Power to Manual steering swap.... Shaft or Column ????

[MoparNutt]

I'm swapping the steering between my 2 Darts. My 71 has power steering but I want the manual steering from my 70 put into the 71. I removed the manual box from the 70 but can't get the damn coupler to come off. Took alot a smashing and banging just to get the pin out because some moron at one time painted the coupler and the paint practically welded the pin in place. I tried drilling the pin out too but gave up when I broke the 5th drill bit.

Now, Can I swap the steering shaft from one to the other or do I have to change the whole column ???? :hmmm:

 

[MoparNutt]

Also, I have a good 8.75 center section 3.23 Sure-Grip, looking to swap for a 3.91 Sure-Grip.

 

[Dr.Jass]

You can swap the column shaft between columns. In fact, if you're not worried about the safety aspect of it in a crash, the power column can be extended via partial disassembly of the column and removing the pins that hold the upper and lower halves together.

As far as getting the coupler off the box: spray it with aerosol aircraft paint remover, then rinse. Soak it with AeroKroil, Thrust, or PB Blaster and let it sit a day. Heat the coupler body, then knock the pin out with a specific roll-pin punch, not just some flat-end punch lying around the shop. ATD, S-K, and Mahew all make roll-pin punches and you would not believe the difference it makes. Drilling only damages the coupler body and potentially the input shaft.

 

[69.5CUDA]

why not just dissasemble the coupler..it likely needs repacked anyway

 

[MoparNutt]

Oh I did manage to get the pin out, then I disassembled the coupler, witch has almost no grease at all inside.
My problem is just getting the coupler off of the steering box gear. I'm thinking now I might just switch the column so I can just leave the coupler as it is, pack it with grease and pop it back togeather in the other car.

 

[69.5CUDA]

thats what id do..cause your likely going to need alot of heat to get it off anyway

 

[Dr.Jass]

About 70% of the wear in the coupler assembly is in the housing. Food for thought.

 

[Diplomat_Wagon]

Maybe I've just been lucky but I've never had to add heat, penetrating fluid or use a roll pin punch to take off the box coupler. :huh:

 

[Dr.Jass]

I've only had to do it a couple of times. #1 thing is getting the roll pin out as your first point of disassembly... in other words, while the box is still connected to the column and the wheels are on the ground. Usually the pin comes out easily and the coupler body comes off with a "wonder bar".