Steering Box Question

[louisb]

I am in the middle of replacing the steering box on the '67 and I have a quick question I hope someone can answer. When I put the new beam in I put a set of caster shims in since the car is lowered in the front. This has caused the steering box spindle to not line up with the steering shaft. I used a new rubber coupler, and I can get them together, but its pretty twisted. Is it okay like that? Or should I rotate the box some to make them line up better?

Thanks,

--louis

[deano]

On some aftermarket beams, the tab that locates the steering box is not in the correct position. So, what you have to do is remove, grind off that small tab, which allows the steering box to swivel to line up with the steering column at a better angle.

[2manytoys]

dean has some good ideas,. but I think it will be more simple than that,..hopefully. You should be able to loosen the box and line it up straight with the steering shaft, tighten and you are good to go. If you need to grind, do as dean dictated,...ddd.

[louisb]

Yeah its a CB beam so that may be the problem. Thanks for the input guys.

--louis

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

Hi Louis Even without caster shims they dont always line up The easiest thing to do is set the box in the car with everything straight then the clamp on the bottom that holds the box  just grind new notches as nessary in the clamp I would not grind or take the tabs off the beam because if you ever bump a curb or Parking Block the shock will rotate your steering box those tabs are there for a reason without them the box can slip on the tube

[Diederick/DVK]

gee, now i know why i feel/hear this tick in my steering wheel when i go over little humbs on the motorway!
darn, shitty thing is i can't get the bolt on the steering box loose 

[Neil Davies]

On my racec ar with a narrowed beam and 2 sets of shims there were no notches to line up with. put the car together, set the alignment then welded a tab onto the beam to lock the bracket in place. Let the car set the steering box position, not the beam.

[louisb]

Thanks guys, I think I have it straightened out now. There is much less binding now. But being the klutz that I am , I managed to cross thread the tie rod end so I am off to the parts store to pick up another one.

--louis