Put my colunm back in after fixing the ignition and noticed that the flat on the shaft does not line up with the pinch bolt on the ragjoint.Will it be OK like that or will it be a problem.

 

There is a pinch bolt notch on the gear input shaft and there is also a longer pinch bolt notch on the steering column shaft. The longer steering column notch allows for Corvette body to frame build tolerances. Both the pinch bolt for the flexible coupling flange and the pinch bolt for the steering column flange MUST pass through their respective notches.

You first install the flexible coupling all the way on the gear input shaft and tighten the pinch bolt. Before installing the steering column into the car, you attach the column flange loosely on the steering column shaft with the pinch bolt through the notch. Now pass the column through the hole in the dash and line up the two bolts from the flexible coupling with the two holes in the column flange. The column flange will find its appropriate position within the elongated steering shaft notch. Tighten the pinch bolt and attach the two nuts and lock washers to the flexible coupling bolts.

Now, are saying that even with the column flange loose to slide on the column shaft, the column flange does not reach the flexible coupling? If this is your problem, most likely the steering column shaft has been compressed into the steering column. Depending upon the year of your Vette, the steering shaft should be sticking out of the steering column by the following dimensions:

Standard (non-adjustable) Column
1968 2.74 inches to edge of clamp
1969 through 1977 4.75 inches to bearing retainer face
1978-1979 5.00 inches to bearing retainer face

Telescoping Steering Column
1968 2.21 inches to edge of clamp

T&T Column
1969 through 1976 4.70 inches to bearing retainer face
1977-1978 4.90 inches to bearing retainer face
1979 through 1982 5.00 inches to bearing retainer face

The steering shaft comes out a lot harder than it goes into the column. It is totally safe to draw the steering shaft back out to its correct length. Try and pull it back out with a steady force. Don't hammer on it since you might cause damage to the column bearings or to the plastic tilt sphere inside the column.

Jim

 

thanks Jim the problem is on the steering column shaft the notch does not line up with the pinch bolt, but the steering wheel is centered and the blinkers work fine and return is the adjustment in the rag joint?

 

You are saying that the notch does not align with the pinch bolt even though the steering wheel and turn signal cancelling is centered. How far off is the notch? Thirty degrees, one quarter turn, one half turn, etc.

Take a look at this paper. This should help in finding the culprit.

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...Rev18MY061.doc


BTW, is the flexible coupling new? I have heard of some aftermarket flexible couplings having the two different sized shoulder attaching bolts reversed from the OEM positions.

Jim

 

Jim, the flat is about 1/4 turn it sits at 12 oclock

 

The flat on the steering gear input shaft should be at 12 o'clock when the gear is exactly on center. (Note, that the pinch bolt does not pass through the flat.) With the flat at 12 o'clock, the flexible coupling pinch bolt will be vertical in the car, passing through 9 o'clock, with the head pointing straight up.

With the column on center, the machined notch on the column shaft should be at 12 o'clock as well. The pinch bolt on the column flange does pass through the notch. With the column on center, the pinch bolt will be horizontal and the head will be pointing at the frame rail.

Hope that this helps,
Jim

 

Jim, thanks for all of your help and knowledge I'll try to look at it tonight and see if I can see the problem. In the meantime is it ok to drive like that or can I destroy anything.