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1971 Chevy Pickup - Project Get Shorty - TechPart 5: Steer Crazy From the February, 2009 issue of Custom Classic Trucks By Dakota Wentz
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If I seem to recall correctly, my driver's ed teacher used to beat one technique into my skull day in and day out: "Keep your hands at 10 and 2!" Apparently my one arm out the window and the other resting at the bottom of the wheel wasn't practicing defensive driving. If he thought that was bad, then it's a good thing he never rode in Project Get Shorty, because he would have been standing on the sidewalk flagging down a cab. You see, it didn't really matter how you positioned your hands on the cracked-out green steering wheel, because no matter how fast you wanted to react, or even turn, there was always one big obstacle to overcome. If the steering wheel was at dead center, the middle of the top being 12 o'clock, and you began to turn left, nothing would happen until the wheel hit just past 9! Vice versa for a righthand turn, only this time just past 3. On top of that, the column's internals had more shimmy and shake than a Britney Spears video. Let's put it this way, if you wanted to turn, you gots to think ahead. All in all, it was just bad for business, and that's why it was time to ditch the '71's decrepit manual steering no-tilt system. The first thing to hit the road was the busted-up no-tilt steering column. Making things easy was a retrofit kit from ididit. Ididit offers a steering column kit that is a direct bolt-in for the Chevy. Their column has all the specs of a stock column, which translates into no measuring, fabricating, or even busting out the hammer. Simply take it out of the box and bolt it in. They even offer several finishes. Although the column can be used with just about any steering wheel, there is only one for Project Get Shorty, a Mooneyes California metalflake 15-inch dish, and orange at that. The Mooneyes steering wheel is available in several colors, a 13.5- or 15-inch diameter, and it can be bought with either slotted spokes or hole spokes. Mooneyes also has the proper Grant Products adapter so the steering wheel can be bolted up to the ididit column. The next step is not only going to improve Shorty's handling and safety, but it's also going to add a great deal of comfort. Rounding out the install is a power steering kit from Early Classic Enterprises. Early Classic Enterprises specializes in '60-72 GM truck parts, and their power steering kit is just one item in a long list of available parts. Besides the added comfort of power steering over the old manual box, Early Classic also sent us one of their Saginaw 800 quick-ratio boxes. This new box, with 3 1/2 turns lock to lock, will improve the truck's overall responsiveness over the stock 4 1/2-turn lock to lock box. In order to connect the ididit column to the new Early Classic box, we're going to exnay the stock linkage and replace it with Borgeson U-joints and a double-D shaft. Borgeson also sent us one of their vibration reducer joints, which we'll dig into later. Along with the new box, the rigidity of the Borgeson setup over the factory rag joint will also add to the steering's responsiveness and stand the test of time...not to mention it looks cool as well. That's that, so once again it's off to the Primedia Tech Center. CCT  Our install starts with this...  Our install starts with this bolt-on power steering kit from Early Classic Enterprises. The kit comes with everything needed, such as the box, pump, bracketry, and various other items.  The first step is to remove...  The first step is to remove the OEM box. Once removed, the Early Classic Saginaw 800 quick-ratio box mounts to the factory holes on the frame with four bolts.  Instead of using the factory...  Instead of using the factory Pitman arm, Early Classic provides a new one. Before we mounted ours, we waited until the steering assembly was complete so we could set the box in the middle of its turning range.  Early Classic sent us one...  Early Classic sent us one of their small-block kits. The first bracket-the stamped bracket-mounts to the block and the forward bolt on the engine mount.  Our next step was to install...  Our next step was to install the pump mounting studs...  ...and hose fitting to the...  ...and hose fitting to the power steering pump.  When installing the new pump,...  When installing the new pump, the first step is to fasten the pump to the bracket already installed. Next up, take the cast bracket and fasten it to the block and the pump.  With the box and pump in place,...  With the box and pump in place, we could then route the lines. The first line to be installed is the pre-manufactured line. It bolts to the inner fitting on the box and makes a direct beeline to the frame. From there, the line runs behind the Early Classic stamped bracket and to the fitting installed on the back of the pump.  As for the next line, it is...  As for the next line, it is a combination of a pre-bent hard line and a rubber hose. The rubber hose slips over the pump's valve and onto the hard line, which attaches to the box. This line runs directly next to the first line, but this time goes through the stamped bracket instead of behind it.  Here's the rest of the gear:...  Here's the rest of the gear: the ididit retrofit column, Borgeson U-joints, and Mooneyes steering wheel.  The first step is to remove...  The first step is to remove the factory column. Remember to keep track of how everything mounted up, because that's exactly how everything bolts back together.  Before we installed the column,...  Before we installed the column, we installed the factory floor mount on the ididit column.  Here's something to make note...  Here's something to make note of before installing the column: These prongs are the neutral safety switch and the backup lights. It would be a good idea to get familiar with them; that way, wiring them up will be much easier.  Next, we dropped the column...  Next, we dropped the column into place. By the way, ididit offers this column in chrome, polished, powdercoated, brushed, and more. I went with paintable steel, because I plan to paint the column to match the truck at some point in time.  When mounting the column,...  When mounting the column, there are two brackets, this underdash mount and the floor mount we installed earlier.  Besides being a completely...  Besides being a completely bolt-in deal, it's also hassle-free in the wiring department. Instead of splicing and dicing, simply unplug the factory underdash harness and plug in the ididit underdash harness.  From there, plug the ididit...  From there, plug the ididit column harness into the ididit underdash harness.  With the column bolted in,...  With the column bolted in, it was time to install the turn signal lever, tilt lever, hazard knob, and shift knob. When positioning the column, the turn signal lever should be level.  It was then time to install...  It was then time to install the new Mooneyes steering wheel. First up, we slid the Grant Products metal sleeve over the column shaft and the mounting stud.  The horn wire slides into...  The horn wire slides into the plastic groove on the column and locks into place.  With the internals in order,...  With the internals in order, we put the Grant adapter in position.  With that all said and done,...  With that all said and done, we bolted up the new Mooneyes steering wheel and the horn retaining sleeve. And yes, I do realize the green on orange combo does give off a Ninja Turtle feel, but when everything is said and done in the build, it will all gel. By the way, dig the juxtaposition between the two setups.  With everything installed,...  With everything installed, the last step was to hook it all together with the Borgeson setup. The Borgeson joints are splined and slide over the splined ends of the box and column....  ...The first joint to go on...  ...The first joint to go on was the Borgeson polished stainless steel vibration reducer joint on the box. This joint is manufactured with polyurethane inside the joint housing, which ensures no metal to metal contact. Because of that, the joint acts like a rag joint and alleviates any road vibration from the wheel.  The other joint slides onto...  The other joint slides onto the column shaft. Once each joint was in position, we tightened down the set screw to keep the joint in position.  This Borgeson double-D shaft...  This Borgeson double-D shaft connects the two joints. By measuring the distance between the two mounted joints, we determined the length of the shaft and then cut. From there, the shaft is placed in the open ends of each joint and secured in place with the set screws.
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1959 Ford F-100
Scott Oshinki rebuilt a 1959 Ford F-100 for his father-in-law Art Carney....
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