I finished my steering column switch today,I put a 79 column with power steering in my 66 and now when i center the wheels and turn it to the left it only turns 1 1/2 turns and to the right almost 2 3/4 could this much be made up with a alignment? I took it out and drove it and it sure steers alot nicer and goes straight down the road. any other ideas? my friend owns a front end shop I might have to bug him!!

 

Is it possible you've got something in the column off by 180 degrees? Rotating say the steering box 180 to the right would add a half a turn to the left, and losing a half from the right would make it just about 2 turns each way.

I haven't a clue what the parts look like but I do know of some steering systems that are pretty much keyed to go only one way. Seems like I've found that mostly on modern cars tho. Being an old truck tho it could be all you need to do is rotate the box and re-install.

Good Luck on it.

 

Maybe the rag joint? Be real easy to get off by half a turn, seems like.

 

Hmmmmm, Veddyintersting, Is the column all that you changed??

Since the column is a shaft turning inside of a tube, I can't imagine it being the problem. You should be able to fit it into a vise and spin it all day long if you wanted.

I wish I could post this in a place to hold it, but I am willing to stick my neck out and bet this was not a buy a donor and move everything over, but a get a piece here and there change out. Y/N????


John

 

Good point about the shaft in the tube John! 180 or whatever doesn't make a bit of difference does it?

Could the tie rod ends be that far out of adjustment?

 

i have a 79 donor truck i used, i took the column and gear box i did not use the tie rods and drag link off the donor i used the original off the 66 i measured and there is a different bend and 3/4 inch difference in the length of the drag link but it is the same length from tie rod to tie rod. iwas just checking that out earlier. i think i need to swap the drag link and tie rods over and that might take care of it. thanks for the help

 

Wait a minute, stop & think about this mystery folks. .
Here Steering Linkage Principles 101 Below
FBp

 

Wait a minute, stop & think about this mystery folks. . . . . . . .
First Twin I beams do not have a drag link they have a center link that works directly off the steering sector/ pitman arm & both steering knuckles & tie rod ends all at the same time. A drag link connects the sector to ONE (1) spindle steering knuckle and the tie rod connects both steering knuckles via a tie rod, like in the single I Beam set up.

A "worm" or steering pinion must be centered in a sector block because there are a limited amount of teeth on a sector. If worm is 1/3 off in relation to sector it will turn 1/3 less revolutions to short side, & 1/3 more revolutions to excess or "long side".

Steering is not a continuous system it works from Left Lock to right Lock or vice-a-versa. Center point is always 1/2 total revolutions of shaft (or Strg Whl revolutions).

If Strg wheel is 5 turns stop to stop center is 2.5 turns off either stop (lock position).
If it's 3-1/2 stop to stop, center is 1.75 off either lock/stop & so forth. IOW there is a limit to how many times the wheel (shaft) can be turned. That's controlled by amount of teeth on sector block as that is what has physical limitations inside a steering gear box itself. . . . .

Steering Linkage Principles 101 here. . . . . .

FBp

 

OK, I guess I misread the original post.

 

Guys, You will not go wrong with the complete I-beam swap, it's faster and if the donor was lined up it will remain so under the reciever. IMHO

John

 

john, I was thinking of doing that but, was told that the I beams are sometimes different,. iwas just going to swap i beams springs , everything.it would be nice to have disk brakes. thanks alot mike