<VV> Weird Steering Update (aka We need more jackstands)

[Shaun]

Tim, the box is pretty easy to take care of, the hardest part is getting the
pitman arm off, even with a puller.
I doubt if any of the vendors have a rebuilt '64 box, but they might have a
rebuild kit. Follow the directions in the shop manual. OR...
Buy a new box from Flaming River, or Seth<G>, cut your old column off your
old box, and grind a flat on it to use with a coupler. Grind a flat on the
box's shaft and there you go. Quick steering to boot.

yea, Vairily ... Shaun

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Verthein" <minoxphotographer at yahoo.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 5:08 PM
Subject: <VV> Weird Steering Update (aka We need more jackstands)


> Well, if you read yesterdays post(s) I'm experiencing a weird steering
> thing.  Unfortunatly today and tomorrow my favorite, and only trusted
> mechanic, who understands old cars, is gone.  I took this as an omen
> that meant "Get your own butt under the car like you used to do and
> check it out." So..since Ryans car is up on all four of our jackstands
> I stopped and picked up a couple more.  Got the front of the '64 up
> safely, and my wife standing by as assistant and 'spotter".  First
> thing I determined was that everything in the steering seemd good and
> tight..no play, no wobbles, etc. I also noticed the front shocks are
> near new, and there's some sort of newly installed heavy duty looking
> sway bar..heck..the bolts aren't even dirty yet, so that was nice to
> see. After moving the wheels back and forth, and yanking and pulling on
> everything to convince myself all was well, I noticed that the
> passenger front tire caught on the added on plastic front air dam!  I
> thought....."whoohooo this is gonna be simple" thinking that the tire
> catching on this, followed by it's releasing "boing" when it cleared
> was gonna be the problem. Ronna (my wife and pit crew chief in my Son's
> absence) took our 60 year old giant tin snips and trimmed the air dam
> to clear.  Then, I had her go turn the steering wheel back and forth
> several times while I listened to the steering gear box.  Uh oh.
> There's definitly a very unhappy sound in there. Click, crunch boink.
> Something is awry in there.  OK..so.. a close examination showed globs
> of grease around where the shaft goes in, and a bit of seepage where
> the arm connects at the bottom. the whole box was coated in thick black
> grease gook.  So, I'm thinking first lets see if there's any lube in
> this sucker.  OK, so how the HELL do you figure out if there's anything
> in there? I was hoping there was an access thru the trunk, but I didn't
> see one, and as long as I was under there..I took out the plug, and got
> a trickle of watery brown oily goo.  Just a trickle.  So..I'm thinking
> that's not a good sign. At the very least I need to put some gear lube
> in there, but alas none here..and I don't feel like driving to town to
> get some.  So..the Screaming Yellow Zonker shall sit on the stands for
> the night.  But..there are QUESTIONS......
>
> How the heck do you get lube into that little hole? Tube on the spout
> of a bottle I imagine. Messy but what the heck.  I'm sure this will not
> solve the problem..but I want to fill 'er up with something that looks
> like a lubricant and see what happens.  Then..assuming I need to tend
> to the steering gear box what are the options? Easy way out I imagine
> is a rebuilt from a vendor...I don't think I want to rebuild one
> myself..when it comes to life threatening parts I prefer the experts to
> have assembled them. Or..perhaps a good used one from one of you out
> there in VV land?  Is it possible I just need a good dose of decent
> lube in there?  I don't think so..as it seems to be "extra smooth" in
> the straight ahead position and about a 1/4 turn either way of the
> steering wheel..or is this normal (with the wheels off the ground).  Is
> replacement as easy as it looks?  Three bolts to the frame, pull the
> arm, and the shaft from the steering wheel slides out?  Or is this a
> secret pain in the butt waiting for my secret frustration?  The shaft
> itself from the wheel, and into the gear box looks perfect..no damage,
> etc near as I can see.
>
> Someone want to "steer" me in the right direction?
>
> But it was nice to get under the car and bond with the machine a bit. I
> checked out the replaced electric fuel pump Ryan put on the weekend we
> got the car back in April.  Nice job, and everything that has been done
> under the carby the PO's has been done well and very nicely.  So that
> was nice to see.  The gas tank even looked new.  It's black, and looks
> perfect, as opposed to the rusty grey one from Ryans car that I tripped
> over in the garage.
>
> So..for the first time since I picked it up in April, the trusty Monza
> will sit out tomorrows drive to work, as it's on the stands for the
> night.
>
> Tim in Bovey
>
> ===
> You *can* repair a flip-flop with a capacitor!
> ===
>
>
>
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