restoring a 66 power steering system. Got the old coupler off. Is there any easy way to get the new coupler on ? Tried spreading it, but it doesn't seem to budge? Any ideas? Thanks!!!

 

My '66 doesn't have power steering, so I'm not sure if that'll change it much, but I just removed the 3 bolts from the steering box and tipped it down, to allow enough room for me to slip the new coupler onto the upper shaft, then line everything back up, slp it onto the lower shaft and bolt the steering box back to the frame. Worked great and I didn't have to mess with the steering column any. Be sure to take your time and get the wheel straight,mormelse you'll have to do it all,again (ask me how I know)!! My steering coupler was shot, and the replacement along with a steering box adjustment did wonders for my car's handling!! Drives awesome now!!

Good luck with the work!

 

I recently put a new rag coupler in my 66 as well (non power steering), I removed all 3 mounting bolts on the steering box and and temporarily used (one only) 1/4" X 4" long carriage bolt with a fender washer and nut which did two things: kept the box in it's approximate location and increased wiggle room which was desperately needed!
I also loosened the steering clamp near the firewall which allowed me to gain another 1/2" of room by pulling up the steering wheel from the interior then putting a hard rubber spacer in the gap to keep it in place.
I then removed the pinch bolts at each end of the coupler which is VERY important and slid the new coupler onto the steering column spline UP as far as possible to get past the end of the gear spline then slid it down into the gear spline (now you can install the 3 proper mounting bolts and 2 pinch bolts). Obviously orienting the steering box to central with the steering wheel straight is critical. You can have someone hold the steering wheel straight in place to help or in my case my wife wasn't home so I put a piece of masking tape on the top of the steering wheel and put a red mark on the tape at exactly 12:00 with the steering wheel perfectly straight, then simply hung a piece of string from the visor pointing at the red mark which allowed me to see if the steering wheel was still straight. note: there was also a mark at 12:00 on the steering box spline which represented centrality.
Good luck !
Ralph

 

Really really great tips and sure fire alignment methods Ralph.

Tom

 

Be sure to have your tires perfectly straight when beginning (also mentally note if your steering wheel isn't normally straight when driving down the road, so you can correct it during the install).