mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

Seen a few methods already but like to see what everyone is doing to join 1"DD on column to camaro steering box? my camaro sub frame is spliced in not lapped on top of truck frame i have a gm astro van shaft , a jeep cherokee xj shaft a factory camaro shaft(rag joint shot) some melt plastic out of xj to allow them to be telescopic like astro. if i have to buy at least one aftermarket u joint no biggie.
https://i.ibb.co/NjFRnDz/FCB90001-CA...A95951-D03.jpg

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

being cheap on steering is a dumb way to die.

my advice is to buy a borgeson 015252 1" DD to 1" DD u joint, a borgeson 450036 telescoping shaft, and a borgeson 014931 3/4" DD to 30 spline. should run around $250 shipped. the 1" to 1" DD will go at the column and the top side of the telescoping shaft, the 3/4" to 30 spline will go at the bottom of the telescoping shaft to the box.

measure first, you may need the longer telescoping shaft. also, put your motor in before you try to figure out steering, its funny how exhaust likes to get in the way. if it is indeed a straight shot, those 3 parts will install in under an hour.

do not use a rag joint on angles more than 2 degrees. do not use an astro flexy joint on angles more than 5 degrees. if you used the xj shaft and the astro shaft you would need at least one heim joint.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

hi joedoh not trying to offend but not trying to be cheap . astro van shaft is like new no worn out parts being used. just trying to use good condition auto salvace parts and if i have to use a borgenson joint that fine too!

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

if you are using the knuckle astro shaft your truck will have too much angle for it. do a search in this forum for "Zippi" and "steering". he had the setup you are talking about and his knuckle came almost all the way apart because they arent made to work at angles more than about 5 degrees.

you cant use the XJ shaft unless you make it longer, I am familiar with the shaft you are talking about, s10 guys used them to get rid of the rag joint on that truck. its too short for what you have going on, even with the pin melted and extended.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

flexy joint meaning u joint?

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

its not a u joint, per se. its called a vibration decoupler, the germans call it a guibo. it does look like it will take some angle like a u joint but it does not, the rubber in it comes apart when its used like a u joint.


here is Zippi's truck with the flexy astro joint that almost destroyed itself at a higher angle.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...1&d=1574423720
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...1&d=1577380234

and here is one of my trucks with the borgeson parts I am talking about.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1565129136

I have done 11 trucks and all of them get borgeson or jegs equivalent (steel) parts. some get a telescoping shaft, some get a solid shaft, depends on how I feel and if I need a heim to get around the motor.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

jeep shaft has vibration damper and u joints . will have to take close notice of angles.

https://i.ibb.co/j331y2d/Jeep-Cherok...-Justice10.jpg

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

I'll go with what Joedoe said and be done with it. He had done who knows how many frame swaps and probably a few subframe swaps.

I've seen the rag joints that failed when they had just a tad too much angle on them. They are actually a cushion to dampen the jolt to your hands a bit and not intended to compensate for excess angles. I'm not familiar with the Astro van flex thingy but I'll take his word as gospel on that.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

yeah I had an XJ shaft once, to "save money". melted the pin, it only pulled out about an inch. the spined end fit the box (it was a 65 C10). fiddled with it for a week or so and just bought u joints ad a collapsible shaft.

as long as you dont mind measuring a few times, you can save about 60 bucks by going to a solid shaft. the collapsible is definitely easier to put in but with the solid shaft its only about 18 bucks.

make sure you get your motor in first, if you need heims and couplers to get around the exhaust the price and complexity can really go up. I did some steering work on a MII in a 53 with an LS last summer and the guy balked at the ~400 bill for double u joint and two other u joints, two heims and mounts, and all the shafts.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

thanks for all your insight joedoh and mr48chev. going to sit engine in today and have a look at everything.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

get your engine in, like mock up unless you already have the mounts built. then have a look at what you have for fan clearance, exhaust space and accy clearance with steering column room in the back of your mind. it`s best to do the engine placement mounts, exhaust and steering column figuring all at the same time so you don`t do one really well and the others look like they were an afterthought.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

hey raven sitting engine in today to see how things look.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

Good info here...hiding and watching!

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

I used this one for a 1993 S10 steering box https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hok-71223022hkr . But I also had to buy a longer piece of DD shaft to get the right length to the steering box.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

thanks Driver_WT. still looks like cherokee xj shaft will be close. joedoh in your pic your subframe looks like truck frame lapped on top of camaro frame? that would make for a longer shaft than i need my camaro clip is spliced in truck frame.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

if you are using the xj shaft you will need a coupler to go from 1" DD to 3/4" DD and a short piece of 3/4" DD


mine is an s10 frame, but the distance from the column to the box should be similar, if not a little closer because its a 47-53

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

I have found a length of broom handle works pretty good for mock up. It cuts easy doesnt bend or distort and it's cheap. If you use u joints you can get a broom handle that fits inside the joint yoke and get really exact if you want.
Post up a few pics, you have us curious now how it's all gonna fit together.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

hey Driver_WT i got your message i am not far away from you.dsraven i have an old cherokee shaft with a worn out box joint i cut that end off and just put in place to see. it is not off by much.a lot of the gm car guys are using them. melting out the adhesive makes it telescopic. if its not a wobbly slip fit with adhesive burned out worth a shot to try with good shaft.if i can do it safely on the cheap for $50 with factory parts vs $350 for aftermarket shaft and 2 u joints i can put money saved towards other goodies for truck. aftermarket shaft telescopic so must be ok to use.header i didnt put on yet but makes a tight exit on back tubes will find out today.https://i.ibb.co/BsK5pd4/5-B8-EC8-F1...BA07-B3-D8.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/vzWQ7mh/5-E97651-F-...6-D461-FF8.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/fCyK0CN/3-ED7-D681-...9-EFD00-EE.jpg

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

do you have exhaust manifolds or headers to mock up with? a cheap steering shaft but expensive exhaust connections might not be cost effective. you kinda need to do a bunch of things at once, motor mounts, trans mount height, ensure room above trans under floor, engine angle fore to aft, ensure room behind engine to firewall, exhaust connection room, fan clearance room, room above engine to hood-not usually a problem, room under engine for oil pan and steering components, and also room for the steering shaft corridor.

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

looks tight!

are those your headers under the truck?

Re: mating 1" DD column to camaro steering box ideas?
 

hey joe and raven have headers 2" tubes so close right now. engine can come down a little more so oil pan is flush with bottom of crossmember. bringing engine down will take it away from steering shaft some.