<VV> 66 steering column into a 65

[Sethracer at aol.com]

_aeroned at aol.com_ (mailto:aeroned at aol.com)  writes:

First is  it possible and then are there any tricks or catches? I already 
have a 66  column in a 65 body. I'm noticing side to side, up and down and in 
and out  play (can it move any other way?). Could it be a bad bearing? I'll 
be tearing  the column apart again to get it right, kind of  important.


I suppose you could have rotational clearance as well, but that would  
probably be in the box, not the column! It is worth noting the total change in  
concept that Chevy made in late 65 when they changed over to the 1966 style  
steering column and box. In 1964 and 1965, Chevy was using a one-piece 
steering  shaft (AKA the spear) from inside the box all the way to the steering 
wheel. The  steering column housing was self-contained and just slid down 
over the shaft. At  the floor, a clamp with a flange bolted solid to the 
firewall, but allowed in  and out adjustment of the column so the clearance 
between the bottom of the  steering wheel and the top of the column could be set 
to minimal, per some Chevy  spec I am sure, then clamped. Some slots under 
the dash allowed the tabs on the  column to pull it up tight to the dash. No 
upper retaining ring is  needed because the relationship between the column 
and the wheel is determined  by the column position, the wheel is fixed in 
position by the mounting of the  box. 
In late 65, Chevy added the new aligning coupler about a  foot up the shaft 
from the box.  With up and  down alignment movement allowed in the coupler, 
the shaft now has  to be retained within the column housing to limit up and 
down movement.  There is a clamp at the bottom that locks into a small 
groove in the shaft. At  the top, a snap ring above the bearing keeps the up and 
down movement  to a minimum. Since the housing need not be adjusted up and 
down for clearance,  and the steering wheel is bolted to the column, the 
clamp at the floor is gone  and a flange is welded onto the column to bolt to 
the firewall. The tabs at the  top of the column are gone, and a clamp goes 
under the column to retain it in  place under the dash. When removing a 
column from a 66 to use on an early  65, be sure to remove the bell-shaped mount 
from the opposite side of the  firewall. After the column is removed, a 
single small screw hold the mount up  against the firewall. Remove the screw and 
the mount will drop out. The mounting  pattern in the firewall changed from 
65 to 66. Use the flange on the column to  match-mark the hole locations. 
Be sure to seal up the old holes to keep  water out of your footwells.  - 
Seth  Emerson