Multiple questions

[yellow210]

Greetings! Just got this old girl home, and started investigating. Mystery 350 Suffix CLY, topped with 305 heads. Saginaw 4 speed. 7.5" rear with factory disc brakes. manual steering box with a 90's Camero column.
Torched front springs, nary a bushing to be found in the front and so forth... but what the hey! I wasn't expecting a 65 year old virgin.
So its safety first, all new front end parts on the way, that's easy... The steering column to box connection is scary, to say the least. It looks like I need to replace both. Any thoughts on which parts and pieces work, would be appreciated. This car is intended to be a driver.
The motor mounts are in the stock position, If I add P/S and AC, am I going to have clearance issues?
Last question for today, we have a MSD6 ignition installed (no vacuum advance). Is that appropriate for a mild street car?
Thanks all!

[Rick_L]

On your steering column connection, can you post a photo or say in more detail what's scary? In general, you want a spline or double D joint. If you don't have that or if it's a double D with no precision fit, then that's scary. If you elect to go with power steering, the solution might be quite different, as a power steering box will be much closer to the firewall. For the p/s conversion, you can buy a column and rag joint commercially, but also you can use a cut down stock column or perhaps even that Camaro column, thought it may have to be shortened.

Adding a/c and power steering doesn't create issues with the engine in the stock location.

No vacuum advance is for race engines. Street driven stuff (especially if mild) always benefits from vacuum advance, it increases part throttle response and fuel economy.

[yellow210]

Rick L, a picture is worth a thousand words...IMG_2427[2828].jpg

[Custer55]

Rick L, a picture is worth a thousand words...IMG_2427[2828].jpg

That looks like a good excuse to upgrade to a new steering box!!

[Tabasco]

You are correct. That connection looks scary. The shaft is only about 1 inch in diameter. The bolt hole removed a lot of the shaft. I would be afraid the shaft could break at the hole and cause a wreck.

Danchuck sells a bracket that is combination motor mount/power steering pump mount so you can use the stock front motor mounts. https://www.danchuk.com/ItemForm.aspx?Item=2684

2684_m.jpg

[yellow210]

Thank you, appreciate the input!

[Rick_L]

I agree with Tabasco, if that bolt goes all the way through the steering box input shaft, drilling that hole makes the shaft very weak. Not only that, there's not much way of converting that box to a different type of connection, because they drilled the hole so close to the steering box housing.

[Rick_L]

That bolt appears to be bent! I wouldn't drive the car much if at all until that was fixed.

[yellow210]

It's not going anywhere like that. So the question is, If I need to redo the whole thing, is it rack and pinion with an aftermarket column? Manual box and original column? Aftermarket column and power steering?
And by the way Rick L, I took it apart, to see what was what. The bolt isn't bent, but the nut was finger tight!? Any thoughts, comments appreciated.

[kbuhagiar]

It's not going anywhere like that. So the question is, If I need to redo the whole thing, is it rack and pinion with an aftermarket column? Manual box and original column? Aftermarket column and power steering?
And by the way Rick L, I took it apart, to see what was what. The bolt isn't bent, but the nut was finger tight!? Any thoughts, comments appreciated.

Yellow210,

Congratulations on your new 55!

I upgraded to power steering (CPP500) and a new Ididit tilt column, and I haven't looked back. The Borgeson PS box is very popular also. Definitely one of the best mods I have made.

My greater concern is that your current steering 'solution' may be indicative of the craftmanship (or lack thereof) on the rest of the car. I would make it a priority to put it up on a lift (or at least jackstands) and do a visual inspection of all of the car's critical systems, especially the remainder of the steering system and the brakes.

Good luck!