65dartcharger is a great guy. He sent me a original speed cable grommet for my Dart. The weather was nice yesterday so I thought I would slip it on. It just took a few minutes. Unscrew the speedo cable nut from the back of the speedo and pull the cable through the firewall into the engine compartment. Carefully stretch the grommet over the end of the cable and nut and reinstall. That plugged a 1" diameter hole.
I also needed a lower column seal and as long as I was there I might as well rebuild the joint. Easier said than done. Knowing what I know know, I could rebuild the joint on the car just by driving out the roll pin from the steering gear shaft and sliding the column up. The lower column seal requires that you remove the "steering shaft to shoe pin" which is no small task. I tried hammering it out and all it did was mushroom the end. I finally got out the torch and a air hammer. I don't own a press. You'll need one. I'm glad the replacement pin in the Mopar kit was a tiny bit smaller and drove back in easier than the old one came out. Also, make sure you mark the coupling body so it goes on the same way it comes off. There is a missing spline on the gearbox shaft so that the housing only goes on one way. Oh ya. I had the column in and out 3 times but I must say, after it was all done, the test drive was smooth, quiet, and no more engine heat blowing on my feet ! Wish I had snapped some photos but I was greasy handed after
rebuilding the joint twice. LOL Here's a diagram. tmm
I also needed a lower column seal and as long as I was there I might as well rebuild the joint. Easier said than done. Knowing what I know know, I could rebuild the joint on the car just by driving out the roll pin from the steering gear shaft and sliding the column up. The lower column seal requires that you remove the "steering shaft to shoe pin" which is no small task. I tried hammering it out and all it did was mushroom the end. I finally got out the torch and a air hammer. I don't own a press. You'll need one. I'm glad the replacement pin in the Mopar kit was a tiny bit smaller and drove back in easier than the old one came out. Also, make sure you mark the coupling body so it goes on the same way it comes off. There is a missing spline on the gearbox shaft so that the housing only goes on one way. Oh ya. I had the column in and out 3 times but I must say, after it was all done, the test drive was smooth, quiet, and no more engine heat blowing on my feet ! Wish I had snapped some photos but I was greasy handed after
rebuilding the joint twice. LOL Here's a diagram. tmm
