Steering Column Collar/Housing Install Issue

[SAWDart]

Hello, I am rebuilding a steering column for the first time on my 1968 Dodge Dart GT with floor shift. Overall things have been going well but I hit a snag trying to install the housing and bearing housing. It seems that they don’t pinch down tight against each other at all even if I tighten the two square-headed bolts (though one seems stripped). I can spin and separate the housings basically with just a couple fingers. My questions are: Is there a trick to get these to pinch down better? Is there a place that reproduces the two square-headed nuts and bolts? Will this be an issue or unsafe? Thanks!

 

[SAWDart]

Update: I found the bolts online. They are re-manufactured for various 60s Ford vehicles but they are the same (square head, 3/4” shank, 1/4-28 thread pitch). I still don’t see how these bolts work to squeeze the main collar and bearing housing together when they are only in the upper bearing housing.

 

[SAWDart]

I meant to post an update way sooner but I got this issue all resolved! I didn’t realize that the square headed bolts need to be incredibly loose! Like half a thread kind of loose. They then slide into two slots on the actual column jacket itself which pulls the jacket, collar, and housing all together! Even together, there is about a 1/16” gap between the collar and housing which I clearly forgot about when I took it apart. I hope this helps someone else in the future