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Unknown Steering Conversion

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Simplegreen21, Jan 3, 2019.

  1. Jan 7, 2019
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I used the speedway column you linked.I like it a lot, but dose people complain about the slight play in the splines that makes the steering wheel wobble a very slight bit. Doesn't bother me at all.
    2X4 frame for my CJ2A
     
  2. Jan 7, 2019
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    You well have a hard time getting a non-tilt column to get your steering wheel in that position without changing everything from there to the steering gear...........right now your floor has the parts that an intermediate would have except it would be mounted higher as well as going through your dash much higher as I showed in Pic.#13............Since it's kinda of gobbled up at both ends ( column to steering gear) I think you need to start over and figure out which end you want to start from???............If you start at the column.......you'll more than likely have to re-route everything as it passes through the dash , floor / firewall....to accommodate u-joint angles although without being there it's really hard to tell..........but I still think your going to have to pick a starting point and if comfort at the steering wheel is most important then start there..........while always looking downstream towards the steering gear to where the other parts need to fit..........no easy solution..If a new column is what you want I think 30" is about normal.........as far as that old Bus style Jeep steering wheel is concerned.........I think the size or spline on those is different than the replacement columns so it may require an adapter........check it out!
     
  3. Jan 7, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    If you want the stock type steering wheel, I think you need to use one of the stock columns....I don't think it will fit any of the aftermarket columns (someone correct me if I'm wrong)
     
  4. Jan 7, 2019
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

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    Yep , I think the size or spline on those is different than the later replacement columns so it may require an adapter........
     
  5. Jan 9, 2019
    Simplegreen21

    Simplegreen21 New Member

    California
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    Thanks for all the suggestions and help guys! I will do some digging for parts!
     
  6. Jan 9, 2019
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

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    You may already have some or most of the parts , that you need. There just not in the right locations to get you where you want to go with the steering wheel...........your dash or a different dash can be modified to move the column up like AMC did after 1972...........if your looking at trying to keep it stock looking inside and want to mount a column be it a old factory type or a no-frills after market column it needs to be 1.75" diameter to set in the standard old dash bracket (flaming river did a no-frills one for me a while back)..............but again that gets you back to stock looking but if you have comfort issues with the steering wheel hitting your knees or stomach........the only way to fix that is by moving the seat back ( wheel well notch ) or do a tilt column or combination of both....that will pretty much fix your dash and comfort issues........but the other parts downstream under the hood beyond the firewall to the steering gear will also have to be addressed.
     
  7. Dec 20, 2019
    05rider

    05rider New Member

    Northeast Ohio
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    Is it possible to use the original steering column with a Saginaw conversion. I too like the looks of the original wheel but am moving to Saginaw this spring. But the urge to keep it simple often backfires. Thanks as I too am learning as I go.
     
  8. Dec 20, 2019
    05rider

    05rider New Member

    Northeast Ohio
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    Ok so I just finished reading some threads on using the original steering column. Sure would like to see some pictures of the column linkage and routing to the box. That I could not find.
     
  9. Dec 21, 2019
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    You would have to Cut the worm gear off at the bottom of the original shaft
     
  10. Dec 21, 2019
    05rider

    05rider New Member

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    Roger that. I have read every thread I could find on this subject, but would like to see some pictures of the steering column routed from the firewall (or end of orginal column cut off at the worm gear) to the steering box. Many time when I think I have found some pics they are either private or no longer available. I might be doing something wrong. Thanks for the response all the same.
     
  11. Dec 22, 2019
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    Are you doing this on a 4cyl or V6? I used the stock column years ago, but wouldn't do that again. The Speedway I did on the 3B is a great way to go. If you have the time, you could probably get McRuff to fab you up the adapter that I made by hand to put the stock column on it.
     
  12. Dec 23, 2019
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    why is that?
     
  13. Dec 23, 2019
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I can't speak for Chuck, but I went with he speedway column because its relatively cheap, available, new and comes in several different lengths. It also looks like it belongs there. I wanted to use an original column, but finding bearings and rebuilding an old one, which should be easy, is not. The speedway column has been in my jeep a couple years and its worked out real well.
     
  14. Dec 23, 2019
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

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    Yup - Chris is pretty much spot on :schooled:. It was a constant battle chasing the bearings and such. While the 'shaft' inside is of good solid steel, the 'tube' it sits in is pretty weak. The amount of support the column gets from the Ross box can not be minimized. With the way the worm gear is built in and held in the Ross box, its nice and solid (sans worn parts). When you remove that from the equation, the tube it sits in becomes more structural - the bearing more important - as its now what is really 'holding' the steering column in place.

    Also - once you pop out a bearing it seems to be a nightmare to get the damn thing back in and KEEP it there, then the tub was starting to flex, and it just kept going until Dad and I had finally had enough and swapped it out... we used one off an old combine from out at the farm (y)
     
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  15. Dec 23, 2019
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

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    Tough to tell its 1 3/4 tube vs 1 1/2... the quick disconnect is a better deterrent for theft than the shift levers are too. :cool:
     
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  16. Dec 23, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    I used the old postal Jeep column in mine for the Saginaw swap....works well but they are getting tough to find. I might have gone aftermarket but I wanted to keep the stock wheel and I didn't think it was possible until Warloch proved me wrong! :lol:
     
  17. Jan 6, 2020
    BadGoat

    BadGoat How High Can You Climb?

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  18. Jan 7, 2020
    05rider

    05rider New Member

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    I have been looking at this kit, but would like to know why is should not be used with the stock 4 cylinder engine.
     
  19. Jan 7, 2020
    BadGoat

    BadGoat How High Can You Climb?

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    That would be worth a call to AA. I know fitting a power steering pump to the stock F head motor would be challenging, but not impossible. I ran into a motor mount/header/steering shaft clearance issue and am using 2 steering shafts and a Borgeson double steering U-Joint to make all the bends. This requires the use of two carrier bearings, as I effectively have 4 u-joints on the steering shafts.

    I'm also using a Borgeson floor adapter for the column instead of the weld-on plate that AA provides. 1-3/4" Steering Column, Polished Aluminum


    Mike
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2020
  20. Jan 7, 2020
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Because the exhaust gets in the way and is not a straight shot.

    Chuck has addressed this here Warloch's 62 Cj5 Build with pics.
     
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