'64 Steering Column Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 19
From: Ocean Springs, MS
St. Jude Donor '07
'64 Steering Column Question
Installed my steering column and the section with the turn signal lever does not lock in place. The service manual refers to a set screw but there wasn't one in place when the column was dismantled, nor do I see how a set screw solves this issue.
What am I overlooking?
What am I overlooking?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
The installation is shown in UPC 12, Sheet C1 in your Assembly Manual; the cast housing twist-locks into the tangs on the top end of the tubular column jacket, and the turn signal switch screws go through the stamped circular retainer into the tapped holes in the cast housing to lock it together. The setscrew and wedge arrangement was only used in the unique '63 design, but the hole in the housing for the '63 setscrew remained - ignore the hole. 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 19
From: Ocean Springs, MS
St. Jude Donor '07
The installation is shown in UPC 12, Sheet C1 in your Assembly Manual; the cast housing twist-locks into the tangs on the top end of the tubular column jacket, and the turn signal switch screws go through the stamped circular retainer into the tapped holes in the cast housing to lock it together. The setscrew and wedge arrangement was only used in the unique '63 design, but the hole in the housing for the '63 setscrew remained - ignore the hole.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
From: Livonia Michigan
Mine wasn't locking in place because ALL the tangs at the top were gone - nothing but little 1/8 inch stubs left. I didn't even notice it when I first took it apart, then I did a double-take when I compared what I had to the service manual
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 19
From: Ocean Springs, MS
St. Jude Donor '07
What did you do to resolve your situation?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 19
From: Ocean Springs, MS
St. Jude Donor '07
The cast housing is too worn to engage the tangs on the column. I have not been able to find a replacement housing so I am considering using epoxy to bond the housing to the column, after I insert the wiring harness. Anyone see many flaws in this approach? Or, anyone have a '64 housing available?
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Warwick RI
I own a 64 Coupe and have the same problem, was wonderning why this system did not lock in, and why I needed to replace the directional switch cam and top baron unit. Looking at the shop manual for a 64 coupe did not look any different than my assembled unit. however the housing is loose, this may be what was overlooked. Thank you John Z
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Pro
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From: Pensacola, Florida War Eagle
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
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From: Washington Michigan
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 19
From: Ocean Springs, MS
St. Jude Donor '07
Update - ordered a Vintage original housing from Paragon and it was identical to mine. Paragon also recommended installing the "wedge" which has resolved my issue. Thanks Paragon!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 19
From: Ocean Springs, MS
St. Jude Donor '07
Final Update
I am embarrassed to say I was assembling the column incorrectly. I was not installing the plate the turn signal switch mounts on and then engaging the plate with the tangs at the top of the column. After 30 - 50 times of R&R I finally saw the obvious. For the record, I did not disassemnle the column so I was working off of weak logic.LOL