Steering column choices

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7duce swinger

7duce swinger

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Hi, going throughout my dart and since I bought it back in 2017 (sold in 2011, and found it again lol) I'm going through it and have already done the brakes upfront with a Dr. Diff 11.76" brake kit, qa1 tubular control arms and cope racing transmission and hughes 3500 converter, torqstorm supercharger kit on the 318, with a comp cam, headers, intake, and demon carb. Low boost and fuel system has been upgraded to 8 an braided from the cell to the engine.

I've done alot but have found that my steering is **** and last guy trashed the column. Was starting it with a screwdriver for god knows what reason. Feels like when I'm done one more thing pops up.

Also previos owner cut the threads coming off of the column for the wheel. So the nut that is on the grant wheel is barely holding onto it.... Have no idea why lol..

Is there a decent steering column that's swap in and decently priced (I've got too much money in it and I'm on a budget)

Ebay? Amazon? Dont care for key on column as my key is on the dash now. Is it as simple and measuring a column and seeing if it will fit in the dash/firewall?

Has anyone went with an aftermarket non mopar column? If so please post Pics and part numbers please.
 
I don't know much about aftermarket stuff but there are some easy options as far as stock columns are concerned.

You did not say what year your dart is but I'm assuming it's after 70 because that's when the key was installed in the column.

You also did not say if you have power or manual steering and whether your shifter is on the floor or on the column.

There were minor differences between each year but basically the column from a 67-76 A body will physically bolt into any other a body with a couple of distinctions:

The manual steering column is longer with a different steering coupler.
The power steering column is shorter with a different coupler.

The ignition key was located in the column after 69. It was in the dash before 70.

With this basic knowledge if you have a 70 car with manual steering, you could make a 67 manual column fit with some minor rewiring.

Likewise if you have 70 power steering use a 67-69 power column.

If you have column shift, get that column from a 67-69. If it's floor shift you can get a 67-69 floor shift column (pricey) or modify the column shift to remove the shift handle and PRNDL plate..

All of the 67-76 columns are readily available used and I would expect them to be cheaper and easier than aftermarket.
 
Aftermarket yes, cheap no. Due to clearance issues with my Dougs headers and me converting to Power Steering, the factory coupler hit the back tube. I'm not a"beat the **** out of the tube to clear" guy. I found the Flaming River B-Body Column was a drop in for my 69, just had to cut the D Shaft shorter and it all fell in plus I gained Tilt. I think they have a drop in for the 70-up A Body. My unpainted Column was $550, since your using a Grant wheel, just get GM Adapter kit and your wheel will drop on. As per cheap, I found a report out of New Zealand where the government took several columns apart. They regulate safety on aftermarket parts and they need government approval for use. Basically all cheap columns were rejected. Ididit and Flaming River were the only two columns to be accepted for use. Several folks have added in aftermarket straight columns, but some fab is required. My goals were, it's safe to drive, it's a near drop in, it cleared my header/steering box issue. The Flaming River column has a slider built in, just like the factory.
 
My car has power steering already, with the longtubes, was thinking of going with a mustang rack setup but cant find a cheap column or parts lol
 
dano said:
Aftermarket yes, cheap no. Due to clearance issues with my Dougs headers and me converting to Power Steering, the factory coupler hit the back tube. I'm not a"beat the **** out of the tube to clear" guy. I found the Flaming River B-Body Column was a drop in for my 69, just had to cut the D Shaft shorter and it all fell in plus I gained Tilt. I think they have a drop in for the 70-up A Body. My unpainted Column was $550, since your using a Grant wheel, just get GM Adapter kit and your wheel will drop on. As per cheap, I found a report out of New Zealand where the government took several columns apart. They regulate safety on aftermarket parts and they need government approval for use. Basically all cheap columns were rejected. Ididit and Flaming River were the only two columns to be accepted for use. Several folks have added in aftermarket straight columns, but some fab is required. My goals were, it's safe to drive, it's a near drop in, it cleared my header/steering box issue. The Flaming River column has a slider built in, just like the factory.
Click to expand...
Slider?
 
7duce swinger said:
Slider?
Click to expand...

The stock steering coupler at the box is not an only an axial joint, the shoes inside actually slide up and down. Plus the factory column has plastic shear pins to collapse the column in an accident. The Flaming river columns have around 1.75" of slide. Below you can see the bellows on the 70-up A-body column they offer. There is a zirk fitting to grease the slide.

Capture.PNG
 
Here is mine mocked up and what the slider looks like. The zirk is actually the limiter.

20170430_100147.jpg


20170506_160612.jpg
 
7duce swinger said:
What yeaders do you have? Mine hit my steering
Click to expand...

Dougs.

Also you have to buy their floor plate, the stock one will not fit as the opening is larger than the Flaming River column.

And those set screws you see sticking up clear the tubes just fine. I'll probably replace them with shorter ones with a nylon lock patch and probably pin the ujoint. The rubber bellow is close and I'll probably remove in favor of some thermal. barrier.
 
Last edited:
dano said:
I found a report out of New Zealand where the government took several columns apart. They regulate safety on aftermarket parts and they need government approval for use. Basically all cheap columns were rejected. Ididit and Flaming River were the only two columns to be accepted for use.
Click to expand...
did they say why? crap materials, sloppy quality control, ?
the flaming river has a slide but are either of them collapsible?
 
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