TimAT

I've always had good luck with Lisle tools too. But the end of that puller is #4 or #6 machine screw thread-- it's small.

TimAT

Correction-- Might even be #10 Still not very big..

TimAT

Street Rat

I've been busy and haven't been able to get to the car until today. Made a little progress pulling the column apart. I disassembled the column and cleaned the old grease out of the parts. Painted some column pieces also.
Upper bearings were shot. Good thing that I ordered some.
Back on it early Saturday.

More questions to follow very soon I'm sure.

Street Rat

Got back at it this morning...

Lubed and installed sphere and upper steering shaft.
Went install the two new upper shaft bearings in the housing. I broke one installing it.

So dumb *** has to wait to get another bearing.

My local stealership wanted $67 and some change for one bearing. I passed and found some genuine GM bearings online for $37 each.

Waiting on parts again.

Big2Bird

This is my pain. I hate waiting on stuff. I have even paid double at dealer just to be done with it.

Cavu2u

Is the bearing you need marked SC-655, ZIP Corvette? I've got one for you if you need it.

Steve

Street Rat

Steve that is the correct bearing yes. I appreciate the offer but I've got some coming very soon.

Street Rat

I've got an email in to Jim Shea. In the meantime I need to know about the upper steering shaft orientation to the lower steering shaft on the T&T column. Quite simply if someone could answer this question I'd be set.

Is the keyway for the tilt lock bolt at the 12 o'clock or 6 o'clock position?

Edit - After more searching and reading, I believe my steering shafts are not clocked correctly. So these positions above may not be the correct positions.

Cavu2u

Pretty sure it's like this:
Key Way on Upper Shaft @ 12 o'clock, with Flat on Lower Shaft @ 12 o'clock also.

Don't forget to install that lower shaft's oblong firewall gasket before you attach the inner tube to the top, else you'll have to cut it to put it on (not a real big deal).

Steve

Street Rat

Thanks Steve,

I saw that you have been through this before. I was reading some old threads that you had started on steering column repair. I got a lot of good info from it although the pictures wouldn't show up. Good questions too.

Cavu2u

Damn Photobucket!
They're holding me, and a lot of others too, hostage for $$ to post pics. I would think there's someting illegal about that, but....

Unfortunately, pictures are the geist and show the steps better than I could explain.
I'm sure you picked up on the many replies of knowledge I asked for and received. There's a lot of smart cookies out there in the forum.

Steve

Street Rat

I downloaded all of my photos from Photobucket to DVDs. If you happen to find some of the old photos let me know.

Thanks,
Craig

Street Rat

Someone please help me find where this piece goes inside of the top of the column.

Big2Bird

Is that one of the clips tack welded down below to hold the turn signal switch connector? (Comb).

I don't recall ever seeing anything like that inside.

Street Rat

No it fell out of the upper column by the turn signal switch/tilt handles. It was attached to this piece on some way...

Big2Bird

Sorry. Been too long. I just went thru all my column pictures, and didn't see it. Maybe Jim Shea will appear.

Street Rat

I've been in contact with Jim and others. The photos from photobucket aren't opening. They have some 3rd party hosting issue and want money.

DC3

It's either the tilt lever shield or the turn signal lever shield. Can't remember which. It's in Jim Shea's steering paper titled "1969 THROUGH 1982 Corvette Tilt & Telescoping Steering Column Disassembly & Repair Instructions Paper #3." See the last page (#13).

Those two are parts #19 and #20 on some steering column parts blow up diagrams.

DC

Street Rat

Ok now I see the drawing DC3. I'm going play with this piece until I can get it to line up like the drawing. Still waiting on some bearings. Trying to get this straight in my head before the final assembly.