'72-'75 Steering Column Help

[Nomad127]

I've searched and can't find a good answer. I just found out the PO has completely stripped the threads for the large nut on the upper shaft so the steering wheel just spins around unless I have it in the perfect place. I've tried to re-thread using a new die but there's not enough left. I've also contacted multiple machine shops and no one will touch it for safety/liability reasons. I'm currently scanning Ebay and Craigslist for a used one.

Being a '73, what other options do I have and still use my stock dash? Aftermarket, OEM, mods, etc.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[cerrajero]

can you post a pic of it?

 

[IOPort51]

something else is going on here. the shaft is splined male and the wheel is splined female. even with no nut the wheel is damned near impossible to get off, even with the right puller. and your saying the only thing holding the wheel is the nut??
We need some pictures.

 

[Nomad127]

Since I removed the column from the lower shaft, I can't take the piece off that the wheel mounts to. I think half of the problem is that the inside of that piece only has a thin line of splines that mate to the shaft. It comes off pretty easy but can't get the right pull without it braced. You can't really tell but the threads are useless. I found the inside upper shaft on ebay today. How hard is it to remove and replace that shaft form the exterior column?

 

[IOPort51]

is this an after market wheel??
of course it is. you should have mentioned that.
any two or three jaw puller will take that off.
whoever put it on more than likely messed the threads up by trying to beat the old one off.

Since I removed the column from the lower shaft, I can't take the piece off that the wheel mounts to. I think half of the problem is that the inside of that piece only has a thin line of splines that mate to the shaft. It comes off pretty easy but can't get the right pull without it braced. You can't really tell but the threads are useless. I found the inside upper shaft on ebay today. How hard is it to remove and replace that shaft form the exterior column?

 

[cerrajero]

I thought so
its been a while but i have taken a column with the same problem to a machine shop
they do have the tools to do this

i asked them nicely told them to take their time no rush
the next morning they called "its ready"
i think he charged me the price of a 12 pack

 

[Nomad127]

Getting the steering wheel bracket off is actually easy. How hard is it to pull the entire shaft out of the column to replace?

I've called 4 different machine shops and none of them will touch it. Safety/Reliability Issue I guess.

 

[CJ]

To remove the entire steering shaft, you will need to loosen the u-joint at the base of the steering shaft in the engine bay and then the complete shaft will pull out of the column.

NOTE: !!!! You cannot just loosen the bolt that clamps the u-joint to the shaft, you must completely remove the bolt as it is designed to slide through a groove in the steering shaft. After you remove the bolt, tap a wedge / chisel / screwdriver into the slot and expand the u-joint a bit.

 

[Nomad127]

Got it off! Anyone know if the piece that the steering wheel attaches to is OEM or aftermarket since the steering wheel is aftermarket? That will need to be replaced also as the inner splines are virtually smooth.

Thanks!

 

[CJ]

Got it off! Anyone know if the piece that the steering wheel attaches to is OEM or aftermarket since the steering wheel is aftermarket? That will need to be replaced also as the inner splines are virtually smooth.

Thanks!

That looks like a Grant steering wheel adaptor, the original ones are steel and built into the wheel.