58 Steering Box , Still Looking

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by JimDirt

The one thing that kit says it does NOT have is gear/s , which i am afraid mine are worn (90% positive as i have not taken it apart) , and kind of the same issue that the link to the kit 1project2many posted

I may end up having to take everything out and apart , and get a kit and TRY it , to see if its significantly better , if its not , then i am back where i started , i don't think i will be able to find out if it helps or fixes the issue till its back together and on the ground with a new column installed/hooked up , as that is the only way you can "feel" the slop is with the wheels on the ground , up in the air , the steering turns more or less normal , but when the load is on it (especially while driving on a long straight road) is when it really shows up , and since the adjuster screw will not go in any further , there is few options

Can you push down and then pull up on the steering wheel and does it have upward movement? or any downward movement. If it does you need to adjust the lower bearing. If adjusting the lower bearing cleans up most of the play steering then a standard kit will do the job. The gears seldom wear out, the worm shaft and ball bearings may wear but the sector and the ball nut teeth don't usually wear much.

[JimDirt]

After i get back from a Dr appointment tomorrow , i will check to see if it moves....Thanks ....

[JimDirt]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

Can you push down and then pull up on the steering wheel and does it have upward movement? or any downward movement. If it does you need to adjust the lower bearing. If adjusting the lower bearing cleans up most of the play steering then a standard kit will do the job. The gears seldom wear out, the worm shaft and ball bearings may wear but the sector and the ball nut teeth don't usually wear much.

I just went out and checked for up/down movement (it was pouring down rain yesterday so i could not check it then) , there is no up/down movement at all in the wheel , i pulled and pushed fairly hard and there was no movement at all , maybe i will just need a rebuild kit and be fine ???

If so then i guess all i would have to do is cut off the original column , and replace it with a (not sure what other years or model Chevy column's will fit/work) 78 Chevy van Tilt column and be good ?? , i don't know what is commonly used to seal around the shaft so water/dirt does not get into the steering box after the column outer collar is removed , is there a "kit" for doing that ??

A column with a key would be fine as well , since the dash ignition only has Off/On and Start positions , no Acc , i just don't know how i would make a column shift work (my truck has a aftermarket floor shift , so there is no linkage going to the column) , as i am assuming i would need some sort of linkage bolted to the firewall to make a column shift work with my Turbo 400

Also while messing around in the cab i noticed that the wiper is controlled by a electric switch , but it seems to have 4 positions ???? (Off/1/2/3 ?) , the wiper washer seems to be controlled by a lever under the dash just above the E-Brake handle , that is a hand pump to work the wiper washer , you pull up on it (it releases on its own) and you keep pumping it and it squirts washer fluid ....was this stock ??? (i am assuming it is)

[JimDirt]

So does anyone have a part # or something to ask for when searching for a seal for the column end of the steering box ?? , as i am guessing that when i cut the column from the box (up farther on the shaft) and then remove the column tube from the box (i assume it will just pull or pry out) , then i will need a seal of some kind to go around the shaft and fit into the opening the column tube was occupying so dirt or water does not get in , and so the grease/oil does not get out , or would i leave the tube in and cut it flush with the box , then install a (part #) seal ??

I am guessing others have done this and know what needs to be done ( i am planning on getting the rebuild kit 1project2many mentioned , to see if that fixes the slop issue) , as i am hoping the weather will start warming soon , so i can get started on this project , or at least this part of the project .... Any help would be appreciated ...Thanks ... Jim