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I'm doing a Borgeson PS conversion on my 1969 427 convertable. I'm about ready to collapse the steering shaft by driving it into the column as per instructions. Where the shaft comes through the fire wall there is a spring loaded clamp on the shaft. Nothing in the shop manual about it. Intuition says loosen it but before I screw anything up in the column I thought I'd ask here.
Anyone here done the conversion and are familiar with driving the shaft further into the column?..........Thanks................. .Bob
Not familar w/69 but my 76 its holds the lower bearing.I left it alone and used a block of wood against shaft and tapped it to collapse shaft when installing Borgeson
I'm doing a Borgeson PS conversion on my 1969 427 convertable. I'm about ready to collapse the steering shaft by driving it into the column as per instructions. Where the shaft comes through the fire wall there is a spring loaded clamp on the shaft. Nothing in the shop manual about it. Intuition says loosen it but before I screw anything up in the column I thought I'd ask here.
Anyone here done the conversion and are familiar with driving the shaft further into the column?..........Thanks................. .Bob
Where the shaft comes through the fire wall there is a spring loaded clamp on the shaft. Nothing in the shop manual about it.
Anyone here done the conversion and are familiar with driving the shaft further into the column?..........Thanks................. .Bob
If it's next to the firewall.its on the outer tube. There is the gear change interlock system there, someone might be using a clamp to hold the arm in position so the mechanism doesn't activate.
I have seen hose clamps on the actual turning shaft , up against the bearing support ,usually there because the lower bearing is worn
The clamp is on the shaft, not the column, and appears very much to be factory correct. From the steering box upward it goes.........rag joint, clamp, spring loaded section. Likely the lower bearing. I just today got the column moved aft and need to take a closer look at what is what. Thanks, Bob
I would not refer to the clamp as a hose clamp. It's quite heavy duty, there is no size adjustment other than a bolt and nut to draw it tight against the shaft. I'ts tight against the bearing and the shaft could not have been collapsed with it tight. I removed it to tap in the shaft. When I removed it nothing moved, no play, or fell loose. When I install the column I will replace the clamp tight against the bottom bearing. It appears it's purpose is to prevent the shaft from retreating into the column. I never thought to check in my parts book but the 1969 shop manual does not show it in the assembly drawing of the corvette steering column. I'll do that tomorrow..............Bob
Ok then , the only ones I have seen were cheap hose clamps , when I rebuilt my 77 column , it had one on and there was slop when I removed it. Rebuilt It with a new plastic carrier and a bearing and didn,'t need it anymore.
I don't recall seeing anything like it on any of Jim Shea's papers either but maybe I missed it.
Seems strange that some would have the clamp, some not, and no mention in factory pubs. Oh well. I'm about ready to put the steering column back in. There,s more to the PS steering conversion than meets the eye. Lots of little glitches that might take half a day to resolve. The only way to get my pitman arm off was to make a puller as shown in shop manual. I can't imagine doing this without a lift. Still a tedious job............Bob
I checked my parts book. A real paper book from an old dealer service dept. There must be a dozen column variation assembly drawings but not one of them show or mention a clamp. I'm thinking it might be an add on "fix" mentioned in a service bulletin............Bob
Here is a pic of the strange clamp on my 72. (My column is presently out.) It sounds like what the OP described. It does not restrict the shift lock. It looks like it would prevent the column from collapsing. It looks like a factory clamp. It looks like a tie-rod end clamp, but IIRC it is a different size and is just the right size for the column.
I thought it was "Bubba strikes again" but maybe not? Looks too factory-like. But why?
That's exactly the same clamp in exactly the same position as mine. I also thought tie rod clamp. I've owned my 69 from 1973 and am the second owner. The car was bone stock and unmolested when I got it. The fact that there are more cars than mine out there with it and it's not an easy thing to add leads me to believe that it is factory or dealer added. Kind of a puzzler...........Bob
Here is a pic of the strange clamp on my 72. (My column is presently out.) It sounds like what the OP described. It does not restrict the shift lock. It looks like it would prevent the column from collapsing. It looks like a factory clamp. It looks like a tie-rod end clamp, but IIRC it is a different size and is just the right size for the column.
I thought it was "Bubba strikes again" but maybe not? Looks too factory-like. But why?
It might be just the camera angle , but it sure doesn't look like the shaft is central in the outer tube. ?
I was thinking maybe it was put on by the manufacturer for protection against being dropped and shortened sccidently while in storage and transport to the assembly area , then supposed to be removed at the assembly line. Maybe the workers missed a few , like the rag joint plastic protector you see on a few cars , well pics of them anyway.
Just a thought !
You have a ‘69 and it uses the same clamp and spring as a C2 to secure the lower bearing. It must be adjusted properly to retain the lower bearing properly. Here is a pic of my ‘64 with the clamp and spring adjusted properly. I also have a Borgeson PS conversion.
There are some differences. My shaft is the same diameter from the splines up through the bearing. The bearing spring has about 5 coils and has a spring clip to retain it. I just got my column back in today and with the shaft the correct new length the clamp is only about 1/4" from touching the rag joint. I'd post a pic if I could figure out how but no biggie. I think I've got the conversion about wrestled to the ground. Thanks...........Bob
Borgeson PS conversion question
