rag joint question

[Werner R.]

my car [1964] has already had the rag joint replaced. the new kit has two bolts and two of what i call "studs" [the fat one and the skinny one]. my two couplers are exactly alike. each has two equal size holes opposite each other, and each has two cut away areas, equal in size and opposite each other. now i think, as for the 2 bolts, if i start from the bottom and go up, i will have: bolt head; semi-lunar washer with flange pointed toward driver; wall of lower coupler; rubber ring; wall of upper coupler; lock washer; nut. how am i doing so far???
now come the two "studs".
why do all kits have two different size studs?? the cut away portions of the couplers are all the same. can someone answer this one??
finally, for the studs, i ought to have the following: nut; lock washer; wall of lower coupler; rubber ring; fat/skinny stud pointed into cut away of upper coupler. is this correct?? i really cannot figure this one out, and am looking for the usual good advice that this board offers.

[Philip Whitaker Member# 2024]

Re: rag joint question

Werner,

I looked at my original 64 rag joint. This is what I see: nut/ washer/ flange/ rag material/ special retainer (sheet metal part to capture and distribute pressure on rag material/ stud with hex base (one with small dia. & one with larger dia.. As for the notches in the upper flange, one notch is larger than the other to accomidate the different size studs. The studs are inserted from the firewall side of the joint and the nuts are on the bottom toward the steering box.

Regards, Phil

[Werner R.]

Re: rag joint question

phil, your response makes me wonder if i have the correct coupler on my car.
both of my couplers are the same and the spaces, all 4 of them [2 in lower coupler and 2 in upper] are the same size and shape. there is no larger and smaller space that would correspond to the larger and smaller stud.
are yours noticeably different?? is one space tiny compard to the other?? could you put the large stud into the small space?
also, if i understand you correctly, the half moon retainers are atached to the stud and not to the bolt. is that corect?? in other words, from the firewall on down, it would be space; stud; retainer; rag; flange; washer; nut. correct??
werner

[Philip Whitaker Member# 2024]

Re: rag joint question

Werner,

That is the correct assembly. I've emailed you some digital images to assist you in envisioning the assembly. I hope this helps. I do know that there are different rag joint assemblies for sale from various vendors. Some are reproduction and some are GM service parts. I know I saw them at one of the online vendor sites. Do some searching and I'm sure you'll find them. The original lower flange is riveted to the rag.

Phil

[Philip Whitaker Member# 2024]

Re: rag joint question

Werner,

I was wrong in telling you that the rag is riveted to the lower flange. I took that information out of the Judging Manual. I looked at the joint and saw that it is riveted to the upper flange. I checked the AIM and it shows the rag riveted to the upper flange, same as the original part in my car. It must be a mistake in the Judging Manual. If I'm wrong here, someone please let me know.

Phil