Rack and Pinion

Just emptied my pockets, or rather dipped into my IRA, and ordered a rack and pinion steering system from Total Control Products. I'm vacillating on trying to do it myself with only one arm/hand...maybe yes, maybe no, or have a guy install it who has a nice little restore/hot rod shop that's done stuff for me before. Pics at the appropriate/opportune time...

 

I know how difficult the job is with two hands (no snickering from the Peanut Gallery, kids), so you should have your friend help you. I've had a lot of help these last three years, even though I only have heart problems, and it's allowed me to heal a lot better.

 

....snickers?....peanuts..?

 

No, not candy bars....

 

I might need to have something on hand (yes, pun intended) stronger than Snickers...

Parts are winging their way here via UPS from CA...

 

I dunno...M&M/Mars is pushing those chocoturds as if they're an acceptable alternative.

 

Properly shaped, they are great fun at pool parties, but far too sweet to actually eat.

 

yuck lol

 

Wrong candy bar, but:

 

That movie LOL....still fun to watch!

 

That's one of the funniest scenes, of the many, from that movie...reminds me of something that happened in a Doughboy pool once when I was a kid, ha!..no, it wasn't me. My heep's nickname is name is Yellow Turd....

Aside from the silliness that I am all so willing to participate in, I was hoping to get my whole steering system out in one piece but as hard as I tried (with one arm and a eff'd up shoulder) I didn't seem to have enough room to pull down the steering box off of the steering shaft...unless I'm missing something? I didn't take the pitman arm off yet (didn't have a 1 3/8" socket...have 1 1/4" and 1 1/2"...go figure!) or remove the steering column from dash.

 

With the engine in place they are hard to get out even with the column disconnected and loose.

 

Well, I looked down from the engine compartment and, no duh, I can't pull it down!...lol, minor details! Shortcuts never seem to work in my experience....
Now it's time to pretzel my aging self under the dash (well sorta) and unhook, unbolt and yank from the cab...

 

So getting closer to out with the old and in with the new, BUT, wasn't sure about how to remove the steering shaft? Looked on old You Tube and from what I found there should/could/would be 2 set screws to loosen, but alas, there ain't none...! Is the shaft just swaged in?...i.e. pounded in??? If I can get it apart without using a cut-off wheel that's what I would prefer. Anybody tackle this before???

 

It's part of the steering box.
That's why I was talking about unbolting the column earlier.
FYI, you will never get it out if the steering wheel is not taken off.

 

Yup, 64 and 65 (at least) the column and box is ONE assembly, it does not separate. Ribald is right, without wheel removal, it's NOT coming out. Unless you cut it off. THE WHEEL, THE WHEEL !!!!

 

I have the steering wheel and column off. One piece eh? Ford's "better" idea. I guess I'll fire-up the old cut-off wheel. I'll leave enough of a pigtail so if anybody, anywhere, sometime, wants the box they'll have something to work with to repair the shaft. I don't want to pull my header off which might have allowed me to pull it down and out....or maybe I could just enlarge the hole in the firewall...?

 

Alternately you can disassemble the box and remove the shaft as you would if rebuilding the box.

 

Out with the old and in with the new...it will certainly be a learning experience! Big weight difference between the two...

 

Is the kit set up for your particular car? Or are you going to have to work out the Ackerman angles?