Not mopar...But my first restore
Awesome job.
Have a question though, instead of using the camaro steering shaft and mating it to the 57 truck column. Why not use some borgeson U joints, with a heim joint support bearing, or as an alternative, grab a lower steering shaft out of a box body 80s jeep cherokee. It has U joints at either end, and is splined to fit into the GM saginaw steering box. See pic below. Lower shaft in pic is the jeep one.
I grabbed a jeep steering shaft for $20 out of my local junky and installed it in my 1994 chevy pickup, it was damn near a bolt in for that application. Easiest junkyard find and removal. 2 bolts and its out. This is a real popular mod with GM G body monte SS , buick GN guys, and GM T400 pickup guys from 1988 up to 1994. 1995 to 1998 there is a 3rd joint inside the truck that doesnt allow for this mod.
I was wondering why you didnt put in a modern column with a tilt wheel? I helped a buddy of mine years ago install a tilt column in his 1963 dodge town panel truck. He still wanted the key in the dash so we gutted a mid 70s GM tilt column that would work for his application, and only left the guts in it for a horn, hazard flashers, tilt wheel and turn signal.
We took the column apart, then we removed all the pieces for the locking column ignition switch, then ground off the nub sticking out for the lock cylinder. We cleaned the grease out of the hole from the lock cylinder. Made it super clean, and filed the hole slightly concave. Temporarily Stuck some aluminum tape across the old filed down ignition hole from the back side, and packed it solid with JB weld. Then ground it smooth primed and painted. Viola smoothed out tilt column and a key in the dash like he wanted.
I was also wondering if you eventually intend to make the transmission crossmember as a removable part. Its easy to install an engine and trans on an open frame, however if the trans develops problems later on down the road, it might be easier to have that crossmember made to be removable to drop the trans out of the bottom.
I used to cuss late 60s mid 70s 4 speed corvettes for this. the 4 speed cars of that era have a welded in trans support. If changing a clutch, you had to disconnect the driveshaft, remove the shifter and linkages, and shove the 4 speed box back as far as it would go in the car, then take the bellhousing out to do the clutch. Automatic vettes of the same years had a removable crossmember to take the trans out.
Just a couple more ideas for you to chew on. I like the look and stance of it though. Going to be a real nice truck when done. I see your fab skills have steadily improved with each project you have tackled. You ought to be very proud of what you have accomplished with it so far.
Awesome job.
Have a question though, instead of using the camaro steering shaft and mating it to the 57 truck column. Why not use some borgeson U joints, with a heim joint support bearing, or as an alternative, grab a lower steering shaft out of a box body 80s jeep cherokee. It has U joints at either end, and is splined to fit into the GM saginaw steering box. See pic below. Lower shaft in pic is the jeep one.
I grabbed a jeep steering shaft for $20 out of my local junky and installed it in my 1994 chevy pickup, it was damn near a bolt in for that application. Easiest junkyard find and removal. 2 bolts and its out. This is a real popular mod with GM G body monte SS , buick GN guys, and GM T400 pickup guys from 1988 up to 1994. 1995 to 1998 there is a 3rd joint inside the truck that doesnt allow for this mod.
I was wondering why you didnt put in a modern column with a tilt wheel? I helped a buddy of mine years ago install a tilt column in his 1963 dodge town panel truck. He still wanted the key in the dash so we gutted a mid 70s GM tilt column that would work for his application, and only left the guts in it for a horn, hazard flashers, tilt wheel and turn signal.
We took the column apart, then we removed all the pieces for the locking column ignition switch, then ground off the nub sticking out for the lock cylinder. We cleaned the grease out of the hole from the lock cylinder. Made it super clean, and filed the hole slightly concave. Temporarily Stuck some aluminum tape across the old filed down ignition hole from the back side, and packed it solid with JB weld. Then ground it smooth primed and painted. Viola smoothed out tilt column and a key in the dash like he wanted.
I was also wondering if you eventually intend to make the transmission crossmember as a removable part. Its easy to install an engine and trans on an open frame, however if the trans develops problems later on down the road, it might be easier to have that crossmember made to be removable to drop the trans out of the bottom.
I used to cuss late 60s mid 70s 4 speed corvettes for this. the 4 speed cars of that era have a welded in trans support. If changing a clutch, you had to disconnect the driveshaft, remove the shifter and linkages, and shove the 4 speed box back as far as it would go in the car, then take the bellhousing out to do the clutch. Automatic vettes of the same years had a removable crossmember to take the trans out.
Just a couple more ideas for you to chew on. I like the look and stance of it though. Going to be a real nice truck when done. I see your fab skills have steadily improved with each project you have tackled. You ought to be very proud of what you have accomplished with it so far.
