ddrum Posted November 22, 2022 Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 Hello, so I am in the process of converting my 1972 510 Sedan from auto to a manual transmission and in the process I had to take out then steering column to make room for the manual pedal box assembly. My questions is, is there a specific way too install the steering column for alignment? Also the steering gear inside the column fell out of place and I also dont know if I have to "clock" it in a certain direction. Any help is greatly appreciated! Erick Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 22, 2022 Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 Assemble it to the steering box and bolt to the dash then loosely clock the steering wheel on the mounting splines, leave the nut loose. You may have to drive it (but not out of the driveway) to get the exact straight ahead position, adjust and then tighten the mounting nut. Quote Link to comment
ddrum Posted November 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 Datzenmike, thank you very much! So its basically by trial and error more or less then. I appreciate your quick response! Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 22, 2022 Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 Where did you disconnect the column? At the pinch spline on the steering box? If they wanted it a certain way the spline would have been made with a missing tooth or something just like the pitman arms are. Quote Link to comment
iceman510 Posted November 22, 2022 Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 Put the steering box arm and idler arm straight ahead. the column itself is pretty simple and I think disconnected it can rotate endlessly. Quote Link to comment
yenpit Posted November 22, 2022 Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 2 hours ago, iceman510 said: Put the steering box arm and idler arm straight ahead. the column itself is pretty simple and I think disconnected it can rotate endlessly. Correct! The steering column SHAFT is not "clocked" by a flat or a notch............it will rotate 360deg's! The 2pc SHAFT is a federally mandated collapsible shaft/column. The upper shaft is C-clipped in place, the lower shaft will drop out of the connecting splines.........just shove it back in place! As mentioned, set the steering rod & steering box components as near to middle as you can, might need to "correct" previous repairs etc by loosening & adjusting closer to center. Then set you hubs/wheels as close to straight as possible...........you might need to adjust the tie rod ends. Once those components are as straight as possible, put steering wheel back on, but don't tighten nut, as you may need to rotate it a few splines later to straighten/level the steering wheel during a proper alignment! Quote Link to comment
ddrum Posted November 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 Awesome, good to know all this. Thank you all for the information! I really appreciate all the help! I will do exactly that and will come back to verify, just in case someone else in the future has the same question! Thank you, Erick Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted November 23, 2022 Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 Next time just swap the pedals. They bolt into the auto pedal box. Way less work. 1 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 23, 2022 Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 The auto and manual gas pedals are also in a different location on the floor. The pedal linkage is also different but you can just bend it over to the new location. Quote Link to comment
shlammed Posted November 23, 2022 Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 The pedal boxes are the same, so you need to add a clutch pedal to the auto box, replace the auto brake pedal with manual pedal and bend your throttle linkage? Will be going through the same effort myself. 1 Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted November 23, 2022 Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 18 minutes ago, datzenmike said: The auto and manual gas pedals are also in a different location on the floor. The pedal linkage is also different but you can just bend it over to the new location. If the pedal is still there 🙂 haha Most cars I get it's long gone. Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted November 23, 2022 Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 7 minutes ago, shlammed said: The pedal boxes are the same, so you need to add a clutch pedal to the auto box, replace the auto brake pedal with manual pedal and bend your throttle linkage? Will be going through the same effort myself. Yep. Only "difference" in the box is a return spring for the clutch pedal. Who needs that. I sure don't . Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 23, 2022 Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 20 minutes ago, shlammed said: The pedal boxes are the same, so you need to add a clutch pedal to the auto box, replace the auto brake pedal with manual pedal and bend your throttle linkage? Will be going through the same effort myself. You could cut the wide auto pedal and put a smaller rubber on it. Quote Link to comment
ddrum Posted November 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 1 hour ago, shlammed said: The pedal boxes are the same, so you need to add a clutch pedal to the auto box, replace the auto brake pedal with manual pedal and bend your throttle linkage? Will be going through the same effort myself. 53 minutes ago, Icehouse said: Yep. Only "difference" in the box is a return spring for the clutch pedal. Who needs that. I sure don't . Exactly, the only difference is the bracket for the clutch return spring being in the manual pedal box. I thought about just swapping the pedals, but I had found a good deal 3 years ago and got all the parts in was missing, like the tunnel cover and clutch fork for $100, so ended swapping the whole thing. 1 thing to keep in mind if you are doing this, the brake pedal bolt is a reverse thread, so it comes out turning it clockwise. 1 Quote Link to comment
ddrum Posted November 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 And the clutch is a normal thread 1 Quote Link to comment
shlammed Posted November 24, 2022 Report Share Posted November 24, 2022 Thanks, that simplifies it from a pedal perspective. With column shift auto it appears you would still need to remove the column to get the automatic bits off. Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 As far as the clocking of the steering shaft, some shafts have a mark staked or painted at 12 o'clock on the tip of the threads. Quote Link to comment
yenpit Posted November 29, 2022 Report Share Posted November 29, 2022 On 11/24/2022 at 8:27 AM, shlammed said: Thanks, that simplifies it from a pedal perspective. With column shift auto it appears you would still need to remove the column to get the automatic bits off. I'm gonna say you can remove the column shift parts with the column installed............or maybe just drop it down a little by removing the bolts to the body, leaving the lower plate intact?? That lower plate is flat steel, so it does "flex" a little. I did an auto to manual swap on a column shift 1971, but that was 12 years ago! There is a kinda triangular hole cut in to the lower steering column plate, where the auto shift linkage passes thru, with a rubber "plug" with a hole for the rod. The manual cars had a solid rubber "plug". Quote Link to comment
yenpit Posted November 29, 2022 Report Share Posted November 29, 2022 On 11/22/2022 at 11:31 AM, ddrum said: Hello, so I am in the process of converting my 1972 510 Sedan from auto to a manual transmission and in the process I had to take out then steering column to make room for the manual pedal box assembly. My questions is, is there a specific way too install the steering column for alignment? Also the steering gear inside the column fell out of place and I also dont know if I have to "clock" it in a certain direction. Any help is greatly appreciated! Erick Wait......a 1972? The auto shift lever mechanism should be on the floor 72-73? Is yours a column shift? Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 29, 2022 Report Share Posted November 29, 2022 April '71 was the advent of the 3N71B automatic and the retirement of the BW-35. The '72 model year started in August of '71 or in another 4 months. Quote Link to comment
shlammed Posted November 29, 2022 Report Share Posted November 29, 2022 Sorry two different people doing similar things. Quote Link to comment
ddrum Posted November 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2022 23 hours ago, yenpit said: Wait......a 1972? The auto shift lever mechanism should be on the floor 72-73? Is yours a column shift? Mine is a floor shift yenpit Quote Link to comment
yenpit Posted November 30, 2022 Report Share Posted November 30, 2022 18 hours ago, ddrum said: Mine is a floor shift yenpit Yup makes more sense! Sorry, I saw shlammed's comment about column shift & mixed up with you! 😆 Quote Link to comment
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