
The reason I want to change the gear is that is the original and it has the cast iron side cover whereas the one on the car has an aluminum side cover (obvious and not correct). I know a I'm being picky and am not in a hurry. The gear in the car works fine.
Thanks to any and all for any help in this area.
John
My problem is identifying and locating the correct coupling. First, the restoration manual says that the coupling assy consists of a "top hat" portion attached to the column and a "bow tie" portion attached to the gear. Can anyone verify that this is correct and if so, where can I purchace one ?
The reason I want to change the gear is that is the original and it has the cast iron side cover whereas the one on the car has an aluminum side cover (obvious and not correct). I know a I'm being picky and am not in a hurry. The gear in the car works fine.
Thanks to any and all for any help in this area.
John
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Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Connecticut, USA
John is correct the box you have is a C3 box. The spline is coarse with a flat milled in it. The C2 boxes used full round fine spline. The internals were the same. Cast covers were used till '68 Be sure your box you install is in good shape, check the on center lash, amout of threads showing above the nut and side and end play in shaft. If any of these are not correct you'll have a sloppy box and poor road feel.
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Thanks for the response. You have confirmed that my "original" gear is an original gear. I retired from Saginaw Steering Gear and have had hands on experience with this gear. I have all the tools and spec for setting up the gear. I did this and it came out feeling sweet, smooth without any sticky or tight spots over center and about the correct amount of clearance in the corners.
It is the lack of flat and the fine spline on the input shaft that I wanted to be sure of. The after market gear needed to have a unique flex coupling made up. I may have had it made while I worked there (I can't be sure but this is certainly possible.)
I looked on line at the Long Island Corvette catalog and they do show a coupling that is supposed to be correct but no description. How can I be sure it is the correct spline, shaft diameter, no flat, etc. I don't want to buy an incorrect part then go through the hassle of sending it back. Maybe this is a small issue and I am worrying for nothing.
Again thanks for the help.
John
It is the lack of flat and the fine spline on the input shaft that I wanted to be sure of. The after market gear needed to have a unique flex coupling made up. I may have had it made while I worked there (I can't be sure but this is certainly possible.)
I looked on line at the Long Island Corvette catalog and they do show a coupling that is supposed to be correct but no description. How can I be sure it is the correct spline, shaft diameter, no flat, etc. I don't want to buy an incorrect part then go through the hassle of sending it back. Maybe this is a small issue and I am worrying for nothing.
Again thanks for the help.
John
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,048
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From: "cutesy" TN
Thanks for the response. You have confirmed that my "original" gear is an original gear. I retired from Saginaw Steering Gear and have had hands on experience with this gear. I have all the tools and spec for setting up the gear. I did this and it came out feeling sweet, smooth without any sticky or tight spots over center and about the correct amount of clearance in the corners.
It is the lack of flat and the fine spline on the input shaft that I wanted to be sure of. The after market gear needed to have a unique flex coupling made up. I may have had it made while I worked there (I can't be sure but this is certainly possible.)
I looked on line at the Long Island Corvette catalog and they do show a coupling that is supposed to be correct but no description. How can I be sure it is the correct spline, shaft diameter, no flat, etc. I don't want to buy an incorrect part then go through the hassle of sending it back. Maybe this is a small issue and I am worrying for nothing.
Again thanks for the help.
John
It is the lack of flat and the fine spline on the input shaft that I wanted to be sure of. The after market gear needed to have a unique flex coupling made up. I may have had it made while I worked there (I can't be sure but this is certainly possible.)
I looked on line at the Long Island Corvette catalog and they do show a coupling that is supposed to be correct but no description. How can I be sure it is the correct spline, shaft diameter, no flat, etc. I don't want to buy an incorrect part then go through the hassle of sending it back. Maybe this is a small issue and I am worrying for nothing.
Again thanks for the help.
John
If it comes from Long Island Corvette (parts ****), it is correct in every way.
