how do i make a stock 50 chevy pickup column work with a mustang II rack

Pretty much just what the title says.... im doing a mustang II conversion on a 50 chevy pickup & we kinda want to use the stock column.... need a bit of help figuring it out tho..........

 

Grind double-D flats on the end of the steering shaft and connect to the R&P with knuckle joints. If you have to adjust the length of the column, thats easy too.

 

this might help give you an idea


http://www.jimmeyerracing.com/37-54_Chevy_Lower_Steering_Column_Mod.html

 

as Voodoo said , plus you will need to install a lower bearing in the column tube

 

...and mount the bottom of the column securely to the floorboard!

 

Pick up the latest issue of Rod and Custom there's an artical on that chore.

 

Sorry I just looked it up it's page 110 street rodder janurary 2013.

 

I'll need to check that when I get home.

Cutting the tube off while leaving enough shaft sticking out to grind the flats on and mount the U joint is the major thing. then fitting a bearing in the bottom of the tube where there wasn't one before and mounting the tube solidly to the firewall.

You can use your decoder ring to figure out what info you need to glean out of the Jim Meyers link but I'd rather use a ball bearing if I could find one to fit.

 

Used to be a post on here with correct number from McMaster Carr for it. I believe ELpolacko posted it.

 

The bearing part isn't too hard to figure out. I had a bushing I made out of some industrial self lubing plastic in my 51 Merc and the least bit of a bind in the steering shaft made it a real effort to turn the steering wheel. after a 400 mile weekend I went to the doctor with chest pains and found out that I had inflamed chest muscles from fighting the wheel all weekend.

 

Enroll it in couples counseling classes.

 

With this technique of cutting the stock column and adding a lower bearing seem like a partial fix. What keeps the shaft from sliding through or pulling out of the column sleeve? I used a column saver kit for cure all issues with cutting down a stock column.

 

I have that thread bookmarked! Here it is:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294910&highlight=shorten+column&showall=1




- J

 

tons of great info guys, thanks a million... i knew it was possible, but have never done it (hands on) Hell myself i prefer a later model column with ignition switch and blinkers in column, but gotta do what the customer wants

VespaJay thanks for the Link