Steering column is on deck! The overall finish of the column is flat, or satin sheen and this is a textured coating. I'll replicate that when I paint it. The lower column bearing is in perfect shape! No play at all. Original turn signal harness part tag is still there. Also, all the tags on my harness under the dash have their original part tags installed except for one which I was able to buy.
Steering coupler is intact and never been apart! This, as most Mopar guys know, is about the biggest pain in the rear part to deal with. Instead of a regular rag joint, MaMopar decided to make this contraption with consists of a pin, two bushings, an internal retainer/spreader, a rubber seal with a metal retainer. I'm just wondering how this got approved by management? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]
Manager #1: "Guys...we need to mate the steering column to the steering box. It's never been done before in the industry, so come up with something to do it. Thanks"
Engineer #1: "Hmmmmm. What do you think?"
Engineer #2: "Well...we could come up with a simple rag joint?"
Engineer #1: "Yes...."
Engineer #2: "OR...we could come up with something so outlandish nobody would believe that it's even feasible to use?"
Engineer #1: "I like where this is going....."
Engineer #2: "OK, so we start by mashing a pin made of Impregnium through the steering shaft. So that way should anyone need to remove it, they really can't. Then, we'll add two bushing that go on either side and those bushings won't be regular shaped. Oh no. They'll be curved on one edge, slotted, and that'll make sure if this thing ever comes apart you really won't be able to figure out how it goes together. With that, we'll have those two bushings be held together by a retainer that, ....I know you're waiting for it..... won't hold the bushings together, rather, they'll spread they apart so they are about 1/4" too wide to fit in the receiving end!!! Since you'll have to use your hand the hold those bushings together as they slide into the receiver, it's sure to make a complete mess of things. Oh, and we'll have this all packed with the goopiest grease you'll ever find, and sealed with a rubber seal coupled with a metal retaining ring that can only be crimped by a special tool nobody has, will ever see to make a copy of, or even think really exists, so that everyone uses vise grips and destroy/scrape/scratch the retainer body. How's that sound?"
Engineer #1: "When do we start production???"
Cheers [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
Dave