TECH: how to join steering shafts

36-3window · Sep 29, 2008

since i was doing this for another Hamber , i thought i would post a few pictures of how i do it. in this case it is a `36 ford with stock steering column and inner shaft that needs to be connected to a vega steering box. 3/4"-36 spline shaft will be connected to the original inner shaft to allow use of a Borgeson u-joint with 3/4-36 on one end and 5/8-36 spline on the other for the vega box. yes, i could have used a double D on one end , and milled some flats..but we already had this stuff

end of outer column is cut off at the correct length and will have a bearing and collar

overall length of inner shaft is figured out..this case 38-3/4". where the splined shaft and original shaft be joined is also determined. make sure the joint will not interfere with the bearing

splined shaft is chucked into the lathe and a couple inches are turned down to 1/2" OD. by having this slide into the ford shaft with a tight fit your final result will be perfectly true

where to cut the ford shaft is determined and marked. i cut it off in a saw a little long so i can true it up in the lathe

the original ford shaft has a ID a little over 3/8".....so i bore it out to 1/2" and true up the end to the correct length. the OD of the ford shafts are a little over 3/4"....about .758...so i also turn that down for a sleeve

the ford shaft also gets drilled for a couple plug welds. you can see how the two shafts will slide together

a 3" piece of 1" OD DOM tubing is bored out to 3/4" ID to be a sleeve

here you see how it will all fit together

i like to weld the seam between the two shafts with my tig...you could also Vee it more and use a mig. the plug welds are also done

slide the sleeve over the joint and weld..you're done. i like to chuck it in the lathe and double check for true , but i have never had one that wasn't straight