Snowballing!

[493 Mike]

Hi fellas,
Well, I need some help! I pulled the steering column out to clean up the firewall and one thing led to another and I am ripping the complete column apart. I'm down to the shift tube (automatic 1965 Coronet) and I can't see what fastens the outside casting (the part the shifter lever is pinned into) to the inner tube. I can see it has to come apart at the top and the tube exits out the bottom of the main column tube/housing. Has anyone done this? Help!
Mike

 

[rlem1977]

Check the Factory Service Manual, has a lot of good info.

 

[appaking]

Mike,
I don't know if they have changed, but my '69 has a small set screw. If there is crud in there you might not see it. It is visable through the hole the shift lever goes in. It takes a 3/32 allen wrench. It is a straight shot through the lever hole, but I couldn't find a wrench long enough. I used an "L" shaped one going in from the front. I had just enough travel to break it loose. Hope this helps.

Kevin

 

[493 Mike]

Check the Factory Service Manual, has a lot of good info.

I have a FSM-not a sentence about steering columns. I guess they assumed no service was ever necessary!
Mike

 

[493 Mike]

Mike,
I don't know if they have changed, but my '69 has a small set screw. If there is crud in there you might not see it. It is visable through the hole the shift lever goes in. It takes a 3/32 allen wrench. It is a straight shot through the lever hole, but I couldn't find a wrench long enough. I used an "L" shaped one going in from the front. I had just enough travel to break it loose. Hope this helps.

Kevin

Thanks. I will check tomorrow.
Mike

 

[rlem1977]

I have a FSM-not a sentence about steering columns. I guess they assumed no service was ever necessary!
Mike

They never expected, or wanted, anyone drive these things for 50 years.

 

[kiwigtx]

They never expected, or wanted, anyone drive these things for 50 years.

...you're right there....Chrysler expected the turnover to be about 3 years on a car.

 

[493 Mike]

I finished disassembly this AM. I needed a 9/64" allen wrench to remove the screw that retains the selector collar to the shift tube. It wasn't with out problems though, I forgot to remove the "finger" that activates the reverse lamp switch and broke it of course. Now I need a replacement.
Mike

 

[493 Mike]

Up date: I finished the column, had to weld the reverse lamp switch actuator. Found the column information and adjustments in the transmission section!
Mike

 

[andyf]

Looks good. I have a complete one of those that I pulled out of a wrecking yard years ago. Same color and everything but doesn't look quite as nice as that one. Just one of those things I'll need to get rid of one of these days.

 

[scot]

I just went through some steering column stuff myself. Steering columns are covered in the FSM in section 21 (transmission) with the corresponding transmission (manual or auto).