MoparGuy68
Well-Known Member
My attempt at mounting the Borgeson box in a 1971 Charger, has ended in failure. I'm not exactly sure what the hell happened during the process. I attribute this disaster fail probably to having attempted to mount the box to the K-Frame by myself, when I don't have the strength of Braun Strowman to hold the damn thing up and get the bolts threaded in place using only 2 hands.. The Scourge China Virus equals no help for the install last weekend.
Three bolts hold the box to the K-Frame. I did a trial run of all three bolts in the holes, before the install attempt. Seemed like all 3 bolts went in their threaded holes in the frame without any excessive resistance. I did the check quick and didn't think too much about it.
I get the box up into place with difficulty.. Then, when facing the mounting surface, I get the upper right bolt started, then the lower right, then the upper left. The upper left and right were a bitch to get started while trying to hold the box in place. After trying to tighten the upper left and right bolts, it was obvious that they both refused to screw in further than 1/4" deep. Bottom right bolt went all the way in till flush with box mounting ear surface. The other two wouldn't budge!
I pulled all of the bolts out and removed the box from the K-Frame. Then spent a good hour testing the bolts on the bare K-Frame. Can't get either of the top two to seat now more than 1/4" deep. The bolts are 1.75" in length. Grade 8 for critical high stress, 1/2" - 13 thread size. I even bought a new set of identical spec bolts to try them. Same problem as the original bolts.
Only explanation I can come up with is that I must have allowed the heavy weight of the box to pull on those two upper bolts or I didn't get them started in the threads with correct alignment. Or the holes in the gearbox mounting ears are not lining up properly with the holes in the K-Frame. So now the bolts will NOT screw into the holes more than about 1/4" deep. So I'm f*^&ed!
I read about Chaser Taps, to chase existing threads to try to clean them up. Maybe try getting a 1/2" - 13 Chaser Tap, and try that. If that doesn't work get a regular Tap and try running that through. Next, maybe a stripped thread kit with the helix insert thing. Beyond that a new K-Frame?? Or just start over with another car that doesn't need its steering box replaced. Getting very discouraged with this car.. Working on it has been like fighting a war. And I'm losing that war..
I've attached photos of the aftermath. I'll post about the 4.5 degree slant on the gearbox tomorrow, as it's late and I'm exhausted..
Three bolts hold the box to the K-Frame. I did a trial run of all three bolts in the holes, before the install attempt. Seemed like all 3 bolts went in their threaded holes in the frame without any excessive resistance. I did the check quick and didn't think too much about it.
I get the box up into place with difficulty.. Then, when facing the mounting surface, I get the upper right bolt started, then the lower right, then the upper left. The upper left and right were a bitch to get started while trying to hold the box in place. After trying to tighten the upper left and right bolts, it was obvious that they both refused to screw in further than 1/4" deep. Bottom right bolt went all the way in till flush with box mounting ear surface. The other two wouldn't budge!
I pulled all of the bolts out and removed the box from the K-Frame. Then spent a good hour testing the bolts on the bare K-Frame. Can't get either of the top two to seat now more than 1/4" deep. The bolts are 1.75" in length. Grade 8 for critical high stress, 1/2" - 13 thread size. I even bought a new set of identical spec bolts to try them. Same problem as the original bolts.
Only explanation I can come up with is that I must have allowed the heavy weight of the box to pull on those two upper bolts or I didn't get them started in the threads with correct alignment. Or the holes in the gearbox mounting ears are not lining up properly with the holes in the K-Frame. So now the bolts will NOT screw into the holes more than about 1/4" deep. So I'm f*^&ed!
I read about Chaser Taps, to chase existing threads to try to clean them up. Maybe try getting a 1/2" - 13 Chaser Tap, and try that. If that doesn't work get a regular Tap and try running that through. Next, maybe a stripped thread kit with the helix insert thing. Beyond that a new K-Frame?? Or just start over with another car that doesn't need its steering box replaced. Getting very discouraged with this car.. Working on it has been like fighting a war. And I'm losing that war..
I've attached photos of the aftermath. I'll post about the 4.5 degree slant on the gearbox tomorrow, as it's late and I'm exhausted..