Help, just screwed up...steering
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Cumming GA
Help, just screwed up...steering
Help,
My son and I need help big time. We have a 78 C3, the turn signal lever went limp a couple of weeks ago and today we (me) decided to take the assembly apart so we could identify what part is broke. Got everything apart and found the metal arm that goes from the lever to the plastic turn signal assembly was snapped.
Went to put it all back together until I could find the part. Well we cannot get the spring pushed back in far enough to put the retaining 'C' clip back in.
I am sure that those that have pulled this appart know what I am talking about. It seems that as i push back on the inner assembly to clear the slots for the clip, the shaft pushes back at the same time so I never get back to the slot...
So now my son has no car and I have one more project...which I do not need at this time in my life..
PLEASE HELP
My son and I need help big time. We have a 78 C3, the turn signal lever went limp a couple of weeks ago and today we (me) decided to take the assembly apart so we could identify what part is broke. Got everything apart and found the metal arm that goes from the lever to the plastic turn signal assembly was snapped.
Went to put it all back together until I could find the part. Well we cannot get the spring pushed back in far enough to put the retaining 'C' clip back in.
I am sure that those that have pulled this appart know what I am talking about. It seems that as i push back on the inner assembly to clear the slots for the clip, the shaft pushes back at the same time so I never get back to the slot...
So now my son has no car and I have one more project...which I do not need at this time in my life..
PLEASE HELP
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
Thank Jim Shea!
Go to post #18;
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...n-failure.html
Good luck!
Dan
Go to post #18;
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...n-failure.html
Good luck!
Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,647
Likes: 1
From: East Aurora N.Y.
St. Jude Donor '10
You should be able to push the locking plate down far enough by hand, and have your son slide the retainer,(C Clip), in while you are pushing.....If you don't have" the tool", that an alternative. It can be done.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Cumming GA
Thank Jim Shea!
Go to post #18;
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...n-failure.html
Good luck!
Dan
Go to post #18;
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...n-failure.html
Good luck!
Dan
Thanks, this is what I am dealing with. I will head to that post and go from there...I do have a question about that compression tool but it would be better to tag along with that post...
Brian
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
Dan
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I have just rebuilt my column and did this without the tool. It is a two man job and I had the column out of the car. I pushed down on both sides of the plate and my son put in the C clip. It took a few triesbut wwe got it on.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Cumming GA
One thing to ask: did your clip go in from the bottom? this is the only way mine will go in...it seems that installing it from the top down would allow gravity to hold it in place if that plastic retainer failed.
When I removed it, it was inserted from the bottom up...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,647
Likes: 1
From: East Aurora N.Y.
St. Jude Donor '10
yea, we tried a bit but it seemed the shaft pushed some and we could not get to the groove....
One thing to ask: did your clip go in from the bottom? this is the only way mine will go in...it seems that installing it from the top down would allow gravity to hold it in place if that plastic retainer failed.
When I removed it, it was inserted from the bottom up...
One thing to ask: did your clip go in from the bottom? this is the only way mine will go in...it seems that installing it from the top down would allow gravity to hold it in place if that plastic retainer failed.
When I removed it, it was inserted from the bottom up...
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I take a piece of ~2" pipe, cut at about 3" long or whatever length works well, I forget....cut out a side slot, making a C out of it the entire length.....find a washer with about 1/2" hole that can set on top of it....put the thing over the TT shaft, then lower the tele shaft onto the surface, screwing the lock shaft down tight with the star screw....then use the bolt to force the washer and cut pipe down till you can slide a screwdriver in the open C slot and slip the ring in place....
it's what I have setting under my tool cart for some years now....
sorry, no pix, this was all done some 15 years ago....
it's what I have setting under my tool cart for some years now....
sorry, no pix, this was all done some 15 years ago....
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Cumming GA
I take a piece of ~2" pipe, cut at about 3" long or whatever length works well, I forget....cut out a side slot, making a C out of it the entire length.....find a washer with about 1/2" hole that can set on top of it....put the thing over the TT shaft, then lower the tele shaft onto the surface, screwing the lock shaft down tight with the star screw....then use the bolt to force the washer and cut pipe down till you can slide a screwdriver in the open C slot and slip the ring in place....
it's what I have setting under my tool cart for some years now....
sorry, no pix, this was all done some 15 years ago....
it's what I have setting under my tool cart for some years now....
sorry, no pix, this was all done some 15 years ago....
First I need to find the broken turn signal part...does anybody know if it is a GM stocked part and the part number?
=metal lever goes from the turn signal lever to the plastic turn signal ring
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Two different levers depending on with or without cruise control, dunno if chevy still has it available but the vendors do. Good luck, its a tough job without the correct/right tool 
Peace, Moosie
Peace, Moosie
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
You can rent the tool from Autozone for free. I did my column over the winter and Jim Shea's papers are a must. Just going by memory I think the "C" clip is a critical part and needs to be installed with the fat side of the clip on the right side. Jim's papers discuss this in detail.
Best of luck.
Best of luck.