Been fighting with the steering linkage today and last night. Thinking I am going to have to ditch the stock joint at the rack and find something that is better centered, The shaft for the stock rack isn't centered on the axis of rotation and causes me all kinds of problems when I try and connect it. It am think going to have to order another u-joint that has a 3/4" DD to 3/4" triangular connection on it. I hope that is the correct part.

 

Why are you having problems? You want the joint fully extended when you attach it to the column so you have room to collapse it for easy removal.

 

how'd you get the rag joint coupling off the steering column? Or did you even have one?

 

I just loosened it and slid it off. Is yours 1 of those that is part of the bottom of the shaft?

 

Yes, the upper portion of the rag joint seems to be pressed onto the shaft, looks like it's splined but I can't just loosen a bolt and take it off. I'll sit and stare at it for a bit, might end up cutting it off.

 

Man O Man this thread makes me want to buy a 2wd just to do this swap! MORE PICS!

 

As I understand it the 4x4 column, which is what I was told my column is, the rag joint just slides on & has a pinch bolt. Maybe a 4x4 guy can either verify or not this. Which if true would mean either a 4x4 column or just cut the end off and work from there.

 

I'll post pics in a bit but I got the rag joint off. It is splined but the end on the column is swedged on. Once I split the rag joint flange off and ground down the swedged on the splines the new ujoint went right on.-

 

Not a rag joint correct? Should be replacing the rag with a u-joint

 

Yes removed the rag joint and replaced with a 36 spline u-joint. Just need to get the other end connected now but I did not get the 3/4 mustang V style connector I should of gotten.

 

Crossdrill the end of your column so the set screw has somewhere to go into making a more positive lock. I just used a 3/4" straight connector. Splined on 1 end that I pressed onto the top of the lower portion of the CV shaft. Then just built what I needed to join the 2 ends together. In my case the piece was only 4" long or so.

 

Ok, added pictures of the steering as far as I got today, having a 4 year old in the house makes it hard to focus on things.

 

I hear you on the 4 yr old! Mine always climbs his way up inside the engine compartment or wherever I'm working and grabs a wrench to "help". I end up spending 1/2 my time worrying about what he's "fixing". I'm glad though that he's interested. Can't say the same about my 7 yr old

 

After searching Summit Racing I am revising my Steering shaft parts order. Time to ship stuff back and exchange. I'll be out of town for a while but then I come back next week and have a few days of vacation. Should make some good progress then!!!

 

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