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Tech How-to: \'62-\'65 Steering Gear Replacement
Just got through replacing the steering gear box on the '65. Here's how you do it (at least for a manual steer car).
The stock steering uses a solid shaft going into the box. No rag joint or anything. If you buy a replacement box, it will most likely be a Lares 8644 (manual steer). The replacement box has a 3/4-36 splined shaft, which ain't gonna work with your stock shaft. You will have to cut the shaft and add a coupler.
1.Remove the steering column and Pitman arm, then remove the steering shaft/ gear assembly through the dash.
2. Mark the shaft at 1 3/4" up from the steering gear seal (where the shaft enters the gear box). Cut the shaft at this location.
3. Order steering coupler #91032281-PLN from Speedway. It is 3/4-36 splined on one end and smooth 3/4" on the other (to fit your shaft).
4. Install the new steering gear, then the coupler on the gear.
5. Re-assemble the steering shaft and column. Be sure to add the spring back under the steering wheel; the spring positions the shaft bearing.
6. Install the column in the car as you guide the shaft into the coupler. Snug -tighten all of the column fasteners (includung the lower firewall seal fasteners). Make sure that everything is aligned correctly, then tighten all of the fasteners.
7. Tack-weld the steering shaft to the steering coupler.
8. Remove the steering column assembly and hard-weld the coupler to the shaft.
9. Re-install the column, install the coupler set screw and you're done.
I don't have any digital pic software for posting. But if anybody needs a pic of the final installation, I can send you one.
If you must have a rag joint, most of the '73-'79 trucks (and probably others) use the same spline and shaft size. You can adapt all of the parts, but you will need to add a lower shaft bearing inside the steering column. That ain't easy, and it is why I used the solid coupler.
[addsig]
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