Steering Shaft

Automan · #1 (**permalink**) 04-03-2007, 05:18 AM

Goodmorning Gentleman: Last night i attached my steering column and shaft to my rack and pinion. The Shaft between the two knuckles is so close to the exhaust/header that i doubt i can get a peice of paper between them. Turning the steeering wheel, the exhaust outlet did make a line on the shaft but it is no longer doing that. I guess it took away the thou clearance that it needed. Steering turns great but when i turn over my 427 for the first time will there be rattling. What do you guys think.

Automan.

Roscoe · #2 (**permalink**) 04-03-2007, 06:21 AM

Automan,

Mine barely hits the fiberglass around the front suspension. It may be a function of the length of the steering column. I have a 351W motor so it is not as wide as your 427.

Roscoe

Automan · #3 (**permalink**) 04-03-2007, 07:14 AM

I used a 32 inch Ididit Steering column. The Column is pushed in as far as i can get it without widing the hole which i really dont want to do. i used 1" DD bar for my shaft and it is cut to 22 inches.

automan

Roscoe · #4 (**permalink**) 04-03-2007, 08:10 AM

I believe mine is a 30" Ididit with DD shaft. Column is non-tilt and pushed right up against the dash.

Roscoe

jerry w · #5 (**permalink**) 04-03-2007, 02:32 PM

I concur with Roscoe. Steering column length is the first critical piece for clearance within the engine compartment. Can you post a pick of the location of the colunm to the exhaust. You might need a different length column. Good luck

Regards,

Automan · #6 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 01:27 PM

Ok, I will try and post a picture tonight. I bought a 32 inch Ididit after talking to Joe at AC. He said that the ones he puts in are 32 inches.

Automan · #7 (**permalink**) 04-07-2007, 07:08 AM

Hey guys. I found out what the problem was. The bracket that mounts on the side of the footbox which mounts the steering column in the engine compartment using a C-clamp was on wrong. The C clamp base isn't even, Its offset. So when i turned it around, it pulled the column by almost half an inch away from the exhaust flange where the header mounts. Lots of room now. Now continue with my wiring.

Thanks for the help
Automan

Roscoe · #8 (**permalink**) 04-07-2007, 07:34 AM

There ya go....

Roscoe

jerry w · #9 (**permalink**) 04-07-2007, 04:27 PM

Don't you just love it when there is a happy ending!

My advise for wiring; Use a big ground strap!

Regards

TonyMadrid · #10 (**permalink**) 04-08-2007, 11:36 AM

If you're using the U-bolt clamp to mount the column to the foot box, don't over-tighten the clamp. If you do the column will squeeze and the shaft will not spin freely.

When I did mine, I thought the problem was heat from the headers causing the bushing to expand so I made a heat shield but it didn't help.

I called IDIDIT and they sent me a bushing with a few thousandths of an inch more clearance but that also didn't solve the problem. I then tried loosening the clamp and that was the cure.

Roscoe · #11 (**permalink**) 04-08-2007, 11:45 AM

I used the Ididit gimble mount on the engine side of the firewall. I also had a friend with a machine shop make me this mount that bolts on the top of the footbox.