Upper steering flex coupling question.

[myonnone]

Bubba's been there. As can be seen from the photo of my 66 big block vert. The flex joint coupling was hacked by previous owner.

Should I try to repair it or just replace it?

Where can I get the upper coupling as a replacement part?

 

[WayneC]

Repair it?? How in the world would you do that?

Picture's out of focus, but I think I'm seeing an upper rag joint coupling that's WELDED to the steering column... if you can repair those parts more cheaply than replacing the column and rag joint assembly, my hat's off to you.

The coupler is sold as an assembly with the rag disk installed in it. That and the steering column are available from vendors like Long Island Corvette, for around $200 total, plus a lot of work getting the old column out (hope you're handy with a cutting torch) and a new one installed.

On the other hand, if it works and you aren't all that fussy, why "repair" it? You could just use a grinder to clean up the messy welds, then paint it to make it less noticeable.

 

[IH2LOSE]

Wayne is probably right in saying leave it alone for a driver.Becarefull grinding that weld be cause useally when I see a weld blobed on like that it means the welder was too cold and he had no tap/penetration and that there is probabley only one spot actually holding it together.

Me on the other hand would repair it.

For sure the couplers are availible alot of the normal suppliers have them but the rod for the steering colum I am not sure of
Good luck and how bout a picture of the engine bay

 

[magicv8]

That's a BIG picture.

IMO get out your Dremel and a pack of cutting wheels and take the weld/braze/whatevs off. You will have to do that whether repair or replace is necessary. You may find out why the thing was welded - pulled out too far to clamp, shaft rounded off, coupling stripped out, etcetera.

If that spot of weld is all that holds the coupling, I would sure want to know.

 

[IH2LOSE]

That's a BIG picture

Well Ijust looked in on this post from my work computer with a small monitor .And I had a coworker pear over my sholder as the picture was loading and when it loaded it looked as if it was pornographic I dont know why it comes in so funny at work but I only get a small portion of the top left corner of the picture witch looks like a orange/brownish womens breast.I dont know if it loads like that on anybody elses computer like that but I tell you I wont live this down at work be cause I am the most outspoken on the evel side of pornogrophy.

Know I now alot of folks are going to say larry you PERVERT how can you say that a GMPART # 388027 looks like a breast but this was pointed out by a coworker.Does anybody else see it?

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

.....but this was pointed out by a coworker.Does anybody else see it? [/B]

Maybe you should direct your colleague to the Dilbert site. Scott Adams refers to people like this as cow-orkers. :L

 

[WayneC]

Better yet, send the co-worker to see Doctor Ruth...

http://www.dancingmonica.com/doctorruth.htm

 

[magicv8]

I'm gonna rant here for a minute.

The advice about crap parts being ok for a driver is crap. Speaking as a driver who drives his car everywhere, crap parts are ok for trailer queens. Real Corvettes that are driven a lot need good quality parts to be able roll along at triple digit speeds when the owner hits the loud pedal.

All a TQ has to do is crawl off a trailer and look shiny. Whether the engine has internal cracks that are welded, or the rear end needs new gears is irrelevant. A lot of them have frame damage covered with plastic and painted.

There are Corvettes, and there are TQs.

I'm a driver. Stop referring to a Corvette as one. It’s a car – unless it’s a TQ – then it’s a collectable.

I drive my Corvette hard while pouring on whatever maintenance it takes to keep up with the c5s I travel with on road tours - and I have never had them stop because I needed help or needed to make a repair.

 

[IH2LOSE]

I'm gonna rant here for a minute.

The advice about crap parts being ok for a driver is crap. Speaking as a driver who drives his car everywhere, crap parts are ok for trailer queens. Real Corvettes that are driven a lot need good quality parts to be able roll along at triple digit speeds when the owner hits the loud pedal.

All a TQ has to do is crawl off a trailer and look shiny. Whether the engine has internal cracks that are welded, or the rear end needs new gears is irrelevant. A lot of them have frame damage covered with plastic and painted.

There are Corvettes, and there are TQs.

I'm a driver. Stop referring to a Corvette as one. It’s a car – unless it’s a TQ – then it’s a collectable.

I drive my Corvette hard while pouring on whatever maintenance it takes to keep up with the c5s I travel with on road tours - and I have never had them stop because I needed help or needed to make a repair.

What I miss Did I say something wrong?

 

[magicv8]

No - you didn't. I'm trying to get a campaign off the ground to call us the drivers, the cars we drive Corvettes, and the cars that live on trailers - whatever you want.

People who create show-only cars are getting us (people who drive them a lot and hard) used to their reference to our (superior) Corvettes as "drivers" - and the term is begining to apply to second, third, or junk class Corvette parts.

I want to start a revolution. IMO Corvettes that are driven are superior to TQs, and they require superior parts, not rock hard original rubber and dry shock absorbers.

You drive a great machine. It's a Corvette.