stanlep
New Member
Hello, All. I am in Arizona. I have a 1974 Dodge van, B100, 318 motor, A230 transmission with three on the tree steering column. I bought the van in 1981 and always did my own work, except for those things I cannot do, such as arcing and beefing up the rear springs, and having the rear end and motor rebuilt. With respect to the last two although I cannot work on them myself, I would always take them out of the van and take them to the shop that does work on them. I probably have 450 to 500 thousand miles on the van. About 11 years ago it needed a major overhall. It gave me such good service all these years and so I decided to restore it myself but not as a show van. For example, places that had dents I did not bother to fill. Holes, like the bullet that entered the van (while I was driving) about 3 feet behind where I was sitting and level with my abdomen (I found the bullet inside but lost it somehow) I just cut out a piece of sheet metal and glued it to the body with a tube of seam sealer. Attached are some images of the van as I restored it. I have never painted a vehicle before but I did it myself (except for the roof). Although not a professional job (you can see the metallic sheen is not even in the right angle of sunlight) but I still get head turners and thumbs up when I drive down the road. It is gratifying to get this, but to me it is just an everyday van I use for camping, traveling, or another vehicle if my other one breaks down. I also redid the inside. I got rid of the rear seat decades ago. About 4 years ago I got rid of an elevated open box I made that went across the rear of the van and replaced it with the two structures above each wheel well. I did all this work myself in making the structures. One side has a table top that lifts up to get to storage underneath. The other side has two compartments for food, clothing, or whatever. It is a very nice set up for camping or traveling. Attached are some images.
Right now I have a major problem. whenever I had to take the steering column out, I would take it apart, clean it, and regrease it. I have done this about 3 times over the years. At this time it has become so worn that the gear shift levers that the gear shift rods connect to that go to the A230 transmission are so loose that I am having difficulty shifting. There is a diagonal slot for adjustment on the steering column just above the levers, but I am already way at one end of the slot and out of adjustment, hence the slop in the levers. Attached is an image of the adjustment slot and the levers that are too loose. What I am thinking of doing is machining a spacer, about 1/8" thick, out of the same kind of plastic material used in the steering column, or maybe something tougher, like Delren(?). Does anyone know if this will work or would it break apart in a short time?
It seems odd that that the levers should wear to such an extent that they are so loose. I know this is not normal because there is spring washer that indicates to me they should be tighter so the spring washer engages. Maybe I left a spacer out when I put it back together again about 11 years ago although I doubt it, but it is possible. Does anyone have an exploded diagram for this steering column? One thing I need to know is if I put the levers are in the right orientation, if that is possible. This could be possible if the square cutout on the lever does not line up symmetrically with the end that the gear shift rod attaches to. One reason I think they may not be symmetrical is that I am having problems adjusting the linkage according to the manual. If the levers are not symmetrical and I dumbly flipped them 180 degrees from the orientation they should have, this could cause the problem.
Right now I have a major problem. whenever I had to take the steering column out, I would take it apart, clean it, and regrease it. I have done this about 3 times over the years. At this time it has become so worn that the gear shift levers that the gear shift rods connect to that go to the A230 transmission are so loose that I am having difficulty shifting. There is a diagonal slot for adjustment on the steering column just above the levers, but I am already way at one end of the slot and out of adjustment, hence the slop in the levers. Attached is an image of the adjustment slot and the levers that are too loose. What I am thinking of doing is machining a spacer, about 1/8" thick, out of the same kind of plastic material used in the steering column, or maybe something tougher, like Delren(?). Does anyone know if this will work or would it break apart in a short time?
It seems odd that that the levers should wear to such an extent that they are so loose. I know this is not normal because there is spring washer that indicates to me they should be tighter so the spring washer engages. Maybe I left a spacer out when I put it back together again about 11 years ago although I doubt it, but it is possible. Does anyone have an exploded diagram for this steering column? One thing I need to know is if I put the levers are in the right orientation, if that is possible. This could be possible if the square cutout on the lever does not line up symmetrically with the end that the gear shift rod attaches to. One reason I think they may not be symmetrical is that I am having problems adjusting the linkage according to the manual. If the levers are not symmetrical and I dumbly flipped them 180 degrees from the orientation they should have, this could cause the problem.
