The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 55 1/2 tilt column with stock steering box?

Hi Folks,
I want to put a tilt (and preferably telescoping) column in my TF. I have been envisioning an '80s Caddy unit so I could get both functions. I'd love to swap the steering box for a power unit or even a rack but that's not in the budget right now.
If this has been covered previously I apologize but I've searched the archives and can't find this covered with the stock box. I'm sure some of you have done this. Can someone describe their recollections and maybe post some images so I know what I'd be up against? I'm particularly concerned with sealing the shaft with the sector shaft tube removed and also with the coupling arrangement.

Thanks in advance,
Dan

Column is cut a bit up from box leaving shaft longer than tube. Cut flats on shaft to obtain "D"/ "DD" shape, possibly can be left circular and pinned, use standard Borgeson ujoint or equiv to donor shaft (D, DD or spline.) Donor column must be correct length so as not to be too long and run into box. If short, add aftermarket shafting. Rubber bushing into original column where shaft exits tube. CPP was going to supply this as I recall or find a bushing from a suspension vendor/hardware store/McMaster-Carr, etc. http://www.classictrucks.com/tech/1112clt_three_in_one_tilt_column_install/cpp_steering_column.html
They removed the shaft and had it machined to fit Ujoint/coupler. that would also give you the opportunity to match a bushing to a certain machined shaft diameter of your choice. A Teflon or Nylon "bushing" could be machined also or some boot from shock absorber or front drive shafts..........

You will also need to beef up the floor/toe board attachment point for your new column. There is a lot of torque going on with the manual steering box. If you are going to go with bartamos' suggestion of using u-joint/coupler, you will no longer have a solid, stable one-piece steering mast bolted solidly to the frame at one end and the bottom of the dash on the other. I have fabricated a piece of plate steel of the same size and shape as the original steering mast seal/flange that is located at the junction of the floor and toe board. I welded it to the steering mast, thus providing an extra, solid mount. This modification was done for adding power steering to an original steering mast, but the same principles apply for your use.

Build your own as Carl says or this is about the cheapest store bought.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/idt-2401300010/overview/

I'm not "suggesting" you do the column cutting trick shown, just an option. Just in case Carl is trying to frame me and set me up and then say it was my idea. Nice try, man from Virginia.

I appreciate the great info. I needed a visual on the conversion. So the steering box has a bearing at it's top? I was worried that the shaft would be insufficiently supported if it had it's upper bearing (stg wheel end) cut off. The bushing/seal that is inserted into the cut tube just keeps dust etc. out? I can make it easily enough on my lathe.
I had not considered the extra load at the floor/column connection.

Thanks very much!
Dan

The housing has a bearing there to support. The bushing is for dirt.

Blast! Foiled again.
Carl

After thinking about it and reading bartomos' recent post, I would suggest that you hold off on the column swap until you are able to come up with the money for the power steering. You will have a whole lot of undoing to do to make the power steering work, and I am a bit skeptical about adapting the new column to the manual box. Anything is possible, but it is the wise man who knows if it is practical. (BTW, I am seldom wise enough to recognize practicality.)
Carl

I'm thinking this: If you don't harm the Tilt/Tele, all you may be out is an old modified box...which you could sell in a New York minute. You will possibly use the Ujoints on the Power Steering. RE: skeptical, I believe it is not a big difference that I can see after this "trick" is done, just a different column. Won't the T/T column stay in place when PS is added? Not sure/believe so. You may want to do what Carl "suggests", but if it's wrong, you got his name, right? Carl.

I'm doing this on a '56 ford as we speak, a tilt column w/shifter to stock steering box, and it is a big job. It took me a good while just to figure how to take the tilt column completely apart, then pieces had to be turned on a lathe, others had to be machined in a mill, I am waiting for oil seals to be delivered today so I can make a seal for the original steering boxs' shaft. And then I've got to figure out how to put the column back together...you ever had one of them apart? theres a ton of little bits and pieces in them.
Counting head scratching and all I'll have nearly 40hrs into it. Now that I've done one and see what needs what, I'd say it is a 12hr job if you move right along.

I have installed several tilt columns in TF trucks and have never taken them apart? or machined them? just put them in. There is a rebuild kit for the old boxes but they are pretty long lasting. I clean them out, re-grease, make my own gaskets and adjust. I have never used a column shifter, however.

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful advice. I'm not afraid of disassembling a tilt/telescope column. I worked in a shop in the '90s and did repairs to recovered stolen vehicles. Often the same one more than once... Generally gms and always with stg column damage.
I think I can adapt the column to the box and then pretty much use it as is when I put in a different box. I have a question on that but will start a new thread for that.
Thanks again for the good suggestions!

Dan