Hi Jim!

I recently bought a "freshly rebuilt" T&T steering column ('74 or '75 he thinks) and just now getting to putting it in.

However, with the lower "flat spot" aligned at 12 o'clock, the steering wheel must be installed exactly upside down.

Is there any easy way to fix this? Or will I have to break the entire thing down? I tried that before with a '78 column and failed miserably! Don't know if I actually have the mechanical fortitude to be able to pull this off!

Or is there an easier way to fix it the right way so the column is ahead?

For info, I'm installing a "Rack Attack" from VB&P into the car, so maybe I can just install the lower's u-joint 180* out? Will this affect the turn canceling?

Many thanks, you've been a fantastic source of info to us here at CF!!



Paul

 

i rebuilt my column and came out great,sounds like you need to align the steering wheel hub and tele shaft.

sounds like the hub is 180 out to me

Steering Column Shaft to Steering Wheel Hub Alignment
First check to determine that your steering wheel hub is assembled to the steering column correctly. There should be a chisel mark on the very end of the upper steering column shaft and a corresponding mark on the steering wheel hub. On standard (non-adjustable) or tilt columns remove the horn cap (or pad) and remove the steering wheel nut to check if the two marks are aligned. On vehicles with T&T columns, there are a few more parts to remove. You must first remove the horn cap, horn contact, shim(s), “star” screw, and telescope lock.

(V-ID) With the steering gear exactly on center, the chisel mark on the end of the steering column upper shaft should be at the 12 o’clock position and the steering column will be right on its design center position. If the chisel mark is NOT at 12 o’clock the turn signal switch will not cancel equally left turn versus right turn.

(V-ID) The marks on the steering column upper shaft and the steering wheel hub should be right in line with each other. If they are not, there is a problem somewhere in the steering or suspension system. If they aren't aligned, you should pull the hub and align the marks before beginning any centering procedures.

(V-ID) On T&T or tilt columns, with the chisel mark at 12 o’clock the lower end of the column must have its clamp bolt horizontal and passing through the 12 o’clock position on the column shaft (As shown in the photograph on page 2.) Note that there is a notch on the steering column lower shaft that allows the clamp bolt to pass through. So the chisel mark on the upper steering column shaft and the notch on the lower steering column shaft must both be at 12 o’clock when the steering column is on center.

If the clamp bolt is horizontal and on the bottom of the shaft (the 6 o’clock position) when the chisel mark on the upper shaft is at 12 o’clock, Bubba has incorrectly assembled the upper to lower steering shafts inside the steering column by 180 degrees. You have a choice of the following procedures:

1). Repair the Column (the correct fix)
Remove the steering column from the car and disassemble the steering column head so that the upper steering shaft can be reoriented to the lower column shaft at the plastic tilt sphere. It will be very helpful to download the appropriate adjustable steering column disassembly and repair papers from the host websight for instructions.

2). Modify the Flexible Coupling (the easy fix)
Disconnect the two nuts and lock washers that attach the flexible coupling to the steering column flange. Pull the steering column back into the car a short distance. Remove the flexible coupling from the gear. There are two different size bolts that attach the flexible coupling to the steering column flange. With the gear on center, the larger bolt (3/8-24) should be at the 9 o’clock position. The smaller bolt (5/16-24) at the 3 o’clock position. Interchange them. This will rotate the steering column shaft 180 degrees and the turn signals will cancel correctly.

 

Thanks killer! I'm printing this out and bringing it to the garage later!



I don't have a rag joint anymore, so that part won't be applicable, but I might be able to adjust that to the double u-joint included in the new steering system.
Right now, they are not connected so they can both turn independently. I just want to make sure everything lines up before 'committing' it together!

 

Hey Killer,
I don't mind you using information from my papers to help somebody. But when you copy and paste from them at least give credit to the actual author.
Jim Shea

PS 73sbvert,
I don't know how the universal joint is attached so I don't know if you can rotate one of the universals 180 degrees to correct your steering wheel. Otherwise, it seems that you are going to have to remove the steering column; disassemble the steering column head so that you can pull the entire steering shaft up and out of the column. Then you will need to disassemble the plastic spheres that tilt the column. Then rotate the upper shaft 180 degrees to get the steering wheel back on correctly.

 

Good point

 

im sorry just did not think of that i will not post in this forum again and want to say sorry to jim and all the members did not think it would make you mad sorry.

 

I'm not mad. Let's not over react. I see no reason for you to stop posting. I spend a lot of time on the steering papers and hope that people can get good use from them.

Jim