Steering fix

[Justin]

My stock '71 manual steering shaft is shot (stripped threads on the steering wheel nut, making some ugly popping and banging noises on turns) and needs to be replaced. The Borgeson joint is also badly worn and I'm looking to make a semi-temporary fix while I assemble the parts needed for a PS swap. Currently I've got:

1. What I think is a 76-77 manual lower steering shaft. It has (measured from the base of the splines) a 3/4 diameter with splines going 1/2 way around it and a small D in one side. The upper end has the complete rag joint, also 3/4 diameter. It has splines about 2/3 of the way around and clamps to the upper steering shaft.
2. An unknown upper steering shaft. Rtreads, I think I got this from you as part of a column, do you know the year of the vehicle it came out of? The lower end of it is smooth other than an indent. It has been welded and the weld cut at some point. Not sure if this is useable or not. I'm wondering if it was an early manual shaft that was cut and modified to work with a separate lower shaft.

So, questions:
1. Will the lower shaft I've got will attach to the manual box without modification? WH site says all the manual boxes had the same input, but I'm not sure if this is actually true. The u-joint has a little play, but I think it is good enough for now.
2. Is there a way to get the rag joint assembly to mate up to the upper steering shaft I've got?
3. Is the upper steering shaft even useable (It was cheap or free, so I'm not too broken up if it isn't)?
4. Will the '73-'77 upper shaft with in my existing '71 column without modifying either?

I'm considering an aftermarket column, but don't really want to spend the money and I like the appearance and ergonomics of the existing column. I don't want to invest a bunch of money, as I've got a 4x4x2 box sitting in my garage and will likely need to redo at least some of this when it goes in. I may try to track down a '73-'77 upper steering shaft as I'm pretty sure it will bolt up to the lower I've got. I'm mostly looking to lay the foundation for the PS swap by getting rid of all the worn out parts that are currently in there. I've attached pics, hopefully they'll shed some light on things.

[cobshane]

Dude , if you already have the 4x4x2 box and bring all the needed things to hockey dads shop, we could whip it out in a few hours. Have some people switch the internals, unless you already do. Others putting holes in the frame inserts tube and weld it up. Also getting the power steering set up. As long as others would want to participate in this, it would done in no time.
Well as long as you could safely make the bronco down too.

[hockeydad4-22]

Outstanding idea there Shane. And we can probabaly finish your bumper too Justin.

If you can hold out for the shop day July 9th, and if you can not drive it there I bet Zilla can be bribed to haul it down for you (might mean leaving Ketchup home though.... ah - he will not need to work on his own anyhow... )

that will be an ideal time and location to attack the steering issues! Just exactly the kind of thing I was thinking of.. .that and radiator flushes, electricial gremlins, transmission woes, brake jobs, bleeding and purging of fluids...

You get the general idea.

[Justin]

Shane I'd love to make it happen on the 9th, but I'm not sure I can get all the parts together in time. Still need to get a bracket (will be ordering this week), hoses, PS pump (also hope to get this week) and figure out whether the upper steering column I have will work. I just slid the lower steering shaft u-joint over the input on the PS box and it fits over it fine, but I'm actually worried about it being way too loose now. I can rotate the u-joint around the shaft with no problem. May need to get a new u-joint and modify the shaft to fit it. As for getting it down there, the truck is driveable and I'm reasonably confident it is safe (I hope so, anyway, since I'm planning on doing some light wheeling this weekend). It has been holding up OK, but the noises made by the column have gotten a little worse since I got it back on the road. I'd be doubly stoked if we can get the bumper done as well!

[cobshane]

I have a extra sawginaw pump and a pressure hose . Used but came out of a functional vehicle.

[Justin]

Thanks! Can you PM me a price?

[cobshane]

Thanks! Can you PM me a price?

Im not looking to sell them. I have so much crap laying around, just needing to cleanup.

[Justin]

Sure, I'll take it off your hands. Thank you! Are you around this weekend, or are you going to Hockeydad's event on 7/9?

[cobshane]

Sure, I'll take it off your hands. Thank you! Are you around this weekend, or are you going to Hockeydad's event on 7/9?

im going to the gear install at zillacon's. To early to tell on hockeydads invite

[Justin]

OK, cool. Not sure if I'm going yet, but I can probably at least swing by and take the pump off your hands.

[Jesus_man]

Replace that rag-joint with a u-joint if you decide to use that shaft. You'll thank me later!

J.D.

[Justin]

I'm working on that. I just picked up a piece of 3/4" double D bar that should work for the lower part of the shaft, just need to figure out what is under the rag joint if I pull it off the shaft. I'm guessing a 1" spline, but not sure.

[Jesus_man]

I'd really be interested in what you find. I need to replace my rag-joint with a u-joint as well and just haven't had the time to do so and see what's there to work with.

J.D.

[Jesus_man]

Are the splines a standard count? Same on both ends?

[Jesus_man]

Ahh, weld one end and spline the other! I also understand it's a good idea to tack the other end down too. Heard of horror stories.

J.D.