The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline steering column upagainst dash

Note: I've already posted this in the Paint and Body Shop Forum since the problem may be with the replacement cab. I thought I'd also post in the Driveline Forum since the situation also deals with the steering mechanisms.

A little background: I've replaced the '51 cab that was damaged when the Blue Funk (see my signature) was hit by a Semi last year with a '53 cab.

I've mounted the cab according to the manual and have started putting other things back together, e.g: instruments, wiper motor, heater, parking brake, and clutch/brake pedals.

I attached the steering box to the frame and noted that the bracket which is supposed to fit under the dash doesn't. There's not enough of a gap between the the column (mast) and the bottom of the dash.

I tried to first attach the bracket and then mount the box to the frame, as the manual suggests. The front bolt which attaches underneathe the gear box won't align. Neither will the front side frame bolt. The rear top and side frame bolts will line up, however.

The gear box attaches well to the frame with the column sitting up against the curved indentation on the bottom of the dash. For now, I've used the cap off of the bracket to hold the column to the bottom of the dash.

I don't understand what's going on with this. Can anybody enlighten me?

Thanks.
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Replaced the cab but not the frame; bent frame?

Could the column be bent?

Thanks for the replies.

Cosmo: I had the frame straightened after I had removed all the sheet metal last Janurary. The frame looks good, and any gross measurements I've taken tell me the frame is not bent.

Dave: You know, I thought about the column being bent as a possibilty, too. It LOOKS straight and when I had the steering attached for towing to the Body Shop, it steered fine.

Any other ideas or suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks, guys.

Dave, there should be some play in the column with everything attached. Have you tried assembling everything loosely, aligning it at the dash then tightening it all up? ...or is the alignment off more than that?

Are you trying to reinstall the same steering gear that was on it during the wreck? If so, it's possible the mast sustained some damage that's not apparent. Wasn't the area near the steering box part of the frame-bending damage? I'd suggest finding another steering gear and try a trial-fit to see if a known undamaged part has the same fit problems. I'd be surprised if it does.
Jerry

I thank you for your continued interest and input.

Eric: I've attempted different ways of assembling everything loosely, starting with the bracket and then the box and vice versa. The box will only mount to the frame if it's attached first. Like I noted before, if I attach the bracket first, no matter how losely, the holes in the box and frame won't line up.

Jerry: Yes, I am trying to reinstall the same steering setup that was on in the wreck. And, yes, the point of impact was near the the steering box. You are two for two.

It surprises me that it steered so well when I moved it around and towed it.

Okay- I'll keep playing with it and keep you posted.

Thanks again.

Dave,

The bracket needs to be used as designed to prevent damaging the dash (use now is significantly easier than most endured in their early years).I have parted several trucks where the holes for the bracket bolts in the dash are shattered. They break all the way around the bolts so the column bounces. There is a vibration/whip effect the way the factory designed it. You have it solid mounted to the frame, it floats through the floor (rubber w/steel insert) then mounts solid to the dash with that big old bus wheel hanging on the end. There is significant movement controlled by that clamp. Proof is in the robust design of the clamp itself.

1948-54 truck steering boxes have four bolts holding the mast jacket to the box. You could try unbolting the mast and turning it 180 deg and see if it changes the location. That would tell you if it is bent.

Thanks for the feedback, Dave and Brad!

I think I've got it figured out: I put a square up against the housing end cover and sighted along the edge. There is a definite rise in the mast that can be grossly observed. It appears to be about 1/4" rise per 7 linear inches. The distance between the housing over end and the dash bracket is approximately 28 inches. So, if there's a 1/4" rise in 7 linear inches, and 7 goes into 28 four times, by the time the mast goes through the dash bracket, it would rise approximately one inch, the thickness of the bracket.

This rise is probably a result of the '51 cab recieving impact from the hit by the Semi. Since the steering box could not move forward, the mast was moved upward. The dash on the '51 cab is bent, which was probably a result of the force of the mast being pushed upward.

I guess I need to do as Dave suggests and remove the mast from the box and check that out.

I'll keep you posted.

Oh- and BTW: I was thinking that the problem lay in either the frame or the '53 cab.HRL Jerry surmised the problem was with the steering, so that means he's gone three for three!

Thanks again for all your assistance!

Simple logic, plus about 50 years of being around frame straightening! Anything and everything in the area of a wreck impact gets stressed as the crash damage radiates away from the impact point. Unless there's a gross bend or a wrinkle, the damage isn't always apparent until an undamaged part is compared to the crashed one. Getting a frame on a dirt track race car straight after a pileup on the track was a real exercise in frustration, especially after the car became the "meat in the sandwich" in a 3-car stackup at the end of a straightaway!
Jerry

Simple, maybe to you, Jerry. It is Discerning the Dynamics and Results of a Universal Law to me, Teach.

I took the steering box/column to my FLAPS and spoke with a Fella in the Machine Shop and asked if they could aligh the column as it comes out of the housing. He said they'd give it a try and see what flies.

I'll let you know the outcome.

Thanks.

I got the steering column back from the Machine Shop, mounted it, everything lines up, and it seems to steer well!

Thanks to everybody for your interest, information, and support!

Glad to hear it! On to the next challenge!
Jerry