The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Installing My Painted Steering Column & Box

Not sure this necessarily belongs in the Paint and Body Shop, forum. But, hear me out. Perhaps it will make more sense, after I explain. I have recently had my 53 3100 painted. This was a complete frame off restoration. I took every nut and bolt off and have been rebuilding it ever since. My question you Bolters is, have you installed your steering box with the steering shaft and mast jacket on it, back into your trucks? I plan to paint the mast jacket prior to installing. Is it best to push it up from the bottom of the engine compartment, carefully guiding the freshly painted mast jacket through the hole in the firewall? Keeping in mind that everything, including the firewall and inner fenders have been freshly painted. I am resigned to idea that it would be most helpful to have a second set of hands guiding through the firewall and holding it while it is bolted to the frame. Or, does your real life experience tell you to approach it a different way? Any advice, guidance and help would be greatly apprecaited.

Thanks,
Rugo

I rarely have the second pair of hands when I need them so I use saran wrap and or tape maybe pipe insulation... cardboard what ever it takes.
Usually faster to find a way than wait in my case.
Up from below is the way to go. Up on jacks for plenty of room.

CASO,

I appreciate your quick response. I do hate wait for that second set of hands. Wrapping the mast with something is a good idea. Something else that I considered, was using some half inch hose that I had left over from another project. My thought was to cut a slit the length of it. Then, run it around the firewall hole, for added protection. The Shop Manual says something about loosing up the "fender skirt". I am assuming that it is referring to the inner fender. If so, did you find it necessary to loosen it up? It looks like there is enough room there, to just carefully slide it up from the bottom, set it on the frame rail and bolt it down. Thanks again for your help and advice.

Rugo

Rugo, I had mine out, had to take the fender to firewall brace off. It sounds like wrapping it in something is a good idea. I don't remember loosening the inner fender.

1953 panel,

Hey, thanks for the advice. I hadn't thought of that. But, that makes sense. Would make it easier to maneuver the column around. I really appreciate the help.

Rugo

Just be sure to mark the threads of the brace, so it goes back in with exactly the same tension.

A very good tip from a wise man. Thank you for that piece of advice.

Rugo

Three lengths of 2 inch painter's tape run lengthwise on the mast should do it.

All right guys. I got my steering column in. For all of you that were able to do it, without removing the drivers side inner fender, you are more talented than I am. There was absolutely no way to slide it into place without taking out the inner fender. After considerable amout of choice words, it is finally in. I cut a slit, the full length a half inch clear hose. I then ran it around the inside of the steering colum hole in the fire wall. That works very well, to keep the column from scaping along the metal of the hole.

Rugo