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Need a little expertise from my fellow Brickers. I've recently completed converting my 82 242 from the 5.0L Ford that powered it since 96 to a new crate LS3. 95% of the hard work is done. Started on first try and first drive was inspiring. Working out the nits/nats.
In order to clear the exhaust manifold, I had to modify the steering shafts/u-joints. I eliminated the larger diameter/rubber filled upper shaft. Using the hollow splines from a junkyard upper/lower steering linkage, I used solid 1/2" steel shaft to change the length of the upper/lower shafts. And I cut up one of the junk ujoints to create a splined 'coupler' --- this allows me to basically extend the steering shaft exiting the firewall a bit further in a straight line before entering the first u-joint. This creates geometry that will clear the manifold. Increases the angle of the top u-joint; decreases the angle of the u-joint on the pinion; decreases the length of the lower shaft -- my solid steel replacement for the rubber filled stocker.
Hard to explain -- picture worth a thousand words hopefully.
I noticed, now that EVERYTHING is in the way (strategic error) that when I tighten the bolt on the steering wheel, it's pulling the steering shaft INTO the car. The only thing constraining it is the lower shaft/linkage connected to the pinion. Whatever originally secured the shaft inside the column is no longer doing so. In other words, the steering wheel nut is spinning MUCH further onto the steering shaft than before -- and it never 'tightens up'.
Anyone care to hazard a guess as to what's going on here? I recall, when I originally removed the upper u-joint (closest to the firewall) - I had the steering wheel on the shaft, but the nut was removed. As I removed that u-joint from the shaft, the shaft began to slide into the engine compartment, the steering wheel slid off the end and fell into the driver's side floor. I was surprised as I just assumed that something secured the shaft inside the column independent of of the steering wheel at the top and the u-joint at the firewall. But apparently not.
What am I missing guys? Prior to the change, I've had the wheel off more times than I can count. Something secured the shaft in the column as the nut would go on and definitely reach a stopping point where it tightened up. And all of that without 'pulling' on the linkage under the hood.
Thanks in advance - Michael
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82 242 6.2L coming...; '15 Honda Fit
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Intriguing question.
I took a look at a steering column, and pulled the parts from the lower bearing to see what limits the column shaft travel rearward. In a nutshell, it is the snap ring just aft of the lower splines.
It bottoms at the lower bearing when the spring is fully compressed.
The upper bearing is identical to the lower but without the plastic collar. The chamfer just forward of the steering wheel splines limits the wheel's ability to draw the shaft rearward. The spring might make it feel like you can keep sucking it through the column, but, no it won't do that. The shaft cannot enter the splined part of the wheel.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore
I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any.
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Ha! Your help invaluable Art. Maybe it is my first 'column' rodeo..... I see what you mean about the slack in the springs -- with the lower linkage removed (firewall on down) I can move the steering shaft up/down compressing the spring on one end or the other. Put the steering wheel on, tightened the nut without the lower linkage constraining things -- voila - she tightened right up. No problem with the column. Just a problem with the mechanic.....I may have to fire him.
I had no idea how much 'slack' there is in the shaft movement when neither spring is compressed. So, while I had the steering wheel on the shaft when fabricating my linkage -- I didn't have it tightened down. That meant that both upper and lower springs were completely slack. Which meant the shaft splines on the firewall side were protruding as far away from the firewall as they could. It was from that location that I fab'd my lower linkage. Which, of course means that it's possible the overall length of the upper/lower shafts I fab'd may be too short to let the column take up all the spring slack.
Good news - won't have to pull the column. Bad news? May need to refab the lower links.
Any chance you have access to one of the factory rubber-filled lower steering shafts Art? My pick/pulls down this way seem to sent all their old 240's to the Big Bearing in the sky.
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82 242 6.2L coming...; '15 Honda Fit
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I have an idea Dave Volvo from Heck might see your post and just happen to have the shaft sector you're needing. Could be he visits the area too. Or TB for sale.
Best of luck Michael!
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Art Benstein near Baltimore
Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his od d diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him ..(Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good)..... A super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis. - ouch!
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Oooh. That sure are pretty! All of it.
Thanks for the pics. I would have never guessed the shafts at the splines were hollow.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore
Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are:
A. You only need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape.
B. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40.
C. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
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82 242 6.2L coming...; '15 Honda Fit
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That's sweet> how does it sound?
Dan
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You might have to cut/paste. This a box stock LS3 through 2014 Mustang 5.0L Coyote mufflers. Now that it's up and running I'll need to get someone to shoot on a drive-by. Actually, very quiet/refined inside the car. MUCH more so than the 5.0L motor that was in the car before.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8dDTK3vFy_wZnJFYV9IbFFoUGM
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82 242 6.2L coming...; '15 Honda Fit
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Thanks, it does sound nice! It's a beast!!
Dan
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Sound clip from outside the car.....sounds just like it did with the 5.0L. But I reckon since they're both 90 degree pushrod V8's with the same exhaust system, that's to be expected.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8dDTK3vFy_wV0p3aDk0b3hOc3c
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I guess I didn't expect they'd be hollow either, but it sure made fabrication of different shafts easy. Double lucky that 1/2" stock was a push in fit. Drove the car to have it inspected today. I blew up the Jiffy Lube (or generic equivalent) staff -- all other work on other cars stopped as they gathered. I don't think they even really inspected the car - blew the horn, looked at the headlights, that's about it. I think they were both distracted by the car and relatively certain based on how it was turned out that everything was ok. LOL Thanks again Art - M.Y.
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82 242 6.2L coming...; '15 Honda Fit
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Thanks so much Art - really appreciate it.
You have to trust me a bit - not my first rodeo. Had the wheel off LOTS of times over the decades (perhaps THAT'S the problem!). You could always feel the shaft bottom against the snap ring/bearing and then the nut would QUICKLY tighten up. I can pull a good 1/4"-1/2" more of the threads through the top of the bolt than when it tightened up before. It pulls so hard on the lower linkage (I know now) that it pulls it a good 1/4" towards the center of the car because it's trying to 'straighten' the lower linkage - it's being restrained by the linkage that's attached to the pinion shaft. I put a piece of tape on the exh manifold, tightened down the nut (well, screwed it - it never 'tightened') well past where I thought it should have been, made a reference mark on the tape where the cotter pin on the ujoint was -- and then backed way off the nut. The cotter pin/ujoint moved a good 1/2" back towards the front of the car, and good 1/4" away from the manifold towards the driver's side fender.
I believe either my snap ring has let go or the bearing is moving in a manner that it shouldn't. Have column disassembled at the wheel, about to go take the lower linkage off. I predict I can pull the shaft out of the column once the nut is off the top and the coupler joint is off the shaft at the firewall. If not all the way out -- a good ways out.
Will report back. Other thoughts welcomed. And I may be in the market for a used but serviceable column for an 82. Anyone know if the later columns (86-90, 91-93) can be used in an 82?
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82 242 6.2L coming...; '15 Honda Fit
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"You have to trust me a bit - not my first rodeo."
Well aware of that. Anyone who has done a 240 V8 conversion has been Volvo-baptized. I speak with respect and do not condescend. I understand you are here not just to ask for help but most often to offer it, and I have read most of your posts over many years.
"Other thoughts welcomed."
OK, here is how I think you are being deceived. The spring at either end of the shaft serves to keep the bearings loaded and center the shaft longitudinally within the column. When you changed the distance between the rack and the column, you measured with the wheel not installed and no preload. This was obvious to me by your surprise when the loose wheel fell off.
The wheel joins the shaft with absolutely no monkey-room for nut placement. Your recollection of how many threads protrude must be in question if you think you can put it anywhere other than sucked right up to the chamfer. Anything else would be unsafe.
The later columns are at least different in how the lock works, but I'd have to research part numbers to prep you for a junkyard adventure. I don't believe replacing the column will help you. I believe re-measuring the make-up you need between lower column splines and rack pinion splines will work once both springs are in place, the wheel nut tightened against the chamfer, and the preload centered in the column's length.
Edit: Oh, I see you got this before I finished typing it. :)
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Art Benstein near Baltimore
A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."
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