67 bent steering column shaft
67 standard column has a bent shaft must have been is a wreak some time in its life. Can't find a repro. so what are my options. Try to straighten this one or find a good used one. Will a 68 column shaft work is a 67. Thanks Ed
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
Ed,
Do you mean the stamped housing is bent? 67 was the first year for a "collapsible" column, as you likely know. I think it would take extraordinary force to bend the shaft itself and not obliterate much of the rest of the column.
Used ones do come up for sale once in awhile, is yours an early or late design? -
Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
Hi
The shaft is bent below the step of the two pieces. Must have taken a side impact at the gear box because the shaft is not collasped. Yes it is a early design. EdComment
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
Ed,
Early column seems especially difficult to find parts for, unfortunately. Did you try these guys:
NickComment
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
I will try monday thanks. Can a 68 shaft be used to replace a 67 shaft?Comment
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
First of all, I assume you are talking about a standard (non-adjustable) steering column not a telescoping one (since telescoping columns are very rare).
Next question, does your 1967 column have a snap ring groove and therefore a snap ring retained steering shaft? Or does it have a clamp with a nut and bolt?
If you have a snap ring retained early design lower bearing, I would say that in order to use a late 1967 or a 1968 steering shaft, you would have to obtain the lower bearing package (the one that uses a clamp, nut, and bolt) with the shaft.
The 1967 and the 1968 standard strg column steering shaft assemblies are NOT the same part number. However, they are both exactly the same length (37.49 inches). Now, if they were interchangeable, you would think that they would have carried over the same part number. I think that the lower bearing package may have changed for 1968 and there may have been a spring retainer or some other part on the lower end of the steering shaft assembly that was different 1967 to 1968.
If you have access to a press (don't ask me what capacity.) You most likely can disassemble the steering column, remove the steering shaft, place it between two blocks and carefully straighten it. BTW, the 1968 steering column assembly drawing has a note that indicates the following: "Runout of steering shaft (about 1 inch outboard of the clamp that retains the lower bearing) must not exceed 0.070 inch when supported on the exterior of the column jacket."
Even though the runout note is not on the 1967 steering column assembly drawings, I think that Saginaw got "smarter" with respect to energy absorbing steering columns and created the runout spec when they found that holding the runout of the steering shaft to be critical.
JimComment
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
Jim
Yes column is a straight standard column with early style lower bearing. The only difference I think between the 67 and 68 shaft is the 67 has a groove cut for the lower bearing retainer split ring. This is not a show car so if i am reading this right I should be able to use a 68 shaft in the 67 jacket and just convert to the later lower bearing setup. is this correct. EdComment
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
That would be my recommendation. I never liked the snap ring groove in the 1967 steering shaft. At one point I thought that the early 1967 shafts were campaigned and replaced. But I cannot find any record of a Corvette steering column shaft campaign when I search the NHTSA files. I feel a lot more secure with a smooth shaft with a clamp, nut, and bolt.
Let me know how you make out.
Happy New Year!
JimComment
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
Thats the plan then thanks and happy new year to all. EdComment
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
I worked on a '67 last year with a early standard column, the one with the snap ring. The outer collapsible housing was broken and it also had a bent shaft, of which I didn't notice until disassembly. Using my shop press and some blocks, I was able to remove the bend in the shaft and get it nearly perfectly straight. After welding the broken housing, reforming the tube, new bearings and some fresh paint, it worked like new.
RichComment
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
How much pressure was needed to straighten the shaft. EdComment
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
Ed,
My shop press is rated at 20 tons, but there's really no way to measure what I applied to re-bend it. The shaft appeared to be soft steel and bent easily, so I doubt it was much at all. Made sense to me as it was already bent somehow.
The piece bent on this one was the smaller diameter part, the end that attaches to the steering wheel. I just pressed on it a little at a time, checked, pressed, checked again, etc. IIRC I may have even gone to far and had to bend it back the opposite way again. It really wasn't that much of a problem. Of course you need the press to do it easily.
RichComment
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
OK thanks for that mine is bent down near the coupler end. I will give it a go. EdComment
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Re: 67 bent steering column shaft
I have an extra straight original steering column shaft. (doughjelm@hotmail.com)Comment
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