63 steering column replacement questions

[Thomas S.]

63
Removing and reinstalling a column is easy enough and maintaining the correct position in the rag-joint via a small dab of paint works fine.

I'm replacing my column with a rebuild and wanted to know if there any tricks to maintaining the spline shaft to rag-joint alignment? I realize that the steering wheel can easily be removed for centering purposes but I'm sure there was a procedure on the assembly line to avoid that.

The engine compartment end of the steering shaft has a flatted surface and I noticed that when I removed the original column the flat appeared to be oriented against the through-bolt in the rag-joint. In other words the bolt could be acting as a keying mechanism for the flat on the spline shaft end.

Or is it simply a case of getting it as close to possible and adjusting the steering wheel.

Tom

[Frank D.]

Re: 63 steering column replacement questions

The 63 Shop Manual covers the procedure....with the steering in a straight-ahead position the longitudinal 'slot' in the lower (metal) section of the rag joint should be straight up....then you can index the steering column correctly. The steering column may have a mark at the cockpit end to show the straight-ahead position.

[Thomas S.]

Re: 63 steering column replacement questions

Thanks,

I went through the AIM several times and didn't see it. That makes sense now because I remember reading a recommended article on the cluster replacement and in the article, the slot was straight up. when I did the removal of the existing shaft that slot was at the 3-O'Clock position and my steering wheel was straight so I put it back the same way.

The steering wheel must have been removed and reinstalled at some time in the past.

I really appreciate you advice on this.

Tom

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 steering column replacement questions

Thomas,

There should be a very small chisel mark on the steering box worm gear that marks the center point of the gears. This mark needs to be in the 12 O'clock position then the lower half of the rag joint with the slot aligning to that chisel mark.

Lots of info in the archives.

[Thomas S.]

Re: 63 steering column replacement questions

Took a while to find in the archives but here it is
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...light=C2+joint