I have been lugging around an old tilt wheel from a 70s? van for a few decades and am finally modifying it to fit into my 55 Chevy. I made some spiffy cuts and welds and it’s looking good. I’m running a modified 605 steering box. The new issue, is I can’t seem to locate a universal or rag joint to couple the two together. If I’m measuring and counting correctly, the column shaft is 3/4”-36 spline and the 605 is (I believe metric?) and measures about 11/16”- 30 spline. Anyone have a lead? Either a universal or rag joint will work.
See if this helps. https://www.google.com/search?q=cla...AqA6QQ_AUoAnoECAMQAg&biw=1280&bih=800&dpr=1.5
Aha! Maybe I found something? I’m measuring the 605 input as 11/16”, but this chart says it’s actually 3/4”-30 spline. Borgeson and others carry one. I think I’m back in business. Thanks y’all.
I'll step up an be the ass here, if only in an effort to try and prevent any subsequent readers getting the wrong idea. Coupler, universal joint and so called rag joint are not interchangeable terminology. More specifically, a rag joint should not be used to compensate for mislignment / turn corners. They're vibration reducers. Misalignment / corners require universal joints. Straight joins require inline joiners and cost much less (but a rag joint would work too, if required!). We now return to the scheduled programming..... Chris
Great post. I couldn't have said it better. They are vibration dampers, not "flex joints". I've seen them often used in questionable "that's close enough" mis-alignment situations
If a vibration dampener/isolator is needed, these are an option. https://www.flamingriver.com/steering-universal-joints?cat=138 http://www.borgeson.com/vibrationreducers.html
Hello, If you have cut all the springemy things from the bottom of the column, you can't use a stock rag joint, as when the rubber fails, the lower inner with its two prongs springs out to lock into the flange on the box
Lee Manufacturing is another good source. They were pretty well versed with power steering box swaps and could make up a rag joint to fit the application. My uncle used one some years back when he put an '85 IROC Camaro steering box in his '69 Z/28 Camaro.
WTF! is a springemy? even spell check is confused. "The brits may have invented the English language, but it took Americans to make it great! -- Richard Rawlings (apologies if I've misspelled his name)
I found a rag joint with the correct combo of splines, but the diameter is too large and rubs the firewall....aaaaaarg. So now awaiting delivery of a Borgeson u-joint. Expensive little suckers. Rag joint was $36 to the door, and the u-joint is 75+$hipping. Wanna play? Gotta pay...lol
Those tilt columns look real nice in the 55-6 Chevy. Have a couple stashed away. Want to put one in my 32
I helped a fellow with a '65 GTO, he needed some engine work so I took the car in. It didn't drive right when I moved it around. I found the rag joint pulled apart and the only thing steering the car was the two loose bolts through the rubber. He is a big guy and would pull himself out of the car using the steering wheel. He pulled so much the column was coming apart and rag joint was the only thing keeping it in place. I believe what nobby and his springy thing is talking about is the lower keeper in the column. If the rag joint breaks, the metal nubs on the rag joint flange still make contact with the gear box mounted flange, but if the lower keeper in the column is removed, the whole shaft pulls out the top loosing all control of the car.
My neighbor is building a 57 Chevy truck on a C10 frame. The steering mod required three universals...BUT... he has a rag joint as one of them. It is not a straight connection and flexes pretty hard. Once again I’ll go an express my concern....lol.
take a look at a grand cherokee steering gear box, and the stock joints its a humungous beast, but may look puny in a tri chevy
I'm still struggling to get a fit here. I bought a Borgeson universal and it won't slip onto the gearbox.... Do you know the spline counts and diameters for the vette rag joints? I can't find the specs anywhere.. Thanks
post up pics of your steering box i have an input worm from a vette and a late model saginaw 800 both 30 spline 3/4'' for comparison
I am getting my butt whooped on this... It makes no sense. It should not be this damn difficult. I have a 605 steering box. It measures 3/4" for the input shaft. It has 30 splines (supposedly). There is a flat on the shaft so all teeth are not present. Everything I research says it is a 3/4"-30 spline shaft. I bought a Borgeson universal 3/4"x30 spline to 3/4"-36 spline. The 36 spline sides slips on my column easily. The 30 spline side WILL NO SLIDE ONTO THE BOX. I also have a 605 box going into the 39 Poncho. It won't fit that one either. Summit Racing says it should fit. Borgeson technical help says it should fit. It DOES NOT FIT. I returned it I found a rag joint with the right combination and it fits..BUT...the diameter is 3-3/8" and rides the firewall. I sent it back. They make 2-3/4" rag joints, but I cannot find one with the correct spline counts. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggg. So why did the 30 spline rag joint fit but not the universal? No way Borgeson built a bad joint. Any help out there? Ideas? Suggestions? Offers to buy this headache?
You should have seen the damper at $99, the replacement fell apart in a year. No such thing as No Way.
When you tried the Borgeson joint, did you count the splines on it? Maybe it was a return item, and/or packaged wrong? You're right, they have a good product, so not likely buggered up, but....