1955-57 power rack and pinion steering - Ecklers Classic Chevy

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15a15bPhoto 14: The Eckler’sClassic Chevy Rack andPinion crossmember is sostrong you can use it tojack up the front end! Otherrack kits on the market usea flimsy lightweightsupport or braces that donot tie the frame railstogether.18a 18b 18cPhotos 18a, 18b & 18c:Now we are ready toconnect the U-joints and shaft from therack and pinion to the steering column,but we have a problem. The existing non-CCI headers that are onour project car are right in the way. If we had some side room,we could add the 3rd U-joint support kit P/N 53-317 and snakethe shaft around the header tubes, but there is just no room hereto do that. Instead, we will remove the left hand header only andreplace it with the Eckler’s Classic Chevy 3/4-length left headerP/N 24-53C-LH.19a 19b 19cPhotos 15a & 15b:The rack andpinion kit includes new steering knuckles (steering arms) that are1-5/8" shorter than the original ones. The shorter arms arenecessary to maintain the original steering radius.16a16bPhotos 19a, 19b & 19c: The rack & pinion kit includes two largebrass bushings. One of the two bushings will fit into the bottomof the original mast jacket to support the lower end of the newsteering shaft. Choose the correct size bushing that will slide upinto the bottom of the mast jacket and drive the bushing in sothat it is flush with the bottom of the tube.Photos 16a & 16b: The original steering arms are bolted to thespindles with two 7/16" bolts and nuts. Remove the two nuts andinstall the new arms.17a17b17cPhotos 17a, 17b & 17c: The Eckler’sClassic Chevy Rack and Pinion Kitutilizes the original outer tie rod endsand adjusting sleeves so there are nometric parts installed on your Classic!The outer tie rod ends and adjustingsleeves were in perfect shape on ourproject car so we will reuse them. If theywere bad, the adjusting sleeves areavailable new as P/N 21-08 and theouter tie rod ends P/N 21-07. Install theadjusting sleeves and tie rod ends andset the toe in as close as you can fornow. Once the rack and pinion iscompletely installed, the car will need tobe taken to the alignment shop.Photo 20: When using an original steering column, a new shaftsteering shaft kit is supplied with the rack and pinion kit. Thisincludes the column shaft, the intermediate shaft and upper andlower U-joints.21a21bPhotos 21a & 21b: The U-joints are held to the intermediate shaftwith set screws and jam nuts. Make sure when the shaft isinstalled in the U-joint that the shaft does not protrude past theinside of the yoke. If it does, the shaft will make contact with theopposing yoke of the U-joint and create a bind.
22a 22b 22c26Photos 22a, 22b & 22c: First, install the lower U-joint onto thedouble-D shaft. Once the U-joint has been located on the shaft,tighten the one set screw on the flat of the double-D shaft. Theset screw will leave a mark on the shaft. Next, using a 5/16" drillbit, drill a dimple in the shaft at the mark. The dimple is used asa seat for the set screw.23a23bPhotos 26: Theupper U-joint is thelarger of the two U-joints supplied. Thetop of the U-jointhas 3/4"-36 splinesto match the steering column shaft and the bottom of the U-jointhas a 3/4" double-D to match the intermediate shaft.27a27bPhotos 23a & 23b: The input shaft on the rack and pinion unithas a coped-out area for the set screw. With the set screw seatedin the coped out area, the input shaft will be flush with the insideU-joint yoke.24a24bPhotos 24a & 24b: Thenew steering columnshaft has 3/4" - 36splines at the bottom ofthe shaft and the samesplines and threads at the top like the original. The same splinesat the top allows you to use the stock steering wheel or anyaftermarket steering wheel.Photos 27a & 27b: Install the lower U-joint and shaft on to therack and pinion unit making sure the set screw is seated in thecoped out area on the input shaft. Lay the 3/4" double-D shaftnext to the upper U-joint and mark the shaft where it will need tobe cut to properly engage the yoke on the joint. The intermediateshaft is long enough to reach the firewall even if a late model tiltcolumn were installed28a28b25Photos 25: Installthe steering wheelor steering wheeladapter on theshaft and slide theshaft down intothe steeringcolumn. Place apiece ofcardboard orfolded-over paperbetween the uppermast jacket andsteering wheel or adapter. You want to achieve a 1/16" or so gapbetween the steering wheel hub and steering column.Photos 28a & 28b: The shaft can be cut with a hack saw, bandsaw or chop saw. With the intermediate shaft cut, remove theupper U-joint from the steering shaft, install the now shortenedintermediate shaft and lower U-joint to the rack and pinion,install the upper U-joint the intermediate shaft and slide thesteering shaft into the upper U-joint.Photo 29: With the upper U-joint inplace, tighten the one set screw onthe flat of the 3/4" double-D makinga mark. Remove the intermediateshaft and U-joints, remove the upperU-joint and drill a dimple in theshaft just like you did for the lowerU-joint for the set screw.
Page 6 and 7: Photo 30: With the U-jointslocated
Page 8 and 9: 46a46b46cPhoto 50: Now you may inst

1955-57 power rack and pinion steering - Ecklers Classic Chevy

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