Captain Fab Power Steering conversion column alignment question (with pictures)

[Bushman66]

Hi all,

I got my power steering box into my 66 C10 using Captain Fab's bracket. If you look at the pics, the (stock) column is perfectly aligned with the input shaft on the box, but the column shaft is offset about 1/2" toward the passenger side. I'm afraid this is going to put stress on the rag joint when I hook it all together.

Note: (The flange is not set in final position on the shaft yet).

Any suggestions? Anyone run into this before? Is there an adjustment I can make up under the dash to shift it closer in line with the box?

Thanks!

[62bagger]

Is there a universal type of connector on the shaft?

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by 62bagger

Is there a universal type of connector on the shaft?

On the 60-62, stock steering column there is, but on the 63-66 stock column, it's a solid rod from gear to wheel




The shape of the power steering gear causes the steering gear to be out of perfect alignment with the stock steering shaft because it doesn't sit in the proper spot without cutting into the frame. I think a lot of people have just run it with the rag joint taking up the difference

[The Rocknrod]

Not on mine, it is aliged perfectly. Check your body alignment side to side. Maybe cross measure your frame for squareness?

[Bushman66]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Not on mine, it is aliged perfectly. Check your body alignment side to side. Maybe cross measure your frame for squareness?

Will do, but the stock box lined up perfectly, so if the frame or body were out of square, wouldn't it affect that as well?

As far as I know (GF's family owned it from new), and what I have seen, this truck has never been in any major accident. Box is a new (reman) Lares 71 C10 box. Captain Fab's bracket went in perfectly, using the template he supplied. Wondering if there is a way to adjust the column itself over a bit in the under dash area?

[MT65]

There’s a solution if you go up the steering shaft closer to the firewall, machine the shaft to accept a Borgeson u joint with 3/4dd to prevent spinning, then down to the rag joint on much less of an angle…..have done this with just 2 ujoints on street rods many times, they make a joint that is a vibration isolater also…

[Bushman66]

Originally Posted by MT65

There’s a solution if you go up the steering shaft closer to the firewall, machine the shaft to accept a Borgeson u joint with 3/4dd to prevent spinning, then down to the rag joint on much less of an angle…..have done this with just 2 ujoints on street rods many times, they make a joint that is a vibration isolater also…

Thanks MT65, I was hoping to avoid messing with a bunch of U joints and such. Hundreds of guys have used Captain Fab's bracket for this conversion without this issue so I'm hoping its an easier (and cheaper) answer... The shaft is perfectly inline with the input shaft (theoretically negating the need for U joints, its just offset to the right, compared to the box input shaft for some reason...

[MT65]

Understand, just been through this before, no its not cheap, joints are spendy and machining can be also, I have my own mill so it doesn’t hit me so hard…

[61hawk]

Nevermind, I just looked at the pictures.

[Bushman66]

I'm dumb. Right in the directions it says to loosen the steering column bolts. I reached out to John, he responded (Thank you sir). Loosened the bolts and a little pulling has them almost perfectly in line. Thanks to all who responded, love this board!!

[The Rocknrod]

Not at all, it's just a process. We ALL have had issues.

[MT65]

Rocknrod is correct, we’ve ALL had some variety of issues, if you say you haven’t it boils dow to two scenarios,
1- you aren’t being truthful
2- you haven’t done anything….

[Bushman66]

All buttoned up, no leak, no issues. Took me a couple of tries to get the right belt, needed one that allowed the pump to adjust far enough out that I could remove the cap from underneath the alternator bracket.

Anyway, thanks for all the help here, the PS is a game changer in the drivability of the 66.