okay, so i'm workin on installing this new aftermarket steering wheel on my 84 and i'm havin a few issues. So first I had a hard time yanking the original off, had to use a few taps of the hammer plus the wheel puller. Then i go to put the new one on and after securing the main nut, the bolt for the telescopic adjuster wouldn't go in the steering shaft!? yeah, long story short, the threads were messed up and i had to go over em with a tap and die to clean up the threads. Now is the bolt for the telescopic adjuster supposed to screw ALL the way down? and how the heck does it work? i don't see how it keeps the wheel from sliding up and down and my chilton is only making me dumber. someone please help me out with this. i swear i'm not mechanically retarded, but i'm thinkin someone upstairs doesn't like me too much tonight. thanks ==Nate==

 

Should be some screws that screw in the adjuster lever thru your bolt that holds down the lever. Once these are screwed in, the lever will be nice and tight.....

 

Basically this is how it's assembled and how it works. The upper telescoping shaft slides inside a larger shaft. As you work further into the column, there is a C clip on the larger shaft. When it's removed the inner shaft should slide out clear of the outer shaft. There is a rod that slides down into the center hole of the telescoping shaft. The star bolt (with attached lever) that screws into this hole pushes on the rod which in turn pushes on a halfmoon key (similar to the key that goes on a crankshaft to keep the balancer from turning), this key fits into a slot on the side of the upper shaft, when force by the rod is excerted on the key, the key wants to move outward which increases the friction it has with the inside of the larger shaft. This is why when you lightly turn the telescoping lever, the effort to slide the wheel up and down increases. When you turn it to the right to tighten it up some more, you can't move the wheel up an down. It's friction that holds it in place. Once you screw the star bolt in you'll feel resistance, this is only if you have the rod and the key installed in the upper shaft. Once you feel slight resistance, attach the lever to the star bolt using the closest hole on the star bolt so the lever is just to the left of column center. The lever, when turned to the right should tighten the wheel from moving up or down. Finer adjustments can be made if you use the other holes, that's what they are there for. If you need the rod, key, upper shaft, let me know I have them.

Art

 

Hey, thanks, I appreciate the help. I got the sucker installed finally and after you explained how it works i was able to get it in right away no problem. Now i just have to mess with the horn and get it to work. I hate horn buttons!
Thanks again!

 

Glad you got it back together. If you need any drawings of the upper column assembly I can send it to you. Good luck.

Art

 

kool, i'll let ya know. i'm not gonna tackle the horn until the weeked probably. Not really in the mood to yank it all apart again. Thanks!